Catherine

How veddy 'Nancy Reagan' of you, sirrah! (NOT political; it's supposed to be funny, 'cuz that was the campaign she started umpty years ago and we're ALL of us here old enough to remember it!)

To the moon!

So the question for @RitaB is - is it OK to kill those co-workers?

I hope everyone had a VERY Happy Thanksgiving!

Almost worthless. It will allow you to find out if the return is in the system and being processed; not much else.

We have a Fuji ScanSnap S1500 that scans duplex, is fast, and wasn't expensive.

I've used efile my forms for the last half dozen years. Info rolls over; easy to efile that *o-o-n-n-e-e* last 1099 your client tells you about last-minute. It might be cumbersome is we had more than a three or four dozen w2 and 1099 forms. Then again, I've never looked into uploading to them from an Excel file.

Yes indeed. I have learned that sending them in by fax is highly dependent on WHEN. Sending them after hours or over the weekends is useless; the machines run out of paper, memory, or both. Likewise, before 10 or 11AM on Monday or post-holiday - they haven't been re-loaded with paper yet. 11AM or later, and before 4PM, on weekdays that are not holidays. And just hope your fax re-dials often enough to get through the busy signals. Sigh.

Or a well-paid spouse.

Absolutely. And set up a SECOND admin account, in case login for the first ever gets corrupted. That dodge saved my bacon once, long ago, when my account *and* my admin acct logins both got corrupted on the same day -about two weeks before the close of the tax season! (I also took it as a warning that machine was getting flaky, and changed the machine itself right after the season closed that year.)

The one thing I've had bad luck with is optical drives (CD/DVD reader-burners). The one installed seems to die after a while (this has happened to three different machines). Fortunately, every time Dell has sent a new one and I've just popped it in. First time they sent a tech; when I saw how easy it was I just told them to send me the drive after. Two were machines bought at the same time, that had the exact same optical drive - so those might have just been a batch that was poorly made. Third one was a much older drive but I'd renewed my warranty so it was still covered. No other issues. I do detest their keyboards, so I found and bought one I liked and just use that on any new computer.

You will NEVER regret getting the most RAM you can. We have a RAM-intensive business. Tax program, QuickBooks, Excel, browser windows for research, Adobe for pdf's, and more. It's easy to add an external hard drive; harder to add more RAM if you're nervous about opening the case, getting a grounding strap, and mucking about with adding/swapping memory modules. And always get Professional version software. I agree with cbslee; give Dell a call (they always have promotions going on) and see what you can get from them. Direct from Dell you can also get three years of next-day on-site support should something go wrong. Alternatively you can call HP and see what deal they'll give you. Good luck!

Hooray hooray enjoy the day(s)! Congratulations!

95k

Looking into other documentation. From what I can tell, it was a loose partnership. One was going to buy the house, the other do most of the renovations and put in funds because the first had wholesale connections for supplies. Yeah. And we'll never get the other's ssn. Year is 2016; before the tax law changes.

Already done. Blood from a turnip; the bozo blew the money and is broke.

Client made a business deal with a friend; they were going to flip a house. Friend bought the house, client gave personal loan for materials/supplies/etc for the flip. Even got a real note, with real terms, notarized and everything. "Friend" skips out with the money after making a couple of payments; house (in friend's name) foreclosed; almost the whole amount is lost. So it looks like a plain-jane theft loss - but the 4684 for theft losses only flows to Sch A. This was business only; agreement in place, proper documents, plan was to make a bundle on a flip. Should I leave off the 4684 and just report it on Part V of Sch C? I've been looking through instructions pubs and regs until I can't see straight and can find nothing specific to theft losses and Sch C. It does not seem right to report on Sch A; it had nothing to do with personal items. So the question is - am I right thinking this really belongs on Sch C? Or am I stuck reporting on Sch A?

Yes, but when we mail them we get them ready before Christmas. Take the pile to the post office on Jan 2nd and we're done with 'em before people start fussing about their payroll w-2s.

We may try sending them through our file portal this year, for everyone except the few old-timers who don't have email.

We use Paychex's SurePayroll for Accountants. We keep the clients, the clients do 95% of the work, we get paid. Plus we can run interference if needed (add new employee, take one out, adjust state UI rate annually, etc) and pull reports quarterly.

Thanks for correcting. With any luck, those ten would have enough to cover what was withdrawn.

Max W beat me to it. I was going to say get the 5498's going back to Adam. If you have a POA on file, use one of the transcript services (Canopy is free for transcripts; PitBullTax and TaxHelpSoftware both also can do this but have fees) and pull transcripts back to 1980. Those will show contributions and what type.

Not me! Be glad whoever did not get in. The miserable-to-deal-with extra security layers seem to be working. At least for your account!

@BulldogTom I do feel for you. One of the hardest things I had to learn - and I have to keep RE-learning it every couple of years, is that I can not allow myself to care more about my clients' finances and tax situations than they care themselves. We know how to fix it - if only they will listen! Their lives could be so much better! But many if not most if not all will not listen. So instead, concentrate on "Let not your hearts be troubled." Note that at some level we allow ourselves to get all worked up; stop it. (Lecturing myself at least as much, maybe more, than you.) You did your best; the client screwed up and it's not your fault. Do not let your heart be troubled. And charge him a big fat fee - up front - if you take on trying to get even some of the mess fixed. Plus hugs to you. Not Rita hugs! Sympathy hugs.

Eh? Try again, laddie!