Lion EA

I think the price has risen a lot. I notice I have Saber 2002 on my computer. However, I moved my office and have no idea where any of my CDs are. I have many, many boxes stored in my basement and stacks of stuff piled up in my office. If no one offers you their copy in a day or so, I'll go on a search.

A very :bday:

A very :bday:

A very :bday:

A very :bday:

A very :bday:

I think our tax code has many sections written for rather narrow segments of the population: micro-brewers in one particular state, for instance. And, I think it should be less segmented than it is. However, the questions were asking if we felt $250,000 is rich. My answer is -- it depends. Richer in the midwest and south, less rich in the greater NY metropolitan area. Richer for a childless couple in their earning years or who just inherited their parents' wealth, less rich for a family battling health issues sandwiched between ill parents and a special needs child. My answer to the original question is that "rich" varies with your circumstances and your viewpoint. I do not think our tax code should vary with our circumstances or our viewpoint. I do think it does, though.

It would be whatever it would be disregarding the LLC and reporting as an individual would on his Form 1040. Sounds like a Schedule E. Why doesn't the S-corporation pay rent?

Thank you, John.

I'm in CT, 20 miles from public transportation, so need my 1997 Subaru, which replaced my 1988 Subaru. The garage is part of the basement of my house, so no additional expense. If I didn't have my home office and commuted to NYC where the work is, I'd have 40 miles round trip in CT with the highest gas taxes in this country, then a parking pass for hundreds of dollars per year, plus a train ticket for thousands of dollars per year, and then maybe subway fares. Don't see how I could leave the house to catch the 7:05 train and return 12 hours later without a sitter and preschool or a drop-off day care. Glad mine are finally grown, just the college/parent loans to pay off on my stepdaughter. When we moved here for the job, we searched NY, PA, NJ, and CT, for the cheapest combination of house prices, property taxes, transportation costs, etc. We didn't expect children in the mix, though, since we'd been married for twelve years with no child appearing. Then, after settling out here in the boonies -- Surprise! Well, driving ten miles to pick up a babysitter or 20 miles to the next town for daycare really put a crimp in our budget. Sometimes, children are not a choice, unless you're willing to do something rather drastic to eliminate them. We found his required (lactose intolerant) formula cheaper in San Jose even after paying UPS to ship it out to CT. And, I stayed home for a couple of years while I earned an MBA (fellowship paid), but really had to return to work to afford oil even with our house at 55 degrees daytime, 45 night. I used COBRA after my divorce, but it runs out eventually. The Imitrex for my migraines was $85 per shot without insurance. You just can't look at someone's income on their tax return and know how much they have left at the end of the month. Geography, health, so many things eat up our money.

NOW down to $38000. For that family of four with two children to care for while the parents work, subtract another $26000 for child care, and maybe they have a parent with Alzheimer's to care for also. THEN how much do you have for food? Don't forget that one of those children may be allergic to dairy, eggs, tree nuts, wheat and wheat germ, etc., and have expensive food supplements not deductible as medical expenses. Not to mention his medications, epi-pens, etc., which don't quite rise to the 7.5% of AGI to be deducted. NOW you have $2000 to feed and clothe four people! And, what about saving for retirement? Or the couple I have that are both self-employed and made $300,000 last year. But the second-year consultant has made only $10,000 this year, yet so many of their benefits are based on their 2008 tax return. I look at families making over $250,000 per year and know that they're three times better off than my family. But, I also know the expenses to live in the northeast and also see the expenses of my individual clients. The families with autistic children who keep full-time nannies (starting at $30,000 plus room and board and use of a car around here) even though the mom ends up staying home to care for the child, so no deduction for child care expenses. A friend in the midwest pays only $125 per week for her nanny to help with her autistic child. I remember moving from Santa Barbara, CA, (not a cheap area!) to CT and finding food costs triple (we have to truck it in from FL and CA) and property taxes ten times more and heating and A/C going from almost zero to hundreds of dollars per month. And, I had to buy winter clothes! Our cars wear out and rust out in years instead of decades. And, that's not even comparing CT to IL where I grew up or MI where I spent a few years. I wish our family made $250,000; but $250,000 is not rich.

His adventure with Catherine? Or with loading the old programs? Hope it's successful, whichever it is!

I notice he did not use the "people" elevators for his vandalizing but just the freight elevator that would carry IRS employees and equipment and such and not outsiders. But, he worked for the IRS!!

I think so. Not from any research, but from overhearing some PTO mothers talking about forming a non profit. One of their lawyer members said it once had to be a corporation or association but now can be an LLC that applies to be a non profit. So, don't do your research too far in the past.

My prayers are with you, Billy.

A very :bday:

A very :bday:

Great news, Marilyn!

You can do a seminar with another professional in a complimentary service. Maybe a broker or realtor or banker or lawyer (estate or marital or...) or a SSA staffer or.... Have a theme, such as new tax laws or women & money or retirement planning or small business..., and bring in a non-competing pro to flesh out the topic.

Happy Memorial Day! Enjoy the long weekend. I'm trying to get a large return off extension!

Join everything where you have an interest. There are local networking groups for small business owners, such BNI, to breakfast together and get to know one another. Let everyone you meet know that you specialize in small business taxes, tax planning, etc. Over time, I've gotten clients from church, from my broker, and from a lawyer at church, as well as from existing clients and friends. Make sure you tell your existing clients, both businesses and individuals, that you are taking new business clients. Make personal calls on your local small businesses to meet the owner, give your 30-second elevator speech, and leave a brochure and business card. Host an open house at your location, inviting business owners. Love the idea from Mike about a targeted seminar. Talk to your banker, too; new businesses opening accounts might ask him/her for referrals to a good tax man. See if you can display your brochures/cards there, too.

A very :bday:

A very :bday:

A very :bday:

Thank you. My son drove in from PA. We all went to UConn to celebrate our daughter's graduation! It could not have been a better Mothers' Day: both my kids and both with degrees. What more could a mother ask for?! (PS That's her in the UConn band uniform.)