Catherine

I did not like the implication that "only" a PhD holder can be smart (and that if you can put one over on them you're extremely clever in your disguise). However, it is also VERY clear from the article that the leasing company is telling people "this is NOT a lien" when, in fact, it IS considered a lien by banks etc. THAT is deception if not fraud. I don't care *what* people do in terms of getting solar panels: buy, lease, take up a collection, refrain, whatever. As long as they have all the pertinent information to make that decision. Being told "not a lien" when all outside agencies with whom one must deal say "yes, a lien" is deception.

Hi TAG -- No, I have never gone to the Camp Perry matches -- although I know plenty of folks who do. I utterly wilt in heat and humidity, so Camp Perry would be pure torture for me. I was invited (and did go to) the National Championships in 1980, out in Arizona. Those were also the Olympic Tryouts for that year (which didn't mean much because we were boycotting those Olympic Games). That was tons of fun. I was much younger (weren't we all!) and didn't get as overwhelmed by heat. Plus it was AZ so as soon as you got into the shade the temps dropped and evaporative cooling works so dumping water on your head cools you off substantially. All the firing points out at Black Canyon are in the shade.

I have some "elderly on fixed income" who every year net double or triple my gross. They "only" get the 10% senior discount.

I charge $105 for the 1040 and $50 for MA; $75 each for non-resident or part-year state returns. Sch A adds $50, B adds $30, Sch D I charge $50 plus $3 per item (so one sale of one mutual fund costs $3; the client with 400 trades pays $1200) but then discount the $50; that charge is basically there because it's the fee for sale of residence (that pays me for slogging through the scribbled lists of "improvements" and crossing off the repairs and maintenance, then slogging through the HUD-1 to get corrections to RE tax). Sch C is the most variable. Base fee is $100 - but the elderly lady who does a bit of translating and has almost no expenses can get a $90 discount off that. The guy with the shoebox pays the full $100 plus bookkeeping time at $75/hour. The clients for whom I do the bookkeeping don't get charged extra for that (they pay those fees monthly) and I should have populate-ready info. Lots of the smaller forms get charged, as well (usually $15 per). I give tons of discounts (folks love to see discounts; I get thank you notes for the discounts sometimes). Senior discount 10%; active military 20%; $25 for a referred client who has paid; super-deep discounts (down to $30 or sometimes $0) for the kids' returns where I do the parents.

This may be germane to some of our clients. I know I get these questions (lease or buy) and my response will be substantially different with this new knowledge; will have my clients ask MANY more questions. http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/2015/04/17/if-you-install-solar-panels-you-may-have-a-lien-on-your-home/

Yeah, and after THIS season that comment is looking for Rita's boot in response. Rita - do you outsource?

I try to have the bulk of my extensions filed by 4/10 for that very reason. Any last-minute clients go past, of course. And there are always a couple who actually get the returns filed after the extension but before 4/15. So my busiest time ends a couple of days before 4/15, usually.

I forgot about the new SSN request; duh! One of my clients did that this year. But she told me about it more than a day ago, so it was lost in the mists of overwork. Thank you, Jack!

My husband took me out to dinner (nothing fancy; just yummy and low-key - JUST what I needed). Got home and called one elderly client who was worried about an extension - filed weeks ago, but they're so old-fashioned they don't even have an answering machine. Had a delightful chat with him. Am going to prep the request for our vacation week and send that out tomorrow. Phew! *WHAT* a season this year was! Won't even look at the extensions 'til Monday.

I hit the wall two weeks ago and have been going off of sheer orneriness ever since.

That's right, I do. But I wouldn't waste using them on clients. In fact, I took a half-hour this morning to practice rifle (the pretty purple one you've all seen in pictures, that Margaret got to hold when she visited) with this super-spiffy laser practice setup my husband bought a year or so ago (from Noptel). Our first match is this Saturday and standing on the line might be my very first chance at live fire this year. http://www.noptel.fi/eng2/Sport/index.php

Explanation for not filing electronically will not help if the return has been e-filed without the child. 1040X, put the explanation in the appropriate section, and yes absolutely enclose a copy of the adoption certificate. Here's hoping the IRS goes after the bio parent who is committing tax fraud by continuing to claim the child. Check these folks' withholdings, too -- they should not be having so much withheld that they are desperate for that refund. They can pretty much expect this to happen EVERY year until the bio parent is caught and stopped. Their choices are two: file VERY early (to be first, and likely not possible as fraudsters file super-early for that selfsame reason and don't care about waiting for official documents), or file next year while being ready to submit an original paper-filed return (with the EFO form and a copy of the federal rejection and a copy of the adoption certificate). That means fixing withholdings so they are not "desperate" for next year's refund.

One would hope, but it doesn't, quite. There is always the last-minute crunch of folks who suddenly decide they want to make a payment, or call with their grown child's info so you can put in extensions for them, or who contacted you two months ago and never since until *today* when they want to know if it's too late to file an extension with you... Blech. I will be GLAD when today is over. Will take it easy the rest of this week (5-6 hour days, not 10-12) and start hitting the extended clients next week. Note for Rita: that is, hitting their *tax returns* by working on them, not dope-slapping the clients. Not even the ones who really NEED dope-slapping. Although those I will *think* about hitting. 90% of the fun, 0% of the repercussions. Except for the queries, when speaking with them, about why the sudden big grin ("Oh, nothing, just a random funny thought crossed my mind").

The support is AMAZING!

Hope your head feels all better this morning, Joan!

Congratulations, JohnH!

I had one guy who was supposed to drop off last night and never showed. Same guy asked for account approval on my file share portal today. Guess there will be ONE more tomorrow. Otherwise, all my extensions are IN. Unless you count the two that, today, decided they wanted to send in payments as well - can I please have a payment coupon? <<<<tthhiiss>>>> close!

And in case you need a break from the extensions, try these jokes: http://higherperspectives.com/jokes-for-intellectuals/

Meant to post this earlier and got distracted. Phone call this morning; guy says he tried to e-file last night with Ttx and rejection for used ssn. Called Intuit for help, they gave him MY number and said I could help. Then it turns out he thought I was the IRS!?!?! Gave him the identity theft number, name/number of the affidavit form (all posted HERE in another thread, thank you ALL very much), had a nice chat about the other steps he needs to take like calling the cops, getting a 5-digit IRS PIN next year, etc. He was very grateful. Sent me an email later offering to give me a great review on facebook or linked in. But seriously wtf Charlie? Intuit gives out MY number and says I'm the IRS?

I have the SAME problem -- I get the *right* answers, not the ones I want! I spent all last week working *only* 9 hours/day with a sinus infection and 102 fever - I feel your pain! It's slowly improving and I made it through the class I taught tonight without losing my voice, too. One of my students brought his taxes since he couldn't figure them out with Ttx. One additional extension for tomorrow. Snack and bed for me.

Rita, I just LOVE you!!!! [Parenthetically, if you ARE on fire with a stick in your eye, don't call us either. Go to the hospital, after you doused yourself with a fire extinguisher.]

No kidding -- MY fee for that return would have been between $375 - $450 (possibly more), depending on how convoluted the C's and E were.

So is there any more trust -- or did the sale finish it off? How are the proceeds going to be distributed to the beneficiaries if not through a K-1? Looks to me like there IS a return; either final, or final with K-1's, or non-final with K-1's. Sorry.

Drake also has its own online forums; log in to your Drake account and click on support then forums. The search engine is pretty darned good. But I don't know the answer off-hand.

They catch the WEIRDEST things; ignore the folks who owe gazillions but send nasty-grams on a $50 "discrepancy" that resulted in $12 tax change in my taxpayers' favor....