Catherine

Wish I had better news for you. I get them from clients and stick them in the client's folder until I need them. Not too many years ago (and laughable considering the penalties MassDOR would heap on me if I did this) you could call and say it was about John Doe, ssn 123-45-6789 and that there is a signed POA - and they'd just talk to you. Tell you ANYTHING. Never ask for the POA; just take your word that you had it. I kid you not. I wish I had a nickel for every time I sat there, talking to MassDOR, with the never-requested POA in my hand.

For the most part, you call MassDOR with the POA in hand, and the person you talk to tells you *their* fax number. So you need two lines.... I always used to call on my house line so the work/fax line was free. 617-887-6367 is the phone. They have a toll-free, too, but I've found this one gets answered faster and for me it's a local (-ish) call.

For signatures, @Tax Prep by Deb (and others) look at CPaperless' product "Signature Flow" - they charge per-signature ONLY. So if you need one signature it's a buck or two and that's all you pay. Some e-signature programs charge a hefty monthly fee - maybe fine if you get them all the time. But when I use a dozen in a tax season, the per-sig fee is definitely the way to go!

Yes, it is. But most people have the kind that goes "poof" just when it's really needed.

They also expire with a person's incapacity *unless* they are specifically written to cover that contingency.

I hope that our Louisiana residents are far from the chemical plant fire in Duson!

It's more tedious than terrible. Don't forget the second copy that gets mailed to... where is it -Ogden or Kansas? Somewhere - it's in the instructions. I just did one earlier this week for a new client where the previous person (who charged a ridiculously high price, IMHO) messed up depreciation on a rental unit.

Really, just do the 3115. It takes into account ALL the prior year errors. Put in your depreciation schedule for accum dep whatever the RIGHT number should have been. All the corrections are on the 3115 (except for adding the correction onto the Sch E).

On Form 1310, there is a question if there is no executor/rep, will the funds be distributed according to state law. So mark Part 1 as C, and part 2 question 3 as yes. Then add the name of whoever is doling out funds.

I also lump together all Goodwill. Ditto for Epilepsy Foundation, Big Brother/Big Sister, and some of the others that are common around here.

Yes, Form 3115 is required. It's a royal PITA - but FAR better than amending all those returns and having late payment penalties. I don't recall about the four-year spread - but if not, an installment plan does almost the same thing.

It better be real, because I've made reservations already!

Oh I just had SO much fun!!! I got a call from some low-life scum who wanted to take over my computer because of "suspicious activity" and I had him going for several minutes. I played dumb clueless ditz. Finally he told me my computer had been "compromised" and I told him that I *never* left my computer alone in a room with a man. (Guess I've read Jane Austen a few too many times...) Then I told him he had the wrong person - goodbye! I managed to hang up just before I busted out laughing.

Rita, I have to say it again - I just LOVE you!

You (we) just can NOT save some people from themselves!

Well-prepared clients are a joy!

Thank you, Eric, for taking such good care of us!

How silly. The donor puts on the date and the FMV of the goods given. Most of these forms have a scribble (signature?) on them - and if not, who cares? you ca only get them by giving something, and they don't get sent in. I suppose in an audit someone hard-nosed might disallow the receipt for lack of signature - but if you're in an audit, being certain your GW receipts all have signatures is going to be VERY low on your checklist.

I'll chime in too - there is something else going on. Think LONG and HARD before getting involved. If you decide yes, get a retainer up front.

One of my clients is looking for a tax preparer for a friend. This person & spouse are currently living in NJ but are moving to ME by early summer. They need someone who understands both ME and NJ taxation. Anyone here want to bite? My client did say either one person or two would be acceptable. Catherine

And Jim, please remember that in the history of this world there has only ever been ONE perfect person, and none of us here (including you, including me) are He. It's OK not to be perfect. And it's not like we have a choice. Release yourself from the need for perfection. Excellence, yes - but that is not perfection.

@JimTaxes yes please do!

A client can always opt out of e-filing (there's a form for that!) but the preparer cannot opt out of offering.

We always defrost the freezer in the middle of winter. We put the frozen food in a box outside when it's colder than the freezer gets!

I think once it goes to audit, you have to go that route. However, if you do find one student took the credit five times, go in saying "we looked into this, discovered a mistake, here's the correction" and you may be done in a half hour. If it's a correspondence audit, do the same thing but on paper.