Catherine

Hope you have a VERY

Hope you have a VERY

Most likely true - especially if they start off with annuities -- but I have seen a few rare situations where it was not only the right thing but just about the only thing that would do what the individual needed. Then the trick is to find one that doesn't gobble up in fees anything it might possibly earn. Catherine

Go here: Pub 3112 and find all the info you need. Do it NOW, because they require 45 days to process an EFIN before you can actually e-file returns. The EFIN itself is a six-digit number. Catherine

My software arrived yesterday, as well. It's currently sitting on a shelf watching me sort papers and re-set for the coming tax season. That usually gets done in _May_, but this year was ridiculously busy. The thing I really like about PayPal is that there are NO monthly fees (and no machine to lease or buy, either). I only pay a fee when someone uses it. Considering that I have about two people a _year_ who pay electronically, a set monthly fee would swiftly make it more reasonable for me to do those two returns for free! YMMV. Catherine

Just posted a topic in the TRX section about an email I got from them today. Those who used TRX last year should read it, especially if you have office staff to take care of routine matters -- it might trip you up.

I've told TRX representatives several times by phone (they keep calling me) that I will NOT be ordering from them for tax year 2010 software, and that I have already purchased software elsewhere. So today I got this by email, sent from TRX "Customer Relations": Hi Catherine White, We are reaching out to you to remind you of a balance due amount of $328.95 for the purchase of your tax preparation software this year. Your software is scheduled to be shipped December 10th, however your software will not ship until the balance due is paid in full. Please call 866-829-9777, option 2 to discuss balance and payment options. We look forward to supporting you and assisting you in making this your best tax season yet! *If you have already contacted us regarding payment arrangements, please disregard this communication. Thank you, TRX Customer Relations Department Figured folks would want to be on the lookout in case you have an office manager who might send out payment before talking to you..

2010 tax year Engagement, Tax.doc Here are drafts of this year's forms. The funny margins on the letter are due to the requirements of my stationery. Catherine 2010 Checklist - short organizer.doc

It is possible with PayPal to get and personalize the "DONATE" button instead of the "BUY NOW". The "DONATE" can be changed to "PAY NOW" or "PAY HERE" or whatever you want. Then your client can enter the amount of your bill, and pay you by direct debit or credit card. I worked with my web site folks to tweak that button, and somewhere I have the HTML code for it. If you can get the code, just look for the "DONATE" text and substitute your preferred text, and then use that piece of code for your button. You can see my button at grant-financial.com in case you're interested. Hope this helps, Catherine

Hi Dan -- I pretty much use the same engagement letter and document checklist every year; I update the year at the top and make any other year-specific changes required. (For example, when MA started requiring the 1099-HC for proof of health insurance, I added that to the checklist, and change the note on the letter to address some specific item that folks have asked about or is in the news.) If you need a new copy of either (or both), reply back and I'll put 'em up as files.

I am very thankful and grateful for this forum and for everyone here on it - information, support, good (and bad) jokes and puns, life events - everything. Thank you all so very much for being part of my life. Love, Catherine

My link A country that comes up with cricket as a sport WOULD make this the second most popular plastic car, ever. Enjoy!

Thank you, Denne! And Gwen says "Thank You!!" to everyone here.

If it's a simple return with a couple pages, fold 'em. The extra postage to mail them flat isn't worth the bother. Massachusetts, though, requires paper returns to be mailed in flat. Perhaps they can't figure out how to put a weight on them to flatten them properly. Or perhaps with the three-page standard form plus four-page proof of health insurance form that must be included, single-sided, with every return, it just isn't feasible to try to tri-fold a MA return. Catherine

Thanks, Wendy!

Gwen says "Thank you!" to everyone for the kind and encouraging words. And I do, as well.

Well, Gwen isn't a football player, but she got her ACT scores today. 30 overall and 29 on the writing test! In the overall, she also got a perfect score (36) in reading. Yay, Gwen!

Congratulations, Tom!!

Sometimes the direction also depends on logistics -- there was one apartment I lived in years ago where the only way it worked was to roll under. There was some sort of "roof" over where the paper lived that prevented one from getting at it unless it was under. And in this house, one of our paper towel dispensers downstairs rolls under because it's a snap-in, and if the towels roll over the top, then the whole roll gets knocked out when one piece is torn off.

Hope you have a VERY

Hope you had a VERY

Over the top. And, when one uses paper with designs (do they even make those anymore?) it's the only way the design shows. UNLESS you have cats. In which case sometimes the only safe location for the paper is inside the cabinet!

Belated wishes for a VERY

Belated wishes for a VERY

A belated "Thank you" to all our veterans. I was away on the day itself and couldn't post, but I was thinking of you all.