Lion EA

Just don't run toward her backyard.

My guy had about $3,000 withheld. Chase the identity thieves getting $20,000 refunds!

My other "still processing" (I think I have three that called, but can't remember the third right now) is my own kids who had a baby and worked less due to enforced bed rest, closing their bakery during the bed rest, etc., so their return had a lot of changes: family size up, income down, EIC for the first time, etc. I can see why it would be looked at. If a real human being checked the SSN to see that a baby was born during 2015, the rest would fall into place, though. They really need their refund after lower income for months. With mom's health, they are not reopening the bakery until May.

Little old man who rents and has SS with the exact same w/h as years past. Called a week or two ago that he hadn't received his refund in a month; Where's My Refund says Processing. Today calls with an IRS letter demanding he send them his W-2s, 1099-Rs, W-2Gs, etc. The only one he has had for years is 1099-SSA. The numbers on the letter match the return exactly. Don't you think the IRS has access to the 1099-SSA? Wife and son passed away years ago, sold house years ago, moved into a retirement community (rents) years ago, same SS w/h for years, same refund for years. Spend your time chasing the crooks or at least looking at returns with a big change to make sure they're right.

I heard a name that I don't remember. Texting Thumb?

With computer chat and smart phone texts and email and facetime/skype/etc. you may find you can talk as much as ever. I agree with everything you say and sympathize re your empty nest. We're here for you; you're here for us.

I haven't mastered it yet, but a fellow tax preparer uses the mouse on his left so as not to remove his right hand from the number pad as often. I too used to use the old adding machines in summer jobs dating back to college at least. And, didn't have time for typing class in HS, but bought a set of books and taught myself. Not good with the top row, but since I use a number pad for numbers anyway, my typing is OK. Better than texting with my thumbs! (I'll start to answer my daughter's texts and end up calling her or sending her an email from my computer instead.)

NATP provides answers with backup cites for a small price: http://www.natptax.com/TaxKnowledgeCenter/Research/Pages/default.aspx

I've sent copies my whole career, also. Sometimes a copy of the D copy or recipient's copy or whatever I have to copy or to print out from my electronic storage. When I mail a copy to client to sign and mail in, I tell him he's welcome to replace the W-2 copies with the "B" originals if he wishes but that it's not necessary. (I have some worrier clients who would call me to ask, so I head them off.)

Yes, I do use BioFreeze. And, Thermacare back wraps and a heating pad. And, a soft pad that I can lay on that goes in the freezer. Will look for arnica rub.

It's my desk chair. I bought a more expensive one last time that's lasted longer, but the lumbar support is less support lately and the seat now presses the backs of my thighs. No time to get a new one, so been trying to watch my posture. And, I tried all the throw pillows in the house until I found one that puts the seat at the right angle. Also, found some reading glasses at the grocery store that work for reading, computer, and over the desk/client, so I don't lean as much. It still takes time to heal once the muscles start spasming, if that's a word. Being over tired makes it hard to maintain good posture, too. On Wednesdays, I'm at a biz client's site and have a crummy chair; usually have leg cramps on Wednesday nights. This getting old is hard work.

My laptop did that. I didn't accept the terms, so it went back to 7 taking a very long time. But, it went back. Not updating during tax season. Probably not updating until it's a new computer. (I'd followed some instructions I read here to keep my desktop from asking to upgrade, but hadn't gotten around to doing that on my lesser used laptop. Now, I can't find those instructions.)

I had a computer crash during the season a few years back that took its toll on me. Actually it was a new computer late the year before that had one or more fans that didn't work that overheated the video card on the motherboard starting in January and finally getting all new innards the end of March. Everyone went on extension with a lot of zeros. I feel your pain. Your clients need an intelligent, ethical preparer. But, I can understand that you need some peace of mind and body. Give yourself some time after the 19th to unwind and decide what you want to do. And, for now -- breathe.

And, I hate the rubber glue on SSA forms, too. And, I prefer perforated forms so I can keep one and return the rest to the client in his folder. If not perforated, I have to copy.

I'd probably prepare a bill covering all the time I spent, deducting the $75 on account, and giving a balance due, and put it on top of their documents for them to pick-up. It's just me, so I'd hand it to them and not say a word and get back to my desk. I wouldn't expect to get paid but would expect them to shut up about the $75. If I had an assistant to hand the stack to them, she'd ask how they want to pay their balance, check or credit card, and then not argue but let them leave. If they insist, I'd return the $75; it'll be worth it to get rid of them. But, I think I'd mail it to them along with that invoice that now doesn't have $75 on account !!

I've needed the late nights, but back is in spasm to the point of taking muscle relaxants that have me too drugged up to work, so I'm falling farther and farther behind and the calls from clients re their pending returns put me farther behind, too. Wish I had an assistant to return the emails and calls or maybe should just set up an auto-response. I too have fingers with arthritis this year, one of which is painful, so more typos and more time proofreading. Thermacare heat wraps help my lower back without the extension cord of a heating pad, but don't do much for the spasm in the middle. I have a cold or sinus issue, coughing (which throws my back into spasm each time I cough). So, zinc and cough drops for that and turmuric and Move Free from Costco for the arthritis and the heat wraps and anti-inflammatories (sp?) for the back and then the big guns when I finally sleep. It looks like a doctor's office in here with a pile of pills on my desk. I have a cracked tooth, too, that the dentist said could wait until I have more pain. Maybe Joan and I can merge practices and share an assistant and a nurse.

CCH has good publications.

Happy Easter! Off to church. "Kids" stopping by this afternoon. Then some work, too.

Yeah, it really was an investment, Schedule D, DOD basis, make it easy on yourself.

I know. I used it at Block when it was spreadsheet based and thought I might use it in my own business. But, I chose something else as working more the way I work. I still benefit from the wise and humorous people on this site, though, and love you all.

Haven't used ATX since Block days for entities, but we used to be able to click on the title of a column to sort in ascending or descending order; however, it was a spreadsheet-based program back then. My software can do that but also has a checkbox per return and one universally to sort alphabetically. Very handy when new 1099s get added over the years; happens most often with my elderly and their CDs maturing so adding a couple new banks with 1099-INTs each year.

I agree with your suggested technique in OP. You will have to prorate his NY tax using the ratio of income earned before and after the move. I go with whatever I can get from the client the easiest: either the actual $ amount of earnings from a paystub near the move or the days worked before and after the move if client gives me the date (usually easier to get). My software will work with the date (or $, but clients don't save paystubs very often), so I don't do any of it manually. Can't help with the ATX part. NY has told me "any reasonable method."

I especially love it when there IS a 1099-INT for six cents. Now it was reported to the IRS, usually as part of his brokerage consolidated 1099 along with dividends and capital gains. I always put $1 so IRS computer can match a TD or whoever 1099. Client already owes $98,201 so owing an extra 39.6 cents plus 6.7 cents to CT is just his penalty for having so many investments.

So jealous! And, drooling! Enjoy! You deserve them.

Client brings in Feb 15, 2016 letter saying IRS has resolved an issue with his 2013 return and will be mailing him a check for $8.73 in two to three weeks. That's after amount applied to tax owed for 2014 $4.67. We didn't even know there was a 2013 overpayment or 2014 underpayment. Well, we didn't know there was a 2014 underpayment that small; his 2014 balance due was $98,201.