GLJEANNE

I have had clients to whom I've just sent the extension forms and told them to file it themselves, with warnings about underpayment, etc.

Yes, it's a godsend for all of us who are solo! And I too have had all but one other accountant I know retire.

I had a pretty good start to the season, but then lost a week to tech crap in March, and this past week to a bad back. So I'm trying to remind myself why I thought it was a good idea to keep doing taxes a few more years. But I just prepared a partial list of folks I'm going to fire, I'll go through and finish the list this week. Then I just have to write the letter to them. Then only 2 clients I still have payroll returns for, that's a relief to have that so low! Next year, none!!

Yes, this has been on my To-Do list for 2 weeks!! Just have to remember to grab my credit card.

Their procrastination is not your emergency. This is a motto I have to remind myself about constantly. I'd warn him that he'll likely face penalties and interest, and then go ahead and file a zero extension.

That always annoyed me to no end, but I wonder if it's because many of us don't work the off season, and so might miss any notices sent later. Like others, I quit MAX 2 years ago. Last year it worked out to be about the same cost, but then I fired all my non-profits, and a bunch of 1040 clients. This year I'll fire more 1040s. Goal is to hold onto tax season but without extensions and without clients who stress me out, lol. This year the delay in so many K1s is kinda screwing that up, but as long as I have everything done and double checked, I'm ok with just plugging in the K1s later on.

It's been too long since I've done one, but that's calculating a SEP. There's no 25% limit on 401ks, except on the employer portion.

I don't do any 1065s, but I wonder if this has anything to do with why so many K1s seem to be late this year. I have an annoying number of extensions that are just waiting K1s.

W2 flow through is fine, it doesn't really matter what part came from employee vs employer. It's annoying that ATX has that constant warning to separate. Sounds like you're doing it right!!

Oh lord yes. It's one of the reasons I'm going 100% portal next year. I have asthma, so the smoke/scents are really bad for me. I copy them immediate, seal their originals in an envelope. Some are too strong even for that. People have no idea how much paper absorbs.

It's always one little checkbox, isn't it?? Those things feel like the bane of my existence some days!

Normally current rates, but if it involves having to refresh your mind with all the covid programs around then, I would charge a lot more.

Granted it can be hard to translate tax language into English, but these folks are a whole other thing. You can't fix stupid.

I'd go with 1099-SA, but also yes, those dividend pages. Amazes me that the same people who will upload both sides of W2s and every other form that jst has garbage on the back, but don't upload the rest of the 1099-DIV pages. Everything with numbers please! And of course, that "proof" that the kids live with them.

Yeah, based on what she originally gave me from her contractors, which was a vague "we qualify," I had told her not. But thanks to Dennis' link, her product was one of the ones listed, so she does qualify! Very happy new client, and me too - except I wasted a lot of time going down the rabbit hole on this one, and on one other client with a somewhat similar situation. If the manufacturers are specific on their certification - as they should be - this would be a lot easier. Although sometimes in the past it's been finding the right line because item A and item B, which seem the same to my non-engineering mind, go in two different parts of the 5695. Overall, I applaud the idea of these energy credits, but have come to hate dealing with them.

That's better certification than the one these folks got. They had Velux solar shades too, so perhaps it does work. Thanks!

The certification says they qualify for tax credits, but they don't specify which of the seemingly-endless categories it falls under. So the sales folks tell them all about the big credit, but they don't know/care if the product really qualifies for it.

New client spent about 10k installing a solar skylight. Manufacturer of course told her she could get 30% credit. I'd never even heard of a solar skylight before, but after way too much reading, I don't see that it's any different than a regular skylight as far as the energy tax credits go, because it doesn't generate any more energy than what it takes to turn itself from dark to light. Adds nothing to the overall home energy usage or back to the grid. Granted, I'm not a building contractor or HVAC person, which we all practically need to be to understand some of these energy credits. Anyone have more experience with that who disagrees she only gets the $600 max skylight credit?

I don't give them a choice. For the ones who whine, I tell them that most of those questions are ones we're required to ask, and that they don't have to fill out the wage/int/1099-R pages, just check to be sure they're giving me each of those forms. A few try the "but I have a spreadsheet" route, but I tell them that if II have to transfer that to the organizer I'll charge them.

Not just us, the IRS just posted about this: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-warns-tax-professionals-to-be-aware-of-efin-scam-email-special-webinars-offered-next-week?utm_source=bambu&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=advocacy

Well this is a new one. Not their email address, and I don't even have this software. Titled EFIN SUMMARY UPDATE, from Wolters Kluwer <[email protected]>: CCH® ProSystem fx® Tax Release 2023.02030 Dear Valued Customer, We shall be updating our system and would be needing a copy of your EFIN SUMMARY to keep your software active. We will need a summary generated at least 30days before now. The Summary tab should list your Firm Name/Address, Provider Options and your EFIN number for verification. You need to go to your IRS E-file provider services to download a recent and current Efin application page. Kindly attach a clear copy of your EFIN SUMMARY and get back to us via email or fax to 1 (619) 637-9333. Sincerely, Wolters Kluwer Please do not respond to this automated email message. This is an unattended mailbox. Confidentiality Notice: This email and its attachments (if any) contain confidential information of the sender. The information is intended only for the use by the direct addressees of the original sender of this email. If you are not an intended recipient of the original sender (or responsible for delivering the message to such person), you are hereby notified that any review, disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action in reliance of the contents of and attachments to this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please permanently delete any copies (digital or paper) in your possession.

If there are any other MN preparers here, hold off e-filing your individual returns. There's a bug on Form M1M, which I'd guess 90% or more of returns use. ATX is aware, no idea who soon it will be fixed. Once it is, we'll need to delete those forms from returns and add the corrected one. Oh joy.

I always find offering last years returns is the first give away, actual potential clients never mention that in a first email. Also, the scammers frequently pretend to be some big corporate CEOs, cause yeah, that's who'd be contacting us. Today in addition to the 2-3 like that, I got one telling me "Thomas" shared tax files with me via Dropbox. But it didn't come from Dropbox, which I'm guessing a legit notification would. Don't know, I don't use Dropbox. Guess "Thomas" is just out of luck.

I've been using Fax Plus, it's about $19/mo. I may shop around again after tax season, I hardly ever use it any longer.

So frustrating to have this come up at the last minute, since the folks the child tax credit will help are the the ones who like to file right away, because they need the refunds.