Lion EA

I hope he's looked into the bylaws of his favorite charity, also. When my church receives shares, it is required to sell them immediately via an unrelated third party in an arm's length transaction. It will not follow any restrictions from the donor, such as selling along with the other privately-owned shares. In fact, it cannot accept any donations with strings attached.

What's his basis in his membership shares? When he donates, does he use his cost basis or FMV or the lesser of or...? Appreciated shares? Is that why he's trying to give shares now and not cash later? As well as the lawyers, what is a qualified appraisal going to cost him? Does he think he's putting all those expenses on the LLC as a whole and won't need his own lawyer, etc.? Yeah, at my age I might be resigning about now or spinning off the tax returns and just doing the bookkeeping. I'm staying tuned for the next episode of this soap opera!

Hey, Lynn, Congratulations!

I wouldn't charge for 8948, because I'm supposed to e-file. It really depends on what work was involved on Schedule C and how much trading to enter on the various Forms 8949. I would not be lower than $325. Just completed a similar return with three 8949s and AMT that was $545. And a recent return in which I could import his Gain/Loss statement (broker uploaded Excel spreadsheet to FileShare) that was $500.

Start by reading the trust document.

Get to know the partners at large accounting firms, so they will refer clients to you that are too small for them. Get to know tax preparers who specialize in businesses but do not have bookkeepers, so they will refer the accounting to you. Network at your local chapters of NATP, NAEA, etc., to let preparers know that you specialize in the day-to-day accounting/bookkeeping. Drop in on prospective businesses in their slow times to meet face-to-face and leave them a brochure of the services you offer. If you specialize in a certain industry, find their local trade organization and offer to speak.

Yes! Both my laptop and desktop seemed to have stopped updating after last March, March 2016. My techie gave me an article to help with my laptop issue of being ready to install 10, already downloaded, upon reboot. I got through all the beginning stuff re removing three files. It remains on 7, thank goodness, even after shutting down, after rebooting, after everything I needed to do this week. But, I can't do the ending stuff in the article re making sure I get 7 updates but not install 10, because it still thinks it's ready to install 10 and won't search for new updates until I do that. Talk about a Catch 22. I'm sure I'm missing many important security updates. I need to get my techie over here. But, this week has been dental work, out-of-town concert for daughter, largest client having issues needing my time, etc. Soon.

I agree with BHoffman. Write a personal note to your favorite clients telling them you have time to take on a few new clients just like them. Give compliments. Get specific, such as family members, other investors, other truck drivers, if you're looking for a specific type. Offer them a discount on their fees for each new, paid client. Include several business cards. Also, if you're not buried under extensions, offer to speak at places that would attract your preferred clients. Retirement homes. Realtors, if you're looking for homeowners. Any of those networking groups, such as BNI as was mentioned, if you're looking for small business owners. Stop in at small businesses, if that's your target, that you think are slower in the summer; wait until after Labor Day for those busiest during the summer -- introduce yourself and leave a brochure re your services offered. Some around me in Fairfield County, CT, greet people at the train stations during the morning and evening commute to let people know they handle NY commuter/multi-state returns. PTA meeting to talk about kids and their part-time jobs and tax obligations and filing out Forms W-4. Decide your target, and then look for where to find them. Let everyone you know, know exactly what you do. Answer questions for people. Church, banker, lawyer, broker, parents at your kids' sports events. My broker has sent me multiple clients. Church has been a great source. Network at your local chapters of NATP, NAEA, etc. I've received biz clients from other preparers who do only 1040s. I know others who get the 1040 overflow from mid-sized CPA firms who handle mostly entity returns.

Thank you, all.

Only thing are old security updates, 505 of them, but none seem more recent than March 2016.

Haven't turned it off. Will try that right now.

I don't see it there. But, it sounds like it will install when I restart....

I view change the way Abby does. A new computer with Win10 would be fine for me, I think. But, this laptop has a Share file that keeps certain files the same on my laptop and desktop. So, I'm nervous about one being on Win7 and one on Win10. It says it will complete the installation when I restart. If I shut down and then start, will that install? I have backed up files from the laptop. And, my most important files are in that Share folder which moves them automatically to my desktop. But, I never backed up the system on my laptop. It's just the one I take to a client's biz site. I do my work mostly from my desktop, and all my tax work from my desktop. Anything I can do now? To back up system? To remove Win10 files?

So, I followed some directions here re NOT having Win 10 automatically update; did that on both desktop and laptop and all has been well for years. This afternoon, my laptop has a box saying Win 10 is downloaded and will install when I restart. I need to close my laptop to take to a client's biz site. Help! How can I prevent Win 10 from installing when I turn it on at my client's? In simple language for this old lady, please.

Thank you. Updating now.

If your ISP is Optimum, they give you the equipment for free/already included in your price and replace it as needed. We used to buy our own, but now what Optimum provides satisfies our techie.

CT doesn't show the cents on returns, like the federal. But, I've seen them compute using the cents, so the refunds are to the penny instead of to the nearest dollar. I've also seen the feds truncate amounts instead of round off. Wish they'd make up their minds. Hard to hit a moving target.

I think the lawyers always get the most money. Had a client who constantly asked me legal questions, and I'd tell her to ask her lawyer. She said he charges a lot more than I do!

I almost put everything in the car in the middle of the night to go to a laundromat. Trouble is, we live miles from anything commercial. And, I would've had to wake up Steve to help lift the wet clothes due to the pinched nerve in my back radiating down my leg. Still might do that when I go to the chiropractor in Fairfield this evening; gotta be a laundromat in Fairfield, well, maybe not. Not to mention that I had a dream a couple nights ago as I anticipated going to a laundromat: the dream me fell asleep and was robbed of my purse with car keys and phone and wallet as well as our car and the clothes and laundry supplies, so I couldn't call for help or get home or have any clean clothes to pack nor car to drive to visit granddaughter! Definitely have to go before dark.

Amen!

I have folders chronologically by the date I received the LAST bit of info, or at least the last bit the client knew to bring me or I knew to ask. But, the clients think they should be in my queue based on the date they gave me their FIRST bit. I think filing extensions when I know we're waiting on something - or when I discover something's missing - is a great idea; copying the client on it at that point might save me lots of time explaining why they're not done after all this time and make me feel less rushed the last few days. And, maybe motivate them to find the missing items sooner. I'm not preparing any more returns until returning from a visit to granddaughter. Washer continues off balance as I try to wash months' loads of laundry. Dryer is grinding away, because I gave up and put very wet clothes in. Waiting on some state acceptances. Hubby taking our IL extension with check to PO. More extensions than last year. The changed deadlines really broke my stride this year. Some clients unhappy with extensions, but at my age I don't care. Rescheduled chiropractor from yesterday with lots of signatures/e-filing to this afternoon and really need to get there. Pinched nerve in lower back radiates down my leg. I can get comfortable sitting at my computer, but that's probably the worst thing for it. I can't get comfortable to sleep, and I've been in bed so little anyway that laying awake hurting is the last thing I need. Hopefully, running around after a toddler will be good activity for me! Collating extensions and checking completed returns and looking for anyone or a state or anything I missed. Then it's back to laundry so I can pack to go to PA. Happy vacations, everyone!

I think the answer is Yes, but I'm going to file my NY commuters tonight as I'm still calculating if they need to send in payments. As someone mentioned, so many transactions late in the year that I'm just finding out about over the last month as brokerage statements and K-1s and...arrived.

I usually upload to FileShare on my website to the kid's account. But, if they tell me via email/phone to give their folder to their parents and they've been long time clients, I do that. Just one of a few things I need to get in writing. Slowly getting things in writing to cover my butt.

I only communicate with the "kids" even though parents include those documents in with their own. I have one mom who pays via son's checkbook which he leaves with mom while he's out to sea (marine engineer) for weeks at a time. I think all my "kids" pay their own taxes and some pay my invoices. But, some parents still pay me for their whole family; I'll take money from anyone. Well, at least from any of my clients.

Prayers to you, Gail. Go see our dad.