Lion EA

I want every one of those!

It's always signatures and payment before e-filing. I do take all major credit cards and have a PayPal link on my website. But, with my long-time clientele, I do make exceptions on payment when asked nicely. Sometimes I'm too busy to get their CC info over the phone before mailing out their folder to a distant city, state, or country, so include their invoice in their mailing; I always get a check back in the mail or a contact with their CC info. Once in a great while someone will ask me to wait to charge their card or deposit their check; those have always worked out fine. Many of my clients came from HRB where I worked, so were used to paying at pick-up. The only time I got stung for much, I didn't think I was going to complete the second year before I met the guy to deliver the first year; he'd brought a check for only half the first year. He was paying me monthly for many months, but stopped; he's no longer a client. I have a couple of small ones now; one thought Daddy paid, but Daddy stopped being my client this year. So, I have these two to re-invoice in a week or two, but each are around $100 only.

My bedtime has gotten up to 6 a.m. I try to sleep at least four hours/night, well hours/day, because I use a CPAP machine and Medicare won't pay for it unless I'm 97% compliant. But, I'm slowing down and having to do things twice. Hubby's gone for the evening, so it's quiet. The reason I'm working all night and then sleeping in the morning is that I do get more done without the phone ringing and without retired hubby walking into my office. I have a guest room, Judy. But, I'll be almost as happy with you on here researching these odd ones that are our latecomers, or the ones we left for last since we really didn't like the looks of them. Thank you, Judy, for all you do. And, a huge THANK YOU to all who jump in with help, answers, cites, encouragement, short-cuts, laughs, and all the things that make up my favorite virtual water cooler.

Yep, the kid that moved out of his parent's CT house into NY in 2013, then moved to NJ during 2014. Still hasn't emailed me back to tell me how the dates of residency break out and if his work locations changed. And, his brother changed colleges into RI and worked a tiny bit while there. And, a partnership included their personal returns this year "because we don't have time to do them on TT this year." And, the new guy has a NJ S-corp with one pay stub but no W-2 or K-1. And, another client works in her father's church and has only a pay stub. And, there was a schema error in another kid's OH return for his tiny job while at college. These Fairfield County kids are so rich that they don't have to work, so why do they work while out of state at college?! Some of them have more state returns than their commuter parents. And the man who promised me his trust had been dissolved; well, it still has one brokerage account and needs me to prep the 1041 before I can prep his 1040. And, the couple that absolutely must file on time due to an IA (I know, but I can't convince her otherwise; they have good w/h). And, the guy who gave me his stuff, and I find it includes a trust due to his wife's death. And, spring break is next week, so the calls started coming in Friday that people are leaving for vacation and wanted to pick up their returns today. I am so tired. Hubby went up to the Hartford area to visit with his daughter, go out to dinner, attend her concert. I really wish I could go, but even if I had I would fallen asleep listening to music. This is the first year that I haven't been counting, because the stack is so visually imposing that I don't want to know. Now to calculate some extension payments....

I love ASP's CEO Walter Crouch, headquartered in Johnson City, TN. He attended one of our orientations in Ridgefield, CT, on Thursday. Although, he's not the minister that writes their devotionals. And, then there's you; I love you. And, some of our southern gentlemen posters must be from TN, right? I might check with you when we get our assignments; you can see if we're repairing homes for any of your clients (well, no, because we use code names only and you can't disclose clients; but I can tell you what counties we will be working in by our June orientation and meetings.)

Most of my clients request extensions. Often by telephone or by an email that I used to delete after e-filing extensions. Now, I'm starting to save those emails. If a client left a voice mail, I'm not taking the time to get back to them (but maybe I'll start). But, if I take a call, I've started asking them to email me their request. (I do have some clients that will not work via email, though.) I have not taken the time to contact clients that haven't showed up yet and probably need extensions. (Yeah, if I had an assistant, I could have her do that for me.) But, like Mr. Davis, I'd rather e-file an extension just in case than have a client come in later to file and not have an extension. Every once in a while (maybe twice in all my years preparing taxes), I've had an extension reject because the client already filed their return or an extension, on their own or with a new preparer. But, very often, clients contact me after tax season saying, "You filed extensions for me, right?"

I eat chocolate too fast for it to have time to melt. Besides, it's still cold here in CT, so melting is not a problem. Gaining weight since March is the problem.

OK, Rita, you're making me a bit nervous about going on this mission trip to TN in July!

Did you find the GIrl Scout yet?!

A signed copy mailed to Ogden or where ever on its own and a copy with the return. They get two. If the one with the return slips off, well wait for them to ask for it. Keep it in your files. They still have one. Don't worry. Be happy.

Yep, she can always itemize. The 3115 gets mailed to Ogden (or DC?) by itself as well as being e-filed with the return. So, if one didn't get attached to the return, I think I'd just keep it in my file in case the IRS requests it. But, why should they since they have the other one?

If one spouse files separately and itemizes, then the other spouse's standard deduction is $0 (unless HOH). So, if your client wants to itemize, she can itemize no matter what. If your client wants to use standard deduction, she can if the other never filed or used standard or one of them is HOH.

But, I need another month to get the cranky ones off my back!

I always use and give the year-to-year comparison and the MFJ vs. MFS comparison. I'd been putting them after the summary, because the summary makes a nice start after the cover sheet, looks prettier or whatever. I'm starting to put the year-to-year first. Maybe I'll have the MFJ/MFS second.

Price increase for clients returning after a gap. And, charge for the amendment for the year you did not prepare. I have one on extension like that.

I'm sorry, Marilyn. Prayers for your husband, you, his whole medical team, and your whole support team. Keep us posted. Just had a new client announce they're leaving on vacation Sunday. The came in really early in the season, referred by another client who's always on extension, and announced they do NOT file late. They did NOT leave me their info or prior returns at that time. Then all those retroactive memos from IRS, ERISA, Dept. of Labor, ending 20 February. When they finally brought me their materials (still has only one pay stub/no W-2 from NJ S-corp and no K-1), I was really backlogged but thought I'd complete by 15 April. After repeating and repeating how surprised she is that they can't review their returns before Sunday, she offered to extend, but only for a week or two. (Is surprised the new euphemism for disappointed?) So, even after 15 April, I still have deadlines hanging over my head. We haven't plotted our usual getaway. I think we'll go to my son's Inn in PA around Memorial Day. That way I can get payroll reports and some of my crankiest extensions out of the way. Still going to catch up on laundry and get a haircut and a mani/pedi and get back to the gym more regularly and stop going to bed at 6 a.m. and.... Oh, gosh, I think the above client has a college daughter. Better check their package to see if I need a return for daughter now.

Rita, you now have officially turned into your mother!

Laundry. I think it's supposed to be colder than normal.

First of all, the kid does get $1,000 of investment income not taxed and the next $1,000 taxed at his own rate; so the parents' rate/Kiddie Tax doesn't kick in until over $2,000. Second, Kiddie Tax applies unless the child provided more than half of his or her support with earned income and is 18. (TTB 12-1, 9-11) Look in the instructions for Form 8615, IRS Pub. 929, IRC section 1(g). I guess both the parents could die to eliminate Kiddie Tax, but that seems a little drastic.

And, I'm so tempted to dig down deeper to get a nice, organized client. But, maybe I should save her for later in case I have to beg a few more to go on extensions.

I have a cheap stamp that says Copy that I use to fill up the signature line when I don't want the client signing. (My elderly lady who forgets we filed her return and tries to take apart her folder to mail the returns.)

You go, girl !!

I say starting at $500, partly to get rid of the whining price shoppers and partly 'cause this is pricey Fairfield County and partly 'cause I'd like to stop taking new clients. I have lots and lots and lots below that price, but they've been with me a long time. Oh, and I almost always put new clients on extension so I have time to review their prior returns, ask them lots of questions, answer their questions, etc. Abuse right from the beginning.

No to the e-filing via tax prep software, mine at least for individuals. You can e-file extensions on the CT website without having an e-account. Working from memory here (going to file extensions this weekend) but I think if they will not owe CT and file a Federal extension, all is well.

I was just about to tell you tea and lemon and honey and whiskey. Take a long nap.