Catherine

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.

Joan -- sympathies on your kitty; I hope she recovers quickly and fully!

I just set up an auto-respond to my email - copy below - and I am considering adding Judy's "piecemeal means bottom of the pile" idea, we'll see how badly people tick me off today. Dear Client: Please be assured that you have *not* been forgotten, and your tax returns are in progress. However, if we took the time to respond to each email from clients "just checking in" we would be unable to finish anyone's returns. In order to expedite your own returns, if you receive an email from us with an information request, please read it carefully and respond only once with all the requested information. Piecemeal and/or incomplete responses slow down your returns considerably.

Went to a Passover Seder at my church tonight where the pastor is a Messianic Jew. Wow, did I learn stuff there! Anyone interested I'll tell them all about it after 4/15. Will definitely be at church early Sunday to practice for the Hallelujah chorus. Work on Sunday -- probably not. No appointments *definitely*. I've been trying really hard to set aside this one day every week.

I find myself in the same boat as so many folks here and doing way more of ^this -- not replying yet. What really fries me is the carefully bulleted (like * not like "bang" - with my hobby I feel I must specify lol) list I send out -- and get back one or maybe two of the five or seven items listed. Thank you for answers to items a and b; I am still waiting for answers on c, d, e, and f. Thank you for answer e, I am still waiting for answers c, d, and f..... et cetera. Or the emails that say, "I don't have this yet, just thought I'd let you know," -- I don't CARE. Send me the info when you have it and other wise LEAVE ME ALONE so I can get something DONE!!!! Argh! What a season this has been.

I always do anyway (and don't charge), 'cuz it starts the SOL for the year. Takes me less than 5 minutes per; federal only and no e-file with no taxable income.

I still have clients that use ledger paper and their records are some of the best I get. Why is it that people who can NOT balance a checkbook think they can run a business and do the bookkeeping all by their lonesome?!?!

Volunteer coaching or possibly transporting referees or coaches or others needed for the game. Else nope.

I have actually seen W-2's identical from one year to the next! My husband and a couple of others are volunteer coaches for the MIT Collegiate Pistol Team. But due to weird rules they must also be "employees" of MIT. So they $600/year each (which all of them then donate back to the team, as the coaches' salary comes out of the team's account). $0 fed withholding, the same $29 for state withholding, the same socsec/medi... every year, for each of them. VERY odd circumstances.

Jack -- deepest sympathies to you and to your friend's family. Travel safely, my friend.

2012 just about did me in, too. Took the leap and frankly, when I go back to ATX (that I loved SO much) for whatever reason (lots of that this year with 3115 issues - all my notes are in the program as comments) I find the format is not as wonderful as memory makes it, and I am astounded at how long it takes for some portions to load - and that is NOT with the 2012 program!

A couple of years ago I had a kid who wanted tax experience work for me. Had a Master's in Accounting. Too dense to pour sand out of a boot with the directions printed on the heel. This year (actually, last September; I wanted a chance to vett him first) I hired a kid who was a math major. Never finished his degree as he ran out of money, and wanted something that at least started as part-time while he figured out what his next steps were (laid off from his last job). He is *fabulous*. Works hard, understands everything the first time, asks questions that shows he has been thinking, and almost never makes the same mistake twice (and most of his mistakes are where *my* instructions were lacking or ambiguous). God willin' and the creek don't rise, he will take over my business in 5-8 years. So think outside the box. Take a chance on someone without the "right" degree (or even any degree) if they (1) know math, (2) understand they know NOTHING about the tax business, and (3) are willing to learn.

Many have said that the 1041 is the weakest part of the Drake package. Can't say I disagree with that assessment -- but I'll take it over the missing fixed assets, update issues, and corrupted backup files that folks are reporting as continuing issues with ATX this year.

I didn't get one either and now I feel all left out! Pout.

Thank you, Elrod!

15 unusual sets of animal friends; multiple pix of each. LOVE how the eyes are so similar in #4. http://fellowshipoftheminds.com/2015/03/27/15-unusual-animal-friendships-that-will-melt-your-heart/