Catherine

Had an e-file rejected -- message was mis-match between status of "may we discus" box and info in fields below. Specifically, it said that if there was a -name- in the box, then they wanted phone and PIN. But if it was "preparer" in the box, then they wanted NOTHING in those two fields. Well, it WAS "Preparer" in the box and there was indeed -nothing- in the other two fields. I put "preparer" in all-caps (as the reject error message had), put my PIN in the PIN box and then deleted it (in case there was a space as a 'character' in there), and re-submitted. We'll see. Anyone else getting these -- and if so, how are you dealing? Catherine

Hope you have a VERY

Hope you have a VERY

And for running memory-hogging programs, don't forget to max out on the RAM.

Hope you have a VERY

Hope you have VERY

Hope you have a VERY

Good luck to you , then! Hope it works really well for you. Catherine

I have a mail slot in my front door -- but people put stuff between the screen and back doors! I did re-key the "office" door -- but the door has glass panes. The office is in my house, and if I'm not here the (monitored) alarm system is on. No cleaners (and boy can you tell long about the end of March!), no service people at all in here without me being here. VMSUS described our computer and network security as "Fort Knox". My daughter is my employee, and my husband has a security clearance. We're about as safe here as one can get in terms of information. And all this (except the key to the glass door inside the house) well before the nonsensical law. OK, it's late and I'm tired. Enough for tonight. Catherine

Yes, thinking of you!!

Whatever you end up with, make sure your wireless network is secured. Visitors here end up inadvertently using the neighbor's network as it's wide open and unprotected (not sure which neighbor, and it doesn't happen often). Ours doesn't even show up as existing unless you have the secret decoder ring.

I strongly recommend AGAINST using Flash drives as long-term storage; they fail WITHOUT WARNING. I know a number of people who have been burned that way. Yes, the File Share works within the MA rules. But I am amazed at the clients who pay no attention when I tell them "do NOT send me SSN's, bank account numbers, (blah blah) by email". Supplemental info -- no problem. Just nothing an identity thief could use. And OldJack -- I agree with you in theory on the paper files. I just don't have the physical room -- and with the new regulations, I sure don't have the -secured- storage to keep paper returns for everyone for the length of time I'd want to keep them. Catherine

I have dual hard drives set with a RAID mirror system, daily online secure backup, weekly (well, I try) onsite backup to external network drive, then I burn CD's or DVD's at season end that go off to a safe box. Belt, suspenders, duct tape, and staples ALL needed when computers are involved!

Hope you had a VERY

I've been keeping pdf's -and- paper copies of client returns, plus pdf's of original doc's (3 years of paper in active file cabinet). This year so far I've just been keeping pdf's. I may print out the 1040 only; still thinking. The thing about paper is that if a client calls next September with a question, it's a lot faster to pull out those paper files (especially multiple years) than to wait until the computer boots and/or Adobe Reader loads. (Funny how they always seem to call when the computer is -off-.) But I could sure use the extra file space of no paper copies. Plus MA is now instituting absolutely ridiculous rules about client data; some of the one-size-fits-none types that apply equally to huge companies like TJX, and out-of-my-house sole prop's like me. You're not supposed to leave ONE piece of paper out, unlocked, if you go to the bathroom! Or have -any- client file out except the one you are actively working on right that very second. Yeah, right. KC has mentioned the list of info we absolutely need to keep -- maybe I'll eventually dig that list out and print just those bits.

Piles upon piles of tax documents notwithstanding, tonight I am playing hookie and going contra dancing with Gwen. So there. :lol:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/02/23/traficant-will-launch-independent-congressional-bid/?fbid=oWrqywEpzxg Former Democratic Representative James Traficant, now out of prison, will run for Congress as an independent.

They are -beautiful- !!! Enjoy them; it goes by SO fast!

Cuba?

I just got acks today on some filed 2/18 -- so yours should show up soon.

Love it!!

I have a program called DiskKeeper (maybe it's one "k") that defrags constantly in the background. It seems to take almost no CPU or memory but I never have a fragmented disk. But maybe going from 1GB up to 2GB RAM (after 4/15!!) might be a good idea for me. My daughter's machine still has a half-gig of RAM and the thing is incredibly slow -- she's first on the memory upgrade list! And Elfling -- I love the Douglas Adams quote in your sig.

I want to hold meetings at -his- office!!