Catherine

Sounds like nap time to me!! That _would_ be very productive. I'm about ready to go off to the kitchen and bake some scones (promised my husband) and have that as an excuse to turn the oven on. We've been having ice-cold rain mixed with sleet and a few snowflakes all day, and this place is down to 65F again. That is just bleeping cold!!

So is laughter!!

I have an encrypted, password-protected file where I store all my passwords. Plus I add in all the former passwords, as so many places will not let you use former passwords either, and any special rules for that site (min, max, special characters allowed/disallowed/required) as I detest picking a new one and being told it doesn't qualify for reason one, then reason two, then reason seventeen! Stupid file is over 25 pages long. It's all madness.

see attached picture

Sometimes I do... and/or "justify" it by working on a bunch of easy returns to "get them out of the way" except then the nasty ones are still there. Like you, I set aside specific times to work on the nasty ones -- but not solely those; it's too depressing. A bunch of the "ickier" ones go on extension, too -- if I need to peel apart layer upon layer of junk, I don't want to do that against the April deadline or delay my good (organized) clients' returns.

Actually, the Constitution is remarkably short and succinct. What you probably mean is that she thinks you are writing one of today's mega-tome bills that you have to pass to find out what's in them.

I have very few clients who are NOT missing information. I keep running notes on my WIP spreadsheet and send off one long email with questions. What ticks me off is the people who go through the list, answer one question, and then think they're done. Sorry, kids, when I send a bulleted list of questions, I need an answer to ALL of them.

Thanks again!

NASA has made an *astounding* discovery!! http://fourthcrown.wordpress.com/2014/03/26/liquid-water-discovered-on-surface-of-minnesota/ Excerpt: "FORT LAUDERDALE—In a press conference held Tuesday morning, NASA officials have announced the discovery of liquid water on the surface of the region commonly referred to as Minnesota. The discovery has come as a surprise to the space exploration organization, which has listed the state of Minnesota as “unsuitable for any and all biotic life” since mid-November. " Addendum: My husband had a guy in his dorm from International Falls ("Frostbite Falls" of Rocky & Bullwinkle fame). The guy stood outside in a snowfall, in short sleeves, perfectly comfortable -- and the snow that landed on his arm did not melt. That's acclimated for you!

Read the description: lady said right lane was blocked by trucks (and you could see one occasionally in the video) until he passed her, and that she was poised to make a left turn herself. Same thing has happened to me more than once; stuck in a lane because no one will let me over or i have to make a specific turn, and get tailgated by some idiot who wants to drive way faster than the road conditions allow.

'Tis on the list for this evening. Thanks again, everyone! This group is just terrific.

Lots of help; thanks to all! Now all I have to do is parse out what they earned by when -- including half a gazillion trades of stocks and funds. Fortunately, I have a Gruntworx spreadsheet of those and can sort by date. Catherine

Thanks, Gail -- that was a help! No tuition, but there are private pensions for both of them (retired couple), and some charity as well. I'd best get used to NC, as my older girl plans to move there late this summer. Catherine

Hi everyone -- Clients moved to NC in late October, so I have a part-year resident return to do for them. What I can't find in my reference book is if NC taxes on NC-only earning, or whole-year proportionally by length of residence (as MA does). Also, are there any NC oddities that I should be aware of? Like the MA health-care mandate, or Use Tax (reporting or safe harbor numbers), or special treatment of in-state bank interest? Thanks, Catherine

Karen -- my sympathies on your loss.

I must say the more I use Drake the more I like it (and I was very much of two minds in switching; I love the ATX format). There are a few quirks, but all in all it is way faster.

And tracking this nonsense would be an absolute nightmare - and people won't do it. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-25/bitcoin-is-property-not-currency-in-tax-system-irs-says.html

OUTRAGEOUS!!! This just in: that miserable scum of a judge awarded the child-ABUSING state DCF PERMANENT custody of this child. Thereby signing her DEATH WARRANT as her health is failing under DCF "management." http://michaelgraham.com/outrage-in-pelletier-case-corrupt-ma-judge-awards-state-permanent-custody-of-justina/

Lucky for me my PTP clients all have small holdings; none of the "other state" info is within an order of magnitude of crossing the filing thresholds. Phew!

Admittedly the "over half of her own support" looks hard on $13K/year but... is she in a state school? Scholarships? Grants? Loans? Using UTMA funds that became hers when she hit 18? She could be making that amount, dealing with college costs, and still providing more than half her support. Whether or not that is _wise_ is another question. But if the parents are fronting money for school (including 529 plans and the like) it could be that she does not meet the 1/2-support test. Step #1: detail the support. All of it. Once you have that tied down, you can pursue the rest. Until that is tied down, none of the other questions can be answered accurately.

Thank you, Lion! I just ran into another one last night; two partnerships with items on the K-1 several of whose codes do NOT exist in the official IRS code listings. 20-Z -- who ever heard of 20-Z? Not just that, but 20-Z1, 20-Z2, up to 20-Z17. Yes, 17. Plus several more similar in 13, and 17; code letters that don't exist, with multiple entries each. Ack!

Oh, that's a good one; thank you!

I'm glad I'm not a mouse?!

Not necessarily. I have one of those this year, too -- and the codes given on the "statement" page do NOT coincide with the codes listed for K-1's in The Tax Book or anywhere else. Some of the codes the statement gives don't even exist! I had to look at the descriptions given and do my best to puzzle it out. Catherine

Hi Lucho -- Get used to the 1099-HC; you'll be seeing it used across the country as people are forced to prove to the feds that they have purchased a commodity. Box 2 is the EIN of the insurance company. Mass Schedule HC requires -- for EACH person, -- insurance company name, EIN, and individual's subscriber number. Those items are Box 1, Box, 2, and Box 5. Watch out for families, though -- subscriber numbers for families are sometimes all alike, and sometimes DIFFERENT. Plus,. sometimes the person on "spouse" is the primary subscriber; do NOT assume the "taxpayer" is the subscriber. Watch Box 3, as well. Subscriber number for other persons covered on the plan are on lines a., b., etc. You will need info from parents for young adults over age 18 who are still covered on mom & dad's plan. I have EIN's for EVERY insurance company authorized to sell insurance in MA if you need one for a young adult. The ins. co. name and subscriber number are on the insurance card, but not the EIN. There is also a checkbox for "did not receive Form 1099-HC" that might get you around the EIN requirement. Also be aware that those covered by Medicare, Medicaid, Tri-Care, Mass Health, & Commonwealth Care just need check boxes. "Neighborhood Health Plan" is a Commonwealth Care plan and gets the checkbox. In the immortal words of Zippy the Pinhead, "Are we having fun yet?"