MsTabbyKats

I don't have a cutoff date. It's on a case by case basis.

Agree......and e-file. No need for paper. If someone has an ITIN number during the year, he cannot claim EITC,

Jack Of course there are no perfect humans. But, when you limit your load and avoid known pitfalls the chance of screwing up diminishes. I know the areas where I goof (face to face, PA local). I also know if my husband is here, he will talk to me about nonsense, and I lose focus....so I send him away or stop working. I also waste way too much time proof reading. When I do make mistakes I start to question my mental abilities (age...just got Medicare card).....and tell myself that I need to focus or slow down.

I don't know about that....... Think of your doctor making a non-intentional mistake. I know everyone makes mistakes.....but I get really turned off when my broker/banker/any financial person I use screws up. One of the reasons that I strongly discourage face to face returns is that I make mistakes due to distraction or get a bit flustered if I can't find where to make an entry or something doesn't flow.

I proofread....a few times. I have an occasional goof...but usually on states/locals (that I'm not familiar with). In 2011 a client didn't give me a 1099-R. (But she inundated me with junk/other papers...which included a 0 balance in a retirment account. I should have paid attention to her junk.). The IRS caught up with it a few months ago....and she reinforced that she gave me the statement with the $0 balance.

Yeah...BUT....the people don't hear the part about Jan 31. They only hear that Free File is available. And if you file for someone NOW....they are going to be calling about their refund for a few weeks.

Well....an IRS rep once told me....it goes to whomever files first, claiming the dependent....and let them work it out. However, I'm giving this to "the client". After going thru the checklist: temporary absense is allowed and the child "did not provide more than half of his own support" As to the friend...since the child isn't related...the child would have to live with her for the entire year.

Well, the IRS announcing that Free File is up and running doesn't help.

There used to be a time where I was "the poster girl" for all of the above (however, I am, by nature, a morning person). I was going from 7 AM- 10 PM......in the past. (Almost cost my marriage!) Now...weather permitting....I go out for a lunch break (even just a slice of pizza) daily. Oh....and every Wednesday morning....I hit the local casino. It breaks up the week beautifully. I find that my phone/e-mail is busier in the afternoon........so I get as much as I can done in the morning......then relax and take the calls later in the day. Remember....there is no such thing as a tax emergency.

Would that be me? I already gave 2 people their "new & improved" prices....no arguments yet.

Maybe there's some confusion with SSI....not taxable. It's too early to vent.

I use "I can't give a final price until I see what I'm doing." If someone persists, I'll say "Based on what you're telling me..about $X, but if there are differences the price will change." If you use the word $100.....they will forget you said "minimum"....,,and then say "But you said $100" when you give your price.

Well...in a very short time we'll all be too busy to worry about posting nonsense and hijacking threads....so here's last one: My husband used to have a corp...we will call Corp A.....that was closed in 2011 He currently has a corp....we will call Corp B.....that was closed on 12/31/13 We have a new corp....yes, we will call it Corp C.....that started as of 1/1/14 In going thru some Sales Tax returns (I do this for him on line)....I noticed that the sales tax due on 11/30/2013....which should be for Corp B....was erroneously filed under Corp A's EIN (closed in 2011). And the bank honored the payment...although it was for a different name and a different tax ID. (That should not have happened!) So...anyway, I tried to call NYS Sales Tax Dept....and it wouldn't let me speak to a human. I told the corps accountant (she doesn't file the return...she gives me the figures and I do it) what happened....and she gave me the name/phone number of someone in that dept. He took care of it....no problems! The moral of the story.....thank god I didn't mis-file for a paying customer! Thank god that although it's impossible to reach a human at the NYS tax dept thru normal channels....they still exist.

I vote deductible because it's dental (many dental procedures aren't absolutely necessary...but improve the quality of life)....unless it's cosmetic. Tooth whitening isn't deductible, is it, even if it's done by a dentist? Or, am i wrong. Oh...that was off topic Personal response system....if the doctor prescribes it because the person has a life threatening medical condition...I'd say yes. If she got it just because she saw the ad on TV...and thinks its good to have....I'd say no.

I really must be oblivious.....or just don't read all the "exciting" threads...... But, if I may ask....exactly what did she do that was sooooooo bad? People "hijack" all the time.....threads just go off topic innocently.

This is (good) news to me. Did you e-file those returns? Do they direct deposit amended returns? (NYS does)

I'd do a MFS for him....with NRA written in by her SS#. (paper return) As far as the certified passport.....most countries don't issue them. (And if the client is here, in the US, it would be impossible anyway.) That's why I send people to the closest IRS office with the original. If she's in India....I don't think it would be economically beneficial! Anyway....when she does get a SS#.....you can amend the return to joint. (I've done this many times.) The IRS will only accept certified copies of the passport or the original. As I stated....the state dept of most countries have no idea of what a certified copy (that would fulfill our requirements) is. The US embassy verifying her passport won't work. I do several of these a year....they are really PITA.

AFAIK...they only direct deposit current year refunds. Yes...you can use your address ( write C/O and your name) and they will send it to you. I have to do this often (lots of international clients that move home).

Just to add: It takes about 4-6 weeks to get the ITIN. I generally hold the state return...and then e-file after the ITIN is received.

She needs to get an ITIN# Do a W-7....and a paper return. She will have to go to the IRS office with her passport....unless she wants to mail it in! (Mail in the passport...that is....which is NOT recommended)

Oh...my income was about $100 less in 2013 than in 2012....with about 25 fewer clients. I think that's a good thing!

I'm phasing out gradually. Last year I stopped accepting new non-resident aliens. I've dropped all the real PITAs. I've lost some PITAs because I refuse to do anything that can come back to haunt me. There should be some more of those this year. Certain things...which require too much time (returns with local PA, returns with complex international issues) are off my list. I'm raising fees. If someone is unhappy.....I have no problem if they look elsewhere. So...to answer the original question: I lose about 10%. I'm picky about new clients.

Jack- You know what I loathe? When I see the prices some people charge....I consider it nothing more than theft by taking advantage of the uninformed & helpless. If I save a grad student with huge loans....who has a part-time job so he doesn't need to eat Rahmen Noodle Soup daily....a few dollars in tax prep fees.....well, I think that's pretty nice of me. You know...what goes around comes around. I'm sorry you see this as destroying Capitalism....but I see it as being a nice person....and as payback for help that I got when I was young and poor.

Thanks for the input to my original question. I've decided I'll give each client the fee before I start....generally a bit more than last year. And, that's based on the information supplied at the time...which they will also be told. I can't do an hourly fee....it just wouldn't work. And I'm not getting into "changes at IRS either. It isn't their problem and I believe I am supposed to produce a return that would "pass all the tests" anyway. Truth is....the fee will be based on how much work I need to do....and their income and/or lifestyle. I always say..."If you have any questions, please let me know." Most just ignore that statement; some will ask when they can expect their refunds; a few will ask me to explain every single deduction and the amt! If a question cannot be answered in a few lines....I'll invoke "the hourly rate". Truth be told....no more "free rides".

Omg....I get things like a $10,000 deduction for vehicle expenses....when the person doesn't even own a car! (Not to mention a job that could not ever require travel). And they want to know why I won't do it the same way. Amending isn't even an option (but I do tell them that if they don't, they will get a nasty letter down the road ). Sometimes a new client may have missed things on a self-prepared return.....and they do amend prior years.