Catherine

If all else fails, a hammer does a GREAT job. It is rather permanent, though.

Definitely show full price and discount! Clients should always know what "full freight" value of your work is.

I agree completely on needing the "mute" button! (For some clients' *mouths* too, please!)

I usually do the kids' returns for a tiny amount (~$20-$30) if they are students. If they have a history of using a "free" filing service and screwing up the parents' return(s), then I do it for free. In those cases I tell the parents "I will do this for free to avoid a repeat of the problem they caused last year" and the parents are usually very eager to avoid a repeat!

click emoticons and search "all"

Maybe one of the ones NOT answering phones at the IRS!

He tried that - in the first post. Doing it again cannot hurt, though.

Maybe this is a case for the "change of address" form 8822? In case any notices are sent out because those would go to CA.

Or it is applying for/planning for accreditation and compliance with reg's like these will be expected? So they jumped the gun?

I don't have an Uber driver but I have a Turo renter. I used Schedule C for income and expenses. Yes, client got a 1099-MISC equivalent from Turo. (Not the form itself, but all the info on paper with a "we are reporting this to the IRS and treat this like a 1099.")

And he's got a bigger problem than the tax due if his wife cannot comprehend that a larger income - without extra tax paid in - leads to a large balance due.

The only piece I would add is to go over the "compare" sheet. If you can show the client how much more income, sometimes that pacifies them.

i actually feel fine (except for a niggly headache caused by lack of time to visit my chiropractor - I can always tell because I start making specific typing mistakes). It was the *idea* that I loved. We have all been contagious at some point or other in our lives, so it's not a lie to say you don't think you are contagious. Especially if any family member is under the weather and you've been exposed (Gwen had mono for a month, poor baby, late Jan to late Feb; Doug is slowly getting over a cold). Today it's about 60 degrees here and I had a guy come to give me an estimate on pruning my fruit trees (needs to be done before 4/15 and I just can't anymore; too busy) and it was gorgeous walking around the yard. Made me want to play hooky today but I was a good do-bee and came in.

Hey @mcb39 -- the boys are fighting over you! How cool is that?! It's like being back in junior high school or something.

yes BUT include ALL the headers so the source can be tracked back. Most email programs hide the long list of headers, but there is almost always an option (somewhere) to show all headers.

From another newsgroup: Phishers are getting more sophisticated. We got an email inquiry. Said they were referred by a tax pro we'd never heard of who "was retiring" We replied that we were interested in talking with them. We got this response: "Thanks for your response. Please View Docs of copy my ID, copies of my last year Tax return details, W-2, 1099 form, year-end investment tax statements, bank interest, mortgage interest, property taxes, medical expenses, contributions and all other supporting documents. I am prepared to pay all professional fees as requested of me. I have uploaded all documents on Google docs, kindly click on Google docs to view and download my documents with any of your email account." The link was not to Google Docs and nothing was shared to us on Google Docs.

Yes but be warned that you will need to paper-file and include copies of death certificate AND assignment of representative/executor/whatever they call it in your state. AND that it will take extra time to process. One I did last year took a good six months to get the refund. It was still easier for the out-of-state daughter of the deceased than to wrangle getting an "estate" bank account set up to receive one payment. Maybe not quicker -- but easier.

Oooh! Great idea -- client comes in, don't shake hands, instead say "I think I'm not contagious any longer" and let the assumptions fly. Along with them, right out the door. Use only as needed. Best part is it's all TRUE! Not even a white lie.

It's OK -- Daylight Savings Time starts March 13th so we lose an hour early, too. Whimper.

If memory serves, severance tax is levied because the materials are "severed" from their place of origin and used elsewhere. Sort of like the obverse of Use Tax.

This will get more widespread as we head into March and then April.

I'd love some stickers some times. Just had one client send in a big packet of forms. EVERY forms was in there three times; some of them FOUR times. In separate places in the pile. It's like she just started copying everything, lost her place,and started from the top again - and then sent me the lot. It took my assistant the better part of an hour to double check that we counted everything once and nothing more than once. Her bill just went up, too.

I hit folks with a late fee if they are chronically late. Yes, 1.5%/month. Basically once I start getting annoyed at repeated promises of payment without payment showing up.

Had one a couple years ago myself - asked questions about major rental property repairs and his response was "I don't see why you need to know that." Boy did HE get fired in a hurry! (Duh; I ask so I can up-charge your bill because I have nothing ELSE to do with my time. Why else?)

Won't necessarily help, Jack. You are presupposing that the mailman can read, AND takes the time to do that. Back in Worcester, we had one mailman who could read and another who could not. We had a central mailbox setup for the street, and it's a good thing we all knew each other because stuff got stuffed any which way. Currently, I get mail regularly for the same house NUMBER for any of three other STREETS, none of which have anything in common with my street name, and none of which have anything in common with any NAMES; many of which items DO have zip+4 codes. It's rushing at the sorting IN the local office onto trucks, and lack of attention at delivery. Zip+4 won't cure that operator error. PO Box is the cure. I still like the idea of scaring the bozos who won't play nice - but then I have this unpopular, cockamamie idea about individual civic responsibility.