mcb39

That's a guy for you!

My husband always worked two to three jobs when our boys were small. We didn't see much of him, but we had food and a roof. I never worked (out) until the kids were in Jr High. Now we each have our own business and I still work (out). I have collected a minimal amount of UC in my time, but Joan is correct that you can collect and still work part-time as long as you are available for full-time work. Your UC is affected accordingly.

I use Quickfinder 1040 and Small Business. I purchase the All States about every third year. I also use the CCH 1040 Express Answers and the USMasters Tax Guide. For WI, I use the very comprehensive Wisconsin Tax Guide. And, always, Pub 17 is on the top of the pile except for this year when we didn't get it until tax season was nearly over. Plus, there is the ATX Community Board which is the best source of research that I have yet to find. If all else fails, just ask; and someone is sure to tell you. Thanks to all!

We deposit all the checks at the Dental office where I work, with one of those special scanners and software from the bank. Have no clue what that costs, but I bet it is plenty.

I thought I had, but just checked and am at 12.15.4. Will check laptop later. This one seems to be working fine.

No, not at this time. However, they can access the drop box from their car window. At this point, I only have one person who does that and generally, as I have lots of windows, I can catch her and have a little chat before she drops the info.

You suspected correctly. Thanks.

No. I cannot access any ATX site. Have been gone for a week so may have to shut the modem down for a few minutes and let it reset. Doesn't make sense,, but what does lately?

I am unable to contact the community board, my atx, or able to receive or send e-files. also, form updates are dead in the water. Is it just me. I have internet access to all other sites I have tried.

Keeps the snow sliding off and we will never have to shingle again.

Mine is a ranch and my office was in a very small bedroom on the end. Clients had to come through the brown door; down the hall, past two bedrooms to my tiny little office. It was awful as business grew. We extended out from the original office 12 X 16 feed; added the deck and the private entrance and it is wonderful. Yes, I love it as do my clients and I now have room for a helper as needed. It was a big decision, but I will never regret it.

My nearly completed office addition with drop box in place

Put it right at the end of the sidewalk, next to the Hosta; facing the sidewalk. Mine is white and ornate looking. I first saw it at a small convenience store that rented movies and they had it for after hours drop offs of return movie rentals. I asked them where they got it and was surprised to find out it came from home improvement store. It has a drop down door with a knob on the front that hides the slot and also has a strong metal clip attached to the door so that I can leave items for them that they need to pick up when I am not there. (Shut the drop down door and nobody can see anything.)

Judy, I have the same setup as you; different picture. I have a locked drop box attached to the bottom step that leads to the small deck that leads to my exclusive office door. I have had the box for years, even before the office had its own entrance. I have NEVER had an issue. Clients are confident leaving relevant papers in the locked box. Heck, for years one woman hung her stuff on my front door knob in a plastic bag. Checking the box is not an issue. You will probably find that they don't use it as often as you would like because they usually want to see you. Mine was about $100 on a post which we cemented into the ground at first. It is large and has a red flag that they can put up if the want to. What is the difference if they send it in the mail and it sits in your mail box. This is a lot safer. Our personal mailbox is nowhere near the site of the drop box. (Long rural driveway; mailbox on the main road.) I will try tomorrow to send a picture of mine. Go for it!

Why not? What is wrong with your competency....nothing, that I have been able to detect.

Of course, my system could never work for you. I am a one person office with a new first time assistant. I do, however, have an inexpensive HP laser printer for the laptop so she is able to do other things on either the laptop or the old XP desktop which also has a printer. Hard to kill those old HPs if you take care of them.

I have also used Medlin for years. It is certainly more extensive than just "simple" payroll. I guess it is time to take a look at the bookkeeping module. Medlin lets you test drive their software.; which is huge.

But, doesn't it give you a good feeling when you can give good news to someone like the boy on the bike. Some things cost so little and can mean so much.

I install the program on both the desktop and the laptop. Also, install at least one prior year so the clients can be rolled over. I can then move clients back and forth freely with the export/import feature and a jump drive. This works well for me because sometimes I am gone for several days and have the laptop with me. That enables me to work on returns and import them into the desktop when I return.. All returns are e-filed from the main computer. This may sound cumbersome to some of you; but that is what works for me. I prefer not to be networked.; and if I can get my new assistant to try her hand at tax returns next year, I will have to oversee everything she does on the laptop.

I received flowers, plants and congratulations from many. It didn't change how they felt about me, but it did reinforce their belief that I would be around for a while....many tell us every year that we cannot retire until they do.

To my knowledge, that is NOT true. We took the test, we passed it, we traveled many miles and spent many dollars to comply with the testing. We received a certificate from the IRS to that effect. My understanding is that I can (and do) use that designation on my business cards, letterhead, etc and have the certificate on the wall in my office. Someone please correct me with a cite if I am wrong.

I have already received a gold embossed (free except or test fees) stamped and signed as well as useless RTRP certificate from the IRS. Nevertheless, it is hanging on my wall. It looks impressive.

Well, what we have is what we have. I, for one, am not messing with it. I have way over half the HD empty on that very functional XP computer and, as Pacun said, have it within easy access for a variety of reasons. I knew at the end of last year that ATX would not calculate another year of tax returns; and how right I turned out to be in ways that nobody could foresee. I hope that 2002 IBM never dies because some of the programs I use on it will not work on Win 7; such as older versions of Print Shop, etc.; and I use them often. Also, there is the issue of no Microsoft support after 2014; which is a crying shame. Have restorable backups of everything just in case; and I would not hesitate to put a new harddrive in that old computer if that was all it needed because it is in excellent condition and holds a lot of info. It is much easier for me to boot up to find an old return right in my office rather than going to the basement to look for a backup disk or a paper copy.

They ALWAYS blame it on the bank. I ALWAYS ask them why they didn't call me first.

My XP desktop has files back to 1999. Every once in a while. I started new this year with new Win 7 and three years. Will see how it goes. XP is still alive and well and HD is backed up on external.