mcb39

I find this to be so true. I also agree with SFA. I would love to find someone to help who knew what they were doing, taxwise. Many years ago, I was that person for another accountant. Our businesses never intertwined and I stayed with her until mine grew to the point of not being able to handle both. I also agree that this is very rare. It's a matter of ethical loyalty to your employer. Not everyone is capable of keeping that separate from loyalty to "self".

I smiled. Reminded me of last night when our kitty went downstairs to go potty. She made the most pathetic howling sound; as though someone was hurting her. We keep a night light on down there for her. I asked my husband if he thought her light has burned out. He said "No"! Well, guess what, I went to check and that is exactly what it was. Put in a new bulb and not another peep. So, who says animals are dumb? Our Annie is learning to "talk"!

I always use the export/import function. Open the 2012 program. Mark all the files. Under "File" export them to a jump drive. Then go to 2013 and open. Under "File", import all the files. I haven't had to do it this year, but every time I have, it has worked flawlessly. Also, when I am working on returns, I have a jump drive in the port. I export files often while working on the return and always when finished. The program allows you to overwrite the last export. In case of disaster, I always have the completed returns on that jump drive. Good Luck. Generally, most of us are kind and welcome newcomers.

I have a (wealthy $$$) friend who carefully opens any gift she gets; carefully folds the wrapping paper and saves it for the next gift that she gives to someone. ME...I am really getting to like gift bags. You all know why. (recycle)

My gut feeling is that if he is already a CPA, he shows definite intent to build his own business; possibly at your expense. My vote is NO.

We still heat both of our houses with wood, but out of choice (and frugality) rather than necessity. And, of course, we have backup gas heat so we never wake up to a cold house. We go to the woods and cut, haul, split and stack our own wood because we like the exercise, but don't know how much longer we can do it. Yes, Catherine, this sure is fun and has brought back so many memories.

They used Team Viewer twice with me during the Beta Testing and I have to say that they were knowledgeable, polite and efficient. Nor were they in any hurry to leave before the solved the issue. If one tech needed help, he put another one on the same sync.

I never have any luck with E Services. It always rejects my login and password and then wants AGI for some prior year and then rejects that. I have given up and have not even renewed this year. The IRS used to make a big deal of E Services at the Tax Course that I attend. This year it was never mentioned.

Was it Fels Naptha? Also, check to all of your checks. I didn't have a dryer when my two boys were both in cloth diapers at the same time; nor did we have a basement at the time. So, of course, those frozen boards hung over everything in the house (which was small). Yes, it feels good and makes us appreciate what we have now, but old habits die hard.

I am cheaper than any of you. I only use the dryer for towels and socks and/or maybe a few other things. I have clothes lines outside and in the basement for the winter. I don't use fabric softener because my husband is allergic to it. I only use Tide because I am allergic to other detergents. I hang clothes to dry; then put them in the dryer on the "air fluff" cycle to soften them up for ironing. YES, I iron, though it is the most hated job around. I do save plastic bags as others have noted. I use clothes pins to hang clothes and also for twisty ties because I am left-handed and my husband is right. (Oh yes, he is always right, just ask him). The clothes pins on the bread bag have ended years of muttering when trying to open the bread. I also bake bread quite often, but am not sure that that is really a money saving deal any more. I hem and sew on buttons by hand. I go to auctions and buy a big box of office supplies for about $5. You would be surprised what you can find in those boxes. The last one had three staplers, two pair of scissors and numerous assorted other goodies. What I can't use I give away. As noted before, I use the backside of paper mistakes, make lists on envelopes for the bills that I pay online. As someone else pointed out, it is really being frugal; not cheap. If someone needed it more than I did, I would give it all away in a heartbeat. I guess it's all in what you bring with you to the marriage.

Nope.........they don't even send out verification letters anymore and haven't for several years.

Wish someone would have weighed the big gobs of fat slapped onto the end of my Thanksgiving Turkey; as well as the chunks of ice that were frozen inside the bird. If that weight were subtracted, I would have saved a lot more than a nickel. I don't call that being cheap. It is sort of like stealing.

I am in the same boat with a couple who divorced in 2012. I am called to be a witness for the defendant as the x-wife is charging him with 16 counts of contempt. I won't go into details, but I am going willingly as we have been in consultation with an IRS agent regarding the tax return. We asked him what to say if they bring up the tax return again and he said, "Refer them to me!"

I have an IBM PS/1 which has been updated to the nth degree. It was my first computer and I am sure it would still work. However, it is on a shelf in my storeroom. That one computer cost me more in $$ than all those I have purchased since put together. The irony here is I still remember my tech telling me that "This is all you will ever need" The year was 1993 and the hard drive was 129 MB. I may still have it when I die, but I know where it will go when I am gone. (Big Green Dumpster)

IMHO, she already offered the olive branch and you didn't accept it. Let sleeping dogs lie.

Yes, that could happen easily enough. I generally use the back of tax returns to print MY copy. But, yes, you have to be careful. One of the advantages of being a one person office.

I use my XP machine for several non-internet related programs. (And will, until it dies). Also have ATX programs and files on it back to 1996.

I could be considered "cheap" in that I save all of my printing mistakes and use the backs to hand feed and print e-mails and other info that I want to save. (Paper is SO expensive) and I live in the land of paper making.

I also use Tenenz.

That is a nice letter. Generally, my end of year letter is not detailed, but I can see the advantages of some of that data. I usually just write "a letter" and inform them that if they want an Organizer to let me know. It can be either e-mailed or mailed. Actually, last year with all the hubbub of finishing off the new office, new computer, etc.; I never got the letter out. Had several clients comment to the effect that they wondered if I was still in business. SO, whether they read the letter or not, apparently it is important for them to receive it. Will not be that lax this year. Gives me a chance to use up some of the fluorescent colored paper that one of my clients gave me a few years ago. It looks festive. I have saved drafts from several years, but don't want the letters to be repetitive so only use the drafts to help me cover the bases.

The programs and returns really take up little space. I have 1996 through 2011 on my XP computer and still have over half of hard drive free. I have other programs installed as well. I will keep XP machine until it dies (I hope never) and always have a current backup of entire hard drive just in case. As well, I have the returns for all of those years, exported to some type of external source; generally a zip disk. I feel safe.

My beta testing ran well on i5; only thing that didn't pass the test was bandwidth over which I have no control. It also ran well under Pentium 2 T4300, 2.1 Ghz. I am using all Win 7 64 bit machines.

I only use Upper Case for Tax Returns. Good thing my computer warns me that Cap Lock is on when I go to do something else. I am finding that the newer computers no longer have a Caps Lock light; which I am slowly getting used to. Am getting used to on-screen warnings.

I am basted, wasted and worn out. I just finished washing the dishes; all leftovers are on the counter and I announced that I am hanging up my shingle and my apron. Then came a long discussion with the younger ones as to what a shingle was. My Granddaughter said, "What is your shingle?" I said it read "Cook" and I just took it down. It was a nice day though as we had our kids, our grandkids and brand new six week old great grandson. We are truly blessed. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.

I prefer to remain neutral on the subject of LBJ; after reading several books about him and visiting his home and birthplace in TX several times. He left office a broken man after inheriting a maelstrom. Of course, now we are getting political and may be audited.