mcb39

I occasionally have a new client ask if I am a CPA. I give them a firm "No, but I do have a few CPAs as clients!" My endorsements are also hanging on my office wall and they can look at them or not; as they choose.

I feel that I have a responsibility to myself as well as my clients to acquire as much knowledge as I can. Even after the fact, I am not sorry that I took the RTRP test. I have voluntarily attended tax classes and seminars for many years now; not because I enjoy them or can afford them, but because I feel that if I walk away with one new piece of knowledge; that is something I didn't know before. This year I walked away with several pieces of knowledge and the fact that I had taken the RTRP qualified me for the AFSP; and I know that many of you will say FWIW. Well, it is worth a lot to me because I know that I am doing what I can to make my business more productive and worthy. I am not responsible for unethical preparers, but I am responsible for ME and have an obligation to the clients who put their trust in me.

I am SO jealous. Cleaning Lady? You can't even see the top of my kitchen table which still has the Christmas tablecloth on it. We had the carpenter who is working on our enclosed porch and my assistant for lunch today. Had to move around papers so we could all sit at the table. My assistant actually furnished the lunch of homemade bean soup and homemade bread. What a blessing. My office is the cleanest room in the house because it is the newest. One of the few things I insisted upon when we were building my office addition, was a deadbolt lock in addition to the other lock. Also, the full door glass has the blind between the panes of glass so it can be opened during the day and closed at night and on weekends. NO dust on THAT blind.

That''s the one that I have, but I have to confess that I really like Microsoft Word for Windows much better. Maybe because that is what I learned on. A nice inexpensive program that has Word Processor, Spreadsheet and Database modules.

Thanks

Oh! UM! It's time for that poinsettia to go! Otherwise, that is the way a good working office is supposed to look. I would have felt right at home there until I added an addition. Now, I just have that much more clutter. But, where is all the dust that I have?

Does anyone remember how we turned off Protection Plus last year as an option on all returns? Jack?????

Thanks Lee............I just printed that.

You are still trying to fool us. The office you were describing was mine and I have had two days of clients already.

I saw Rita B in the upper right of the picture; pushing toward the front row. Right behind her is Judy.

I don't know how other states handle it, but if we sell a vehicle in WI to a resident of another state, they take all the paperwork with them and register the vehicle and pay the sales tax in their state of residence. It would make sense to me that this would be a general rule. We have a temporary plate that they can use to drive the vehicle home (cardboard). Actually everyone who called or came in today has been very sweet. BUT, it is now 7:30 PM and the phone is still a ringin'. I am really, really tired.

I very well remember when those pictures were shown of your "immaculate" office. You can't fool us!!!!

Makes me feel a LOT better. All I did today was field phone calls and walk-ins and try to train my new assistant. One thing about her, she is determined.

You have come to a very personal and painful place in your life. Asking for our support is an honor for us. Please believe that if I were in your wife's place, I would want you to honor my wishes. Having been married for 55 years, I or my husband could be in the same place at any time. My heart and my prayers are with you. I agree with every other post on this board.

To my knowledge, only Corporations are exempt.

My first SSD will probably be in a laptop.; though the ones I have are pretty perky with Turbo Boost. My desktop boots almost as fast as Jack's; but the config is well thought out and I've spent way too much money this year already.

No yet, but my IT friend has educated me. However, my computer is plenty fast enough for what I am doing at the moment and the prices on SSD drives is dropping more and more. The first affordable ones had so little HD space that it was hardly worth the effort. Maybe next year.

Too, too funny!!!!!! I was gone for two days (TWO DAYS). Came home to a crammed drop box. I don't know how some of that stuff got through the slot. I might not even have checked it except that one client was going out of town and called and told me he would be dropping some of his papers off. The punch line is: My red flag wasn't put up by anyone.

I never had more than one or two extensions before last year. For 2013, I have a bunch. I used to hate extensions; now I am grateful that is an option. I try to save returns that I know won't have to pay until the end starting about April 1. (just in case)

Turn it around in your mind and view it as something positive. You get to work from home. You get to help others. You should get a feeling of accomplishment. You are bringing in revenue. You get time off after the April deadline. Even at my age, if I didn't really WANT to do it, I wouldn't do it. We all have to do something and we all face challenges both in our public and personal lives. I think in the beginning of the year we all feel a little trapped and despondent. Once the action starts, it gets better. My dad was a life-long auto mechanic. He always said he hated it. However, even after retirement, he continued to practice his skills well into his 70's. To a certain extent we control our own destinies. Something made us want to be tax preparers at some point. Try to find that "something" again and nurture it. I just talked to a Nurse yesterday who said she knew absolutely nothing about taxes. Well, there it is in a nutshell: I know absolutely nothing about being a nurse. NECPA, and all others on this board. I wish you the most trouble free and successful tax season that you can possibly have. As we have in other years, we will lean on each other and we WILL get through this and all be better preparers for it.

Thanks for the explanation Terry. I, too, wondered why you would add those things to the basis of the building. I agree on the replacements of the garage door and the toilet.

We have an IRS office less than a mile from my house. I used to interact with them a lot. Two years ago, they closed the one remaining window that was serviced by a human being. There used to be two. Now; the only thing you get to talk to is a computer (and that may not even be the case any longer). They don't even have the simplest forms available there any more. This is progress???

I am still using Uni Forms from ATX as I have so few to send out and have a goodly supply of blank uni forms and envelopes.

Truthfully, the best way that I have found is to have the client sitting in the office or on three way calling so that he/she can verbally give the agent permission to speak to me. The problem here is the hold time. The additional problem this year will be the inability to contact an agent EVER! I am not counting on anything this year.

It has usually allowed me to talk to the agent if it is for the current year. It doesn't sound like we will get to talk to anyone this year anyway, but if they should accidentally call us; having checked the box will be an advantage.