BulldogTom

The keyboard strokes have a delay

I can't finish typing before every site locks up.

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Congrats Jack. Tom Hollister, CA

Remind the client of the consequences of losing his job and the loan becoming an early distribution if that happens. Client has health issues and it is entirely possible that they will not be able to perform their job duties as a result and lose their job. It then is a double whammy of losing the job and getting hit with additional taxes at a time of high stress and poor health. Not good. Make sure they understand what the consequences are before they go down that road. Tom Hollister, CA

We charge $75 plus any new schedules if it is a return we prepared. If not a current client, we charge full price for the original return, plus $75 (and any additonal schedules) for the amended. After a few "oh, I forgot to tell you about this form" calls from the client, they get used to bringing everything in for their appointment, because I don't normally lower or waive that charge. Tom Hollister, CA

I want good customer support with people who answer the phone and who actually know what the software is and is not supposed to do. Like we used to have with the crew back in Carribou. I can live with the software having bugs, IF, big if, I can get through to someone who can identify the bug and get it to programming for resolution. That has not happened for a few years now. That is the biggest drawback of the software in my opinion. Tom Hollister, CA

I say we all just show up at Joan's house, raid her refrig, drink all her booze, wreck her house, and then go home If that doesn't work, Stockton works for me. Tom Hollister, CA

Maybe because she does not scare me?..... Catherine even carries guns and is a dead shot, but I am not afraid of her. Rita, you I love from afar....very far. Tom Hollister, CA

That is really cool. I think I am going to have to give that one a shot. Tom Hollister, CA

I'm game. Let me know when and where and I will try to make it. Would love to meet you. Tom Hollister, CA

Let me know when so I can plan my vacation on the other side of the Mississippi. Tom Hollister, CA

I like the idea that you are keeping Rita on the East Coast. She SERIOUSLY scares me. "I've actually been eating popcorn and stalking people on FaceBook a good bit today." I am glad I don't play on facebook. Love ya Rita, as long as the Mississippi is between us. Tom Hollister, CA

Did you put the prior year NOL on Line 21 of the 1040? Agree with what David says. After the add backs, there is no NOL for this year to add to the prior. Tom Hollister, CA

We will not be making it to Boston this year. With MIT killing my son's dreams, there is no reason to go. But we will be in Washington DC on vacation after he graduates from High School. I will wave to you when I get there. Do you think the IRS would pull my PTIN and EA license if I took a selfie flipping off the IRS headquarters in DC? Tom Hollister, CA

Once again, this board has been an invaluable treasure to my practice. I appreciate all of you. Eric, you are the absolute bomb. I can't thank you enough for doing this for us. Sorry to be a problem sometimes with my comments, and I really try to be good, but sometimes I can't help myself. I hope you forgive me and let me stay here forever. KC, you are one of my favorite people in the whole wide world. Catherine, we are common souls. I love reading your posts. Jack in OH, thanks for everything on the techie side that I don't understand. Appreciate all your posts. Linda - I hope you have had a good season. I have enjoyed meeting you and working with you this year. Patty just loves you. Hope you all had a successful season and I will be seeing you again next year. Tom Hollister, CA

You just made my "man crush" list. I would love to go out to the desert and blow off a weeks salary in ammo. I did not know they grew rednecks in NY? You learn something new every day. Tom Hollister, CA

4/15 at 8:30 PM Pacific time. Client called Sunday night and asked for an appointment on Tuesday. Coming in at 6:30PM. It is a long time client and the return is not that difficult. Should be sent by 7:30 and hopefully an ack by 8:30. But the e-file system is running slow the last couple of days. Not sure if it is ATX or IRS. My bet is the ATX servers are overloaded again. Just like last year, and the year before, and the year before.... Tom Hollister, CA

And Patty just said I say the stupidest things. Tom Hollister, CA

Patty is blushing like a new bride. You are way too kind. Tom Hollister, CA

Which way is the right way to do it? Are you thinking that I have a choice? Tom Hollister, CA

they have about $1,200 in qualified expenses for the one semester that the kid went to school. They are in the 25% bracket, so it will be about $300. Enough to make it worth my while to get it right. Tom Hollister, CA

Taxpayers had a 529 plan for their son. He went to school off and on for several years. Dropped out. The taxpayers closed the account and took the distribution from the plan. Included about $2,400 in earnings over the life of the plan. Guess what, Junior goes back to college in the fall semester and now they have some qualified expenses for the year. How do I enter this on the return? Do I reduce the amount on Line 21 for the 1099Q and risk a mis match letter from the IRS? Or do I leave line 21 alone and enter the LLC credit using all the expenses. Thanks for the help. Tom Hollister, CA

wishing I could win the lottery. Tom Hollister, CA

I agree. I have had an idea for a long time that I wish the IRS would look at. Regulate the software. There is no reason that Turbo or HRB's software or ATX or ProSeries or Prosystem or any of them cannot make the software inactive without a registration process that can be shared with the IRS. All e-files and printouts could have the SS# or PTIN number of the purchaser of the software imbedded in the submission. So these TT mills that pop up and then disappear would have their SS# on every single return that was produced from that copy. And the IRS could then have a database of the software and user that is creating these fraudulent tax returns. If you are a legitimate user of TT for your personal return, it is no big deal, because you are putting your social on the return anyway. If you are a professional, your PTIN needs to be on the return as well. It would make it very hard for some hack off the street to go buy a copy of TT and start printing out "self prepared" returns because if the registered SS# does not match the SS on the return, the IRS will see it right away. Just an idea. Tom Hollister, CA