Lion EA

I just put it on my iPhone. Thanx, KC.

Yes, that's my real question! How to calm down the client. If having an amendment to mail would make her trust me again, I'll do it.

I should be better at these by now, but I screwed up on and was emailed by the client catching my errors after efiling! I don't think there's a change in taxation, so would you amend to correct the information? Client is single, all contributions were pre-tax via payroll reduction, under the limit for self coverage. Her distributions were all used for qualified medical expenses. Her W-2 had NO information on it. She had pages of documentation. Even though I remember checking "self only," apparently the family contribution is showing on the form. And, I guess I managed to show her distributions as going from IRAs to her HSA instead of being HSA distributions. She thinks I should list the $3,050 employer contribution which was her payroll reduction amount. Should I? Last time I do an HSA with the client sitting here! John is right; get them out of my office while I work. What do I do now?

ProSystem fx, but you've seen my computer problems lately. So, CCH tech support talked me through which folder to move to laptop to have all my settings in place. But, in working on a return, got a pop-up box that implied I needed to check the box for True Type fonts or else I was going to have to download tax prep fonts each time I printed or opened a new return or something annoying like that. Thought my settings are supposed to be here the same way they were before. And, I certainly didn't download fonts each time I printed a return before. So, I'll have to check returns very carefully now. I would've noticed italics, though! Good luck.

Whenever you are available. You do so much for us, that we can work around your schedule. That said -- if it's all the same to you -- I'd wait until after 18 April. I'm way behind and sleep deprived and will certainly be posting questions since I'm not functioning efficiently and will need direction and help fast.

Thanks for all the well wishes. I spent today really getting everything on my laptop, not just the bits when I thought it'd be very temporary. I use ProSystem fx, and their tech support is absolutely amazing! It's been worth every penny. No wait, and talked me through the steps. I'd have missed a step that would've cost me some of my pay-per-return authorizations if I hadn't called. And then someone else in another department is going to watch my upcoming invoices to make sure I still get my old price on those authorizations. ( I wish the Dell support was even a fraction as efficient.) I actually took the time to stay on the line for their satisfaction survery. I miss my larger screens, but the laptop is also new and has a very sharp screen. I think my local techie can hook up one more monitor to the laptop.... And, I'll call VMS to get my automatic backups going again to the cloud and my external hard drive, instead of the manual backups I've been doing since I turned off my overheated desktop. Catherine found just the right emoticon!

Please don't say that aloud. The IRS might be listening and decide that's a good idea!

If a return is not in my software and I need to amend, I do not try to match the erroneous return -- sometimes you really can't, your software won't let you. I prepare the return the correct way. Then, when I call up an amendment, I do NOT let it transfer the numbers; I leave my numbers in the amended column. I then type in the original wrong numbers.

NECPA, know how you feel. When my son was in high school and college he couldn't believe that his mother pulled all-nighters too! I was off work for a week for a death in the family, so was really hoping to finish strong this last month. I nursed my old Gateway through last season and through extensions to avoid Vista and stay on XP until I ordered the new Dell with Win7 in December. I way thinking my local techie would refurbish the old Gateway for me to use for Scan & Flow and as an emergency back-up. But, since I was spending an outlandish amount of money anyway on the new Dell desktop and three monitors and tech support contracts, I decided at the last minute to add a new laptop to my Dell order. Thought QB and Excel only and just in case my daughter worked for me once in awhile. The old Gateway is not salvageable, so I'm very glad I got this laptop. But, I did hire a very PT assistant, and now have no computer for her to do Scan & Flow and QB. She's done some QB at her home and is doing a lot of sorting for me. My eyes are red and my face is red, probably raised my blood pressure. Think I'll go test my blood sugar and make a cup of tea. Thank you, everyone. You all understand.

I have a service contract/off-site back-ups at VMS, but they can't "see" my computer when it's off. And, my local guy can remote in; he also passes my house on his way to and from work and now is off three days/week. He even stopped by on his way home from sitting shiva in PA (I met him through my daughter-in-law). You're right though, Margaret, that it's easier to wine and dine a local guy than someone in India!

I can always count on RitaB to cheer me up! I did look at local companies. This is pricey Fairfield County, CT, so hourly rates before factoring in parts, mileage, etc., were well over $130/hour over a year and a half ago when I started shopping, so estimates were in five figures for building just a single computer or two if I wanted a service contract. I found a local techie who could set me up and take phone calls and come over in less than a day (IT director at a CT company that downsized him to four days/week, so he's taking private clients), and he liked Dell. Of course, the treatment he gets when buying for his day job where he spends in the six figures every year at Dell is different than the treatment I get buying two computers from Dell in my entire lifetime. I grew up in IL, went to college in MI, lived a decade in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA, and really miss those prices. This is a very expensive place to live, and I'm going to keep raising MY rates until I can keep -- or retire!

My eyes are burning and I'm tired. But, it's not because I'm working long and hard (which I am, by the way); it's because I'm not working efficiently. My very new, very expensive Dell keeps shutting down, and after three months of Dell technicians (also bought the upgraded tech support with next-day, on-site service; but try to get them actually to come out!) telling me I don't have a hardware problem, my computer overheated and shut down for the final time. So, I'm working on my laptop which is set too high on a tiny L-shaped desk with my old chair. If the right fan doesn't arrive today for my desktop, I really need to move it over to my main desk so I can work more comfortably. I loaded my tax software, but I'm not licensed for a second computer. I need to call on that and see if there's an easy way to get all my configurations on this laptop's software -- preferences, prices, etc. -- without typing them all in one at a time. And, how to be able to e-file from this laptop. And, get 2009 on this laptop. (Yes, I had my 2010 returns backed up, so they're on this laptop; however, I roll over as I expect a client, so need to roll over more 2009 returns now.) I feel frustrated that I've spent more time on the telephone with Dell than I've spent preparing tax returns. Of course sitting shiva in PA for a week with my new daughter-in-law who lost her father didn't help my schedule. But, my fury with Dell gives me a headache each day. They kept telling me I don't have a hardware problem, I must've updated some software. When the loud grinding noise started, I held the phone near the computer! The one technician trip that I received -- Dell did not send the right part, and now it's backordered and unavailable -- just took my time and theirs. They won't replace the hard drive unless it fails again within a week of installing the new fan that's not available to install. They won't send a new power supply until they try a new fan that's not available. And, they sent only two of the four fans. One part at a time, so only one try so far! And, a replacement system would take four weeks after it's approved. Even most of the supervisors still have Indian accents, and the one that spoke understandable English was still overseas in a call center with no authority to do anything. I returned from PA a week ago Thursday night, and the computer failed again Friday before I could get any work done. So, I canceled my clients from last Friday through today and moved them to this weekend and next week. The latest ETA on the fan was three business days to get into the tech's hands, and then he calls me to make an appointment; with the weekend, I won't even get a call before next Wednesday. I'm interviewing clients and have piles of folders and started telling people after the failed service visit on Tuesday that I'll be filing extensions. Most of my clients followed me from Block a few years back, so aren't used to extensions. They're also higher income and owe, and I'm getting through returns so slowly (late at night after I get off the telephone) that I won't have good numbers for how much they need to send with their extensions. They will give me LOTS of grief re P&I when we finally file. I have a local techie who helps me, but he can't get the part either. I might get him over this weekend to add a monitor to my laptop and help me understand (I'm an old lady with not a lot of computer skills) getting this laptop authorized to efile. Glad I upgraded to a new laptop this year also. Didn't think it'd be my main computer. It does have a great screen. I haven't completed a return since Saturday 12 March when Jimmy went into the ICU on a ventilator while the newlyweds were flying back from their New Zealand honeymoon and thought he was doing fine in rehab. Thanks for letting me vent. Back to cleaning up a spreadsheet to import -- thank goodness for "import" -- for a new client with 4 million in stock trades (wish my screen were even larger).

You get your number at the end and can print out a certificate. I even enlarged a copy and put it in a document frame on my wall, so my NY commuters think I'm familiar with NY taxes -- even though the certificate means nothing more than that I paid NY $100 a season ago!

I'm very sorry for your loss. Yes, report income if the security was sold previously. Reduce basis if still own the security.

I had a client for awhile that was a headhunter and had big checks from her clients at least six times per year. She wanted to pay when she got paid. I printed up blank vouchers for her, and she sent about 40% to the feds and 5% to CT everytime she got paid. Never heard any complaints.

If you're an EA, you no longer have to register. Although, it was suggested to me in a course that I start the online registration process, and when the page comes up telling me I do not have to register, to print that page for my files. I did that. (I was registered for the prior tax season before we EAs were added to the regulations NY uses for CPAs and attorneys.)

I label everything the program allows me to label T or S or J so I can have a first cut at the MFJ vs. MFS comparison.

Scan & Flow. Or, import an Excel file. Or, mail the G/L statement with Form 8453.

Great. Now you're going to get more clients leaving dirty socks in your office! Or, barefoot clients. Hope they don't step in the poop that your earlier client tracked in.

Depending on how much below FMV it was, you may be able to make a case for selective rentals to known tenants kept the property in better shape than renting to strangers and was, therefore, worth a deduction in rent. Research court cases.

In the interim, you might want to try your other hand for your mouse.

Boys, boys, please play nice together!

I don't worry much if the business has a positive cash flow and only depreciation results in the paper loss. And, I think privately-owned farms can always make a case for selling property at a gain in the future. But, it's facts and circumstances, so make sure you know your client's facts and circumstances.

Thanx, Catherine, I needed that.

Hey, Joan, take care of yourself !!