Catherine

Yeah, right. And my clients the artists who sell paintings and glass sculptures on the internet suddenly have to know the rules for over 9,000 locations (states, counties, cities). "Level the playing field" -- balderdash. Put small businesses under more business-killing regulations, more like. How about cutting wasteful spending FIRST? We've all seen it in our business customers -- areas where spending is more than it should be -- and they CARE because it's their money. Any one of us could go to any governmental organization and find oodles of waste. There is NO incentive to cut spending (rather, strong DIS-incentives); no reward for being good stewards of the money taken from the people; and political pressure to just go along, to keep their own cushy jobs.

Did you build them yourself for this cost?! If not, I want the name of your vendor!

Why would you NOT put it on Schedule C for the year paid? Cash-basis taxpayer, claim expense in year paid. If it is legitimately ALL for Sch C work, then it goes as professional fees on Sch C. Guy is very lucky in his accountant; my engagement letter for businesses states that if three invoices are unpaid I have the right to refuse to perform future work until a payment is made. I'd never let someone's tab grow to $17K. (Maybe if they were sole heir of a rich uncle in poor health, lol.)

http://www.theprogressiveaccountant.com/tax/caifornia-tax-preparer-agrees-to-ban.html Especially with your earlier comment about moving to CA...

When NASA was preparing for the Cassini-Huygens missions to Saturn and Titan, they bought -- and mothballed in climate-controlled storage -- multiple backup systems of the as-used computers the probes were designed to work with. They knew that, ten years down the road, hardware would have changed so much there was no guarantee they could still send or receive data with new equipment. So if any machine breaks down, they have brand-spanking-new, identical hardware, ready to go. The things one learns when spice and clients are rocket scientists...

The only thing I use IE for is Windows Updates (since I at least cannot run the updates on any other browser). Firefox and Chrome for everything else. IE has security flaws one could drive a truck through. Clients who work for defense contractors are often told by their employers that they may NOT use IE at work (and some of them, at home as well) because of recurring security problems.

I have a HUGE concern with what one of the other members posted in one of the innumerable "this doesn't work!!!" postings this year: that the underlying database structure that CCH chose becomes inherently more unstable the larger it grows. While I do _not_ do 600+ returns in a year, I have many returns that are extremely complex. I noted just last week that a return that is pretty "middle of the road" for me, with only about 60 stock transactions, got _extremely_ slow to navigate around in. Yes, latest program update etc. yadda yadda... and it was back to the LLOONNGG lag time in checking boxes, navigating the detail screens for the 8949 was astoundingly slow -- what will I encounter when I have one of my 400-trade returns? _Was_ this an example of the database instability --- or another internal structure problem?

My question would be can you get every penny of that early payment back if CCH does not have an ATX product next year -- or will it "merely" be available to apply to another CCH product? If the latter, would you be happy with TaxWise -> or ProSystem on a PPR basis?

The crucial piece to keep in mind with these requests is that the bank is looking for someone ELSE (=you) to blame (=sue) if your tax client defaults on his mortgage. Any letter you do write (and some of the samples are excellent) really needs to include the lines about "do your own due diligence; I am NOT responsible for the consequences of your decision" to protect yourself.

To expand upon what KC said: President Eisenhower (who ordered federal troops to enforce desegregation laws) was a strong supporter of civil rights and pushed VERY hard for enactment of federal civil rights legislation. His efforts were for naught, as the Senate Majority Leader, the then-senior Senator from Texas, refused to allow the bills passed by the House to come to the floor of the Senate for a vote. A number of years later, when some political winds shifted and it was PERSONALLY profitable politically for that former Senator to support the legislation, he changed his tune. The same man who stymied passage of civil rights laws in the mid-50's is, to this day, lauded for signing those same laws a decade later. Who? Lyndon Baines Johnson. Racist and political opportunist. Democrat, from a long line of Democrat racists -- they are the party that started and populated the KKK. They are the party that instituted the very FIRST gun-control laws -- designed to prevent the newly-freed blacks from arming themselves for their own defense against the KKK. After all, you don't want your victims able to fight back. Don't bother with ad hominem attacks -- you just point out your own ignorance and I pay no attention. Look it up yourself; the facts are historically correct.

I use first class mail to send return packages under the "magic" 13 oz limit. Above that weight, they want you to bring the packages to the post office. No such restriction on Priority Mail! My time is worth far more than the extra $1.50 to send Priority, plus I get the delivery confirmation. Plus the discount for buying online, and my carrier picks everything up. As for stamps -- yes they will send rolls for $1.00 fee through USPS dot com -- but there is still the free-delivery "stamps by mail" available. Ask your carrier for the envelope. You can order rolls and booklets, forever, postcard, and make-up (1-cent, etc) stamps that way. Stamps dot com is too pricey to be worth it for me. However, I have Endicia stamps through my Dymo label printer -- as long as you buy the postage rolls from them, it's a free monthly service. They are coming up with some changes in the next few months, though, so we'll see if I continue. It's not quite as all-encompassing as stamps dot com; you can get many variations on postage but it doesn't do Media Mail or packages (whereupon I go to usps dot com at least to get rates).

Thank you!

Client is a dependent who has investment income (grandpa set up UTMA acct for his college when he was a baby). Sold a bunch to pay for spring semester and I'm trying to figure out if he needs the 8615. Instructions say one of the requirements is over 18/under 24 and a "full-time student" -- and that's where I'm getting stuck. He WAS a full-time student -- spring semester only. Didn't go back in the fall (taking time off). He meets all the other requirements: more than $1900; required to file; at least one parent alive; no joint return; over 18/under 24, did not have earned income more than half his support. So the whole thing hinges on "full time student" and whether that means all year or if one semester counts. TIA, Catherine

FTM has just proven that he is in no way interested in a discussion of the Constitution, the upholding of the basic principles upon which this country was founded, or issues and facts. Either agree with his point of view, or be castigated. (Refer to his anti-ATX/CCH rants for perspective.) Such posts deserve nothing but being ignored, Jack from Ohio. Don't feed his self-importance.

All I know is "NY" -- but will pass on any further good info I get. Thanks to all.

Why -- simply more MISinformation, that is why. Police do NOT support "assault" weapons bans, magazine bans, or any of the other useless-against-crime nonsense being bandied about. 91.5% of officers think an "assault" weapons ban would have a zero or NEGATIVE effect on gun violence. Article: http://dailycaller.com/2013/04/10/survey-shows-law-enforcement-united-against-gun-control/ similar article: http://www.policeone.com/Gun-Legislation-Law-Enforcement/articles/6183787-PoliceOnes-Gun-Control-Survey-11-key-findings-on-officers-thoughts/ Actual survey itself: http://ddq74coujkv1i.cloudfront.net/p1_gunsurveysummary_2013.pdf

A Blaupunkt advertisement from some years ago. http://youtu.be/w4n9OlYqhfk Very, very funny -- only 16 seconds long. More than a bit racy.

The same Tax Foundation also publishes a list of the states' "Tax Freedom Day" -- the date when you finally stop working for the government and start working for yourself. Massachusetts is #4 at April 25th. Only NY, CT, and NJ are worse. I believe their state maps DO take into account property tax etc -- else NH, which has no personal income tax (as long as investment income is below $7500 or something like that) would be way lower on the list. http://taxfoundation.org/article/map-tax-freedom-day-state-2013

For all questions on these basic Constitutional issues, I VERY strongly recommend two incredible sources. 1. publiushuldah.wordpress.com -- Constitutional scholar, retired attorney, expert on the Federalist papers. Pick any post; read; be amazed. 2. "Good To Be King" by Michael Badnarik -- chapter 2, an *essential* discussion on the difference between rights and privileges, is available free on his web site, www.constitutionpreservation.org. And I'll put in a minor plug for my own small efforts in this regard, www.constitutiondecoded.com, where you can find articles, videos, and other info as well. I am a poor follower of the real scholars, but sometimes beginners can help other beginners more.

Yes, I do know that many pool companies have "issues" with mis-classifying workers etc. My only info is from the brother; he says problem is with NY not feds but who knows? I've seen no paperwork on it. The brother (my colleague) is very honest. He says his brother is a good guy but "paperwork impaired." I'm not interested in a NY client but thought someone here might be IF it goes that far. Thanks.

In a word, no. Don't forget about the kid who was suspended from school for wearing a tee shirt with an NRA logo. No picture of any kind of "scary" gun, just NRA.

A colleague who does not do taxes had a question on NY taxes while we were discussing other issues. His brother has a pool company and isn't good at paperwork. He has received letters from NY about past-due payments and doesn't know how to respond. The brother has an accountant who doesn't seem to know how to handle a paperwork-impaired client. Anyone out there in NY want a lead on a "walking annuity" type of client? If interested, send a private message and I'll pass your contact info along. Catherine

Doug & I are life members. This year they ran a special, and both daughters are now also life members. Plus Gwen & I members of the Second Amendment Sisters; sometime when Fiona is over I'll remember to have her sign the form and get her signed up as well. I could wish more of the Board had a knowledge of competitive target shooting. Maybe Doug should run once he retires!

I detest cloud-based software. Security breaches, unauthorized access, having to pay subscription fees in perpetuity in order to access historic data -- and a whole host of other reasons. Never. I have one accounting client who uses QB Online; it is horrible. They have outside sales people who have to be able to access the QB file from anywhere, though, so in the ONE instance I don't grump about it too much. (However, I do grump to them about it. They agree with my reasons but have not *yet* had reason to regret their decision.)

I do not have the time to respond to every one of your claims here, except to say individual circumstances vary and the vast majority of civilian-owned firearms that "make an appearance" in self-defense SAVE many, many lives every year -- and those are almost never reported (certainly not nationally; sometimes locally). I will address your assertion above, though. You have stated what can be termed the "Quaker fallacy" -- that if you save your own life by killing another, that makes YOU a bad person. WRONG. Utterly. You did not invade another's house, looking to steal, attack, or kill. Most of those who are "just" burglars will flee INSTANTLY when faced with a homeowner with a gun. Those who do not would not stop until one of you was dead, regardless. It is your right and your -duty- to protect your own life against one who will kill you. The injunction is not "do not kill" but rather "do not murder." Please listen to Rabbi Daniel Lapin's most-excellent CD on the Ten Commandments where he makes this point and distinction far better than I could. To save your own life is to protect a gift given to you by your Creator, against one who has no right to take it from you. You would only become a bad person if you left your house, malice aforethought, with the intent to hunt someone down to maim or kill. To refuse to defend self (as some Quakers espouse) frees those evil-doers to wreak havoc at will, knowing that none will stop them. It is tantamount to proclaiming that evil may propagate unchecked through the land. “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer I will add "inaction" to Rev. Bonhoeffer's quote. Now, a couple other minor bits: I did not intend to judge parents harshly. The intent was to show there are other ways to handle the presence of firearms in the house. That which is hidden, not discussed, but NOT locked up is a serious temptation to children. If a family wishes to not speak about their firearms with the kids, they need to keep them locked where the kids cannot get at them. When one is not home, firearms need to be securely locked. No one breaking into this house could put their hands on ANY of our guns, no matter how long they were in here. The fire you mentioned in a later post? No firearms and no ammunition would be responsible for explosions. Cartridges do NOT "shoot" unless they are in a barrel. Over-cooked the powder could burn, yes, and they'd be ruined and might cause small damage in the immediate vicinity. FAR less damage than you can cause with a soda bottle, vinegar, and baking soda. Large quantities of powder (if they were reloaders) could make a nasty hot spot in a fire, but powder BURNS, it does not explode. For explosions, look at the fireworks -- those are designed to have small explosions and propel the sparkly bits. Again I will say: the genie cannot be put back in the bottle. Firearms exist. The bad guys will ALWAYS be able to get their hands on them. We can either let the bad guys have ALL of them, or we can stop interfering with the good guys trying to own them legally. And the purpose of the Second Amendment is to insure that the government NEVER stops the citizenry from owning firearms, as that is OUR last defense against tyranny in government. I'm done on this topic -- there are plenty of articles and info available online, including my web site at www.constitutiondecoded.com.