Catherine

The 9325 doesn't include state e-file information, though. And the Massachusetts M-9325 is just boilerplate; it also does not update with e-file status. What I do is print out the e-file acknowledgment history, Federal and state, for the client, and mail that instead.

I have a separate WIP Excel spreadsheet where I list every return with boxes to either check or enter dates of various stages. Using Excel also allows me to color-code an entire return -- I can open the spreadsheet and see at a glance how many returns are in the works, how many waiting for 8879's, how many need printing, or pickup, or whatever. I've refined it over several years and it's really helpful to me. It's attached; perhaps it will help you. or someone else Tax WIP blank.xls

Hope you have a VERY :bday:

For those who like Calvin & Hobbes, snowfolk, snow, winter, or any/all of them. http://www.angelfire.com/wa/zzaran/calvin.html Enjoy!

Eric --I have the exact same Demotivator on my bookcase here in my office!

Hope you have a VERY :bday:

Another great place for older books is AbeBooks. They seem to specialize in old editions, out of print, collectible, etc. I'm not sure what their rules are for selling there, but I sure have bought my share of older books from them. Catherine

Happy New Year to all! Thank you for all the help and support during 2009. I look forward to more in 2010. May 2010 bring you all nothing but the best. Catherine

Bad. Very, very, very bad. I like it. :lol:

Hope you have VERY :bday:

They could just charge by total weight. Or total volume. And UPS would rake in a bundle getting our luggage to our destinations. Maybe Boeing picked the wrong time to bring out that new plane. (Remember the movie "Airplane"? -- I sure picked the wrong week to quit a ) drinking, b ) smoking, c ) doing cocaine, d ) sniffing glue, etc.)

The only solution, of course, is for all of us to fly naked (after body cavity searches). I wonder if the airlines will then start charging for use of blankets, seat sanitizers, and blindfolds! (There are certain things I really do NOT want to see in this world. High on that list would be jowly, overweight businessmen and great-grandmothers, sitting naked in an airliner. A blindfold would be worth a lot of money then.) I get the feeling that both Amtrak and the highways will be seeing more business, effective immediately. Perhaps even the resurgence of the ocean liner. In the meantime, El Al has an exemplary security record -- because they take security seriously, and do not water down safety requirements for fear of being called names by idiots. Profiling -works- and I don't care if it's PC or not. Don't want to offend? Well, being so PC that innocents are endangered offends ME. Reconcile that. :mad:

Hope you have a VERY :bday:

Hope you have a VERY :bday:

Marilyn -- I am so glad your surgery went well!! May you heal very quickly ( you and your husband both) and may the second eye go as well. Margaret -- I can certainly understand your fear of surgery in your remaining sighted eye; the thought is very scary. If/when you decide to do it, I hope it all goes -at least- as well as Marilyn's has.

Yes, BUT. The "but" is that you pretty much have to fill out the paper form to have with you when you go online. It's just not possible to have everything they want, in the forms they want it, without having the all-filled-out paper form right there beside your keyboard. Ask me how I know this.....

Thanks for TWO pieces of info -- one on the import of csv files, and the other that CCH is actually responding (at least for now) to emailed support requests!

Kea -- I'll take the Burns book. PM me (or I'll PM you) and we'll discuss. Catherine

Oooh -- that one is nasty! Unprotecting the form and then pasting saved my behind a couple of times last year with day-trader clients. I thought there was supposed to be an Excel import for Sch. D this year but I haven't looked at it yet.

I only do it for tax clients and add a small charge to their tax bill when we get there. Of course I tell them ahead of time when they first bring me the papers! I suppose if someone wanted just the aid forms I'd charge about $100 or more (depending on how complex). They're really nasty. I don't charge tax clients that much ($50 or so) because it's mainly a rehash of the stuff I need for their taxes anyway.

The line between bureaucratic inertia and outright tyranny can be exceedingly thin.

A friend who was a professional fundraiser for many years has been involved in quite a few direct mail campaigns. She always said a 1 - 2% response was pretty good -- but that's asking for money. I think for marketing it's a bit better. If you average about $250 per return, then six new clients puts you in the black for this campaign in terms of direct costs of the mailing. But a 3% return would get you 45 clients. Good luck!

Yeah.

I get good rates from Target Insurance Services (through the Hartford); they have a special tax preparer program. Don't know how they are on claims, as I haven't had any (and please God that it stays that way!).

A client of mine had this done (two eyes but separately) a couple of years ago. She said the most amazing part was how much more vivid the COLORS were. Had she known in advance, she would not have waited those extra couple of years! Did you find that true as well?