Catherine

Me, too!

My engagement letter states payment in full at time of presentation of completed returns. That said, there are always folks who forgot their checkbook (coming from work or the gym, en route to somewhere else, whatever). Those who have credit cards - I can take those through my website or QB (higher fee from QB despite their claims not - no surprise there another Intuit lie but I digress). Else I tell them to drop a check in the mail. Every year there are one or two that I have to remind. If I have to remind more than a couple of times, then I "forget" to send them a letter for next year. I don't need deadbeats. The only one I kept that I had to chase for months is a lady with a high-pressure job, two little kids, and a stay at home husband who cares for the kids. He's hopeless with money, she keeps the checkbook, and is usually too frazzled to remember her own name. She paid up at this year's pickup for this year and last year - with a dozen apologies. She brought her checkbook to the dropoff this year -- but it had no checks in it!

...some already available. http://distractify.com/matt-buco/these-things-should-be-everywhere/

OK; this was SO adorable. Mr. (Elderly gentleman) said he hoped to see me again next year. I agreed and said we would dance. So he thought that was a great idea and so we danced out into the hall where his daughter and son-in-law were waiting for him.

If he did, he ain't tellin'!

Carolbeck you are WAY undercharging for that much work!!!

Me too. Couple whose income was up $30K (incl $7K more SE income); tax went up too and they underwithheld. Want to know why, what's different, should they file MFS, blah blah blah -- all this when I still don't have brokerage docs and half a dozen other items!! I was a bit terse in my email reply. They ask EVERY year if MFS is better; one year I gave them the comparison (duh; WAY more tax MFS) yet *still* they ask and I am DONE with hearing the question.

A trip to the dentist to get the permanent filling on this root canal. No crown needed, at least! Now what to do when I'm done with that? Pedi, massage, other? (My husband would say, practice for the first rifle match which is Saturday the 18th...)

'cuz we can ALL use a couple minutes' break http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/2015/04/08/we-are-super-ninja-cats-masters-of-ancient-art-of-ninjutsu/

Hi folks -- New client (mom of current client) started in-home daycare in 2008. Prior returns show NO depreciation taken for the house. Is this normal with daycare - or did they mess up? I can get the valuation in 2008, I know the % of assessment due to land, I know 39-year nonresidential -- but do I need it at all? (And if so then yes I'm looking at F3115 and a 481a correction).

My sympathies! I lost two older clients last year, sadly. It's always hard to finish those last returns, too, because of the unavailable answers.

I have one in front of me right now; beautiful detailed spreadsheet with info on only ONE of the two rental properties...

He's about to viscerally learn the "render unto Caesar" line...

Ditto and likewise!

I went in an hour late and came home 1 1/2 hours early and have been taking it easy - including spending some quality time with the facial steamer. About to get into a steamy shower but the horrible sinus headache I had all afternoon has backed off quite a bit. Thanks for all the good wishes!

Going home now; thanks for all the good wishes and advice. We have a facial steamer that I bought years and years ago when my girls were little and tended to get croup. IT works *great* for colds and sinus infections. And Judy; most of my clients DO have a flagged field just for that reason; I don't know why these folks didn't. *Everything* about them is contrary and backwards - including this glitch. Sigh.

Well, the slight cold I was fighting my way through has decided to play hardball. Fever all night, not much better today despite having taken motrin at 8AM. Cancelled my accounting client (standard Tuesday), told my husband I will *not* be going to the pistol match tonight, and managed to get here to my office. There is a real downside to having my office outside the house! My lovely napping sofa is now an entire mile away..... Then, just to make things even *more* special, yesterday I had an e-file gliltch and sent in a return that was not quite ready! Was reaching for my mouse to de-select that client, jarred the mouse against my tea cup just enough to make it click - argh!!! --off it went, irretrievable. Perhaps a blessing in disguise; I have been wondering how to fire those clients. The last changes needed (besides waiting for e-file _authorization_ such a pesky detail) were so piddling that the change in tax might be as much as $10 - so not worth amending. But boy did that take the wind out of my sails yesterday afternoon. I think some echinacea tea with honey is next on the list.

Not due as Joan said -- but my folks abroad always want that extension filed anyway because they are scared of getting "why didn't you file" letters from the IRS. It doesn't hurt anything to file it; so go ahead!

I went to church and sang in the welcome-all-comers "Hallelujah Chorus" and that was wonderful. Saw a couple (real PITA clients) with complex taxes there but just to smile and wave to; I was heading the other way with great intent. Limited myself to *one* cupcake and one small slice of lemon bread/loaf-cake at the cupcake reception afterwards and also had some tea, and carrots and dip. NO taxes today.

Will have my assistant make calls/send emails next week, too. Extensions, all.

I'm sure not going to freak out; had both my girls try my AR-15 when they were small enough we had them shoot from bench rest because the recoil would have knocked them flat. Different one from the pretty purple one Margaret got to hold when she visited; this was before I got the pretty one and just had the plain black one.

It's just my husband and I tomorrow and while I will cook it won't be huge quantities. Thank heavens!

Yes, I have had several of these as well. There is a worksheet they send, which gives those adjustments. So take the proceeds and basis from the brokerage, apply the basis corrections, then adjust *again* to get the split between capital gain (or loss) and the 4797 sale of business assets piece that the worksheet gives you. I have one here that I did yesterday; PM me for my phone number and I can walk you through it if you want hand-holding - but you *can* do this yourself. It's just niggly and fussy rather than hard.

LOVE the "synonym rolls"!!!

I've been hitting the Skittles that I had been bravely staying away from all season. Tea, skittles, double-chocolate muffins, shortbread, and honey-roasted-salted cashews are my fuels of choice lately.