MsTabbyKats

Michael- Would you want your child to live "as my friend lives". I've asked her...."Is this the life you would want for your son?" She has options. She could sublet a studio in HER building....and hire help for "part of the day". (Another suggestion I made....before I knew she was getting paid.) This would be less than a home.

Since this thread has focused on "parent care" here's her living situation: Manhattan NYC....apts are small 1 bedroom apt....about 700 sq feet Husband sleeps in bedroom and locks the door because mother wanders Friend and mother sleep on sofa bed in the living room (but friend is up all night because mother needs to pee or gets up to wander etc) Until very recently...adult son of friend slept in "partitioned off" area in living room Dog Medicare has told her that these conditions are "unsustainable".....and has recommended "a nursing home" or that someone be there 24/7 Now....assuming one has the resources as she does....is it worth "making more $$$" to live like this???? Or, is it greed????

Thanks for letting me vent...and understanding. Before I knew that the friend was taking money to care for mom (again..forget the tax thing) I let her complain....and told her she had choices. After I found out she profited, I told her "don't complain....you're getting paid". (She could just not get paid...and legitimately inherit the $$$ tax free....but she's doing this to reduce her sister's share.) But you know....those other things....like: Going to the podiatrist and telling him she's "unemployed". (I guess she forgot about her cash babysitting jobs, dog walking, cat care, money from mother and huge portfolio.) So he waived the co-pay of $15. I never heard of anyone waiving a co-pay! And the list goes on....... Would she really be there for me....is a good question. There really isn't a way for her to profit from me. I think emotionally, yes...she would be (if I needed a shoulder to cry on). Perhaps next time she brings up "finding a hair in the food", "waiving a co-pay", walking a mile at 1 AM although someone gave her $$$ for a cab.....I'll just meekly say: "Don't you ever pay for anything?"

That's nice. I remember how I felt when one sent me a box of chocolate covered strawberries!

But, she isn't reporting on her tax return, that she is being paid....and it reduces the sister's share. Although I can understand "being paid" to do this...(and ignoring the tax issue)....mom really needs 24/7 from a more qualified person. Friend has resources....mom has resources. She could well afford live-in qualified help if she doesn't want mom in a home. But, she opts to clean moms s__t etc than to pay someone else....and thus add to her hoard of money. (I didn't know she was getting paid until last month. Before that I listened to the tale of woe about mom and about how her sister "does nothing" and she does everything. This is a choice she made...so now I tell her not to complain, because she's getting paid to do it.)

OMG....I never said she was abusing her mother. I said someone is supposed to be with her mother 24/7....but she takes breaks and leaves her mother alone for a couple of hours for "greedy purposes". IMHO...she is wasting her life taking care of her mother....instead of putting mom in a home. Mom cannot control her bowels...friend spends hours every day cleaning the bathroom, the carpet, the mother......YUCK!!!!! She considers sitting in the car "her break". If she needs to go out for more than 2 hours she hires an 80 year old woman to watch mom. Otherwise, she's mopping up after mom, taking mom to the doctor etc....constantly. Not much of a life...if you ask me. It's the greed again....she gets paid...by the mother....for the care. So, instead of she & sister splitting mother's money upon mother's death....she gets some of it now....and there's less to split later. Why am I her friend? I met her 27 years ago...when our sons were 6 weeks old. At age five I had issues....couldn't deal with her (nothing to do with greed....more like parenting issues) and we just went our own ways. After the sons grew up...about 3 years ago....we got in touch and she was like the sister I never had. Over the course of time "the greed stuff" surfaced. It makes me lose respect for her....but I want to keep her as a friend (friends are really hard to find...people who would be there for you when you need someone...and she is that)....I just don't want to hear about her "conquests over the system".

I'm on the taxpro page...but I don't see a news section. Can you point it out, please. Thanks........

Rich....thinking or you and wife. As far as "late people"......a couple of years ago when someone complained because I couldn't see her on 4/15 (she was getting a refund...I told her she can do it "late"...but she was insistent upon by 4/15).....I told her I had been available since January. Period.

Me too.........with Tax Act (right after I bragged to the client..."oh, it's instantaneous" Where was that posted?

Hmmm....I'd consult with NYS.....I'm pretty sure a student is considered a non-resident of the school state (as opposed to someone sleeping here on a temp assignment). She is still "officially living with parents". I'm trying to find a reference with NYS...but the only thing I can find is this: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/03/18/tax-tips-for-college-students-to-avoid-mistakes/http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2013/03/18/tax-tips-for-college-students-to-avoid-mistakes/ Anyway....I did a "dry run of this"....with the 203-B filled out as 200 days in NYC as a non-resident....and it's not giving me NYC tax But...I could be wrong ETA....I am assuming the woman is an undergrad.

I have 2 phone lines....just in case one craps out. Right now....#2 is out....again.

Are you sure about that? If she's a student, I would think she's a resident of Texas for state tax and therefore a non res of NYC...since that's where her parents live and her parents are claiming her. If she were not claimed on her parents return I would say a NYC part year res.....

If she's a non-resident of NYS (I assume parents live in another state) she pays NYS tax but not NYC tax. NY in box 15 Nothing in box 20....unless NYC tax was withheld

Love it......

Wow...I just thought of something...... Next time she tells me in confidence how brilliant she is because of her newest scam...I could say..."Wow...if I did that I'd be losing my hair too." (I only mention the tax stuff because we are tax people. It goes way beyond tax.) Well...thanks for letting me vent. And Rita...thanks for pointing out how people thought I was "taxwise" involved with her.

She doesn't beat a ticket. There is construction by her building (2nd ave subway)....and they moved the parking signs. But, the sign was put about a car length from where the construction is. For 2 years she squeezed her car into this "legal?" spot. If she had to move the car "the doorman" did something (I assume put his car there) so no one else could get HER spot. Then the doorman got a summons...so he went to court. He couldn't beat the summons. She found her tires slashed 2 times, which she is sure the meter maid did (???). Anyway....now she sits in her car 3 times a week for 90 minutes to wait street cleaning to end and get a spot. She said "I'm not paying $500/month for a garage." Meanwhile, medicare sends her help for mom...but she has a choice...she (or someone) has to be with mom 24/7....or lose the services. Mom is upstairs...alone. (Mom is almost blind, almost deaf and cannot control her bladder or bowels. She also has no short term memory.) I just found out about the car thing last week...so I can only imagine how many things I don't know.

Again....FRIEND....never did/never will do her return or her mother's. She asked me to do her son's a few years ago.....I declined.

Yep....neither she nor her husband ever had a job that paid a decent salary. I wouldn't even be surprised if they are EIC, or were, before the son grew up. And I know she has at least 2 million in Vanguard....with accounts is Fidelity and other places. She probably regrets the day she told me her Vanguard status. BTW...it's all in tax free stuff...that never goes on her return.

I don't do....have not been asked to do...and would never do her tax return....lol....I have more PITAs than I need already. Here's another example of her greed. I didn't even know these accounts exist anymore...but her mother has stock in "mom/friend's name" and "mom/friend's sister's name". Both accounts are "MOM &......" (not either/or)....they get paid quarterly dividends and both MOM & Daughter have to sign the check. When the check comes for MOM & HER SISTER, my friend forges the sister's name, and the drives about 40 miles to the only bank that will cash the check. (The bank where she grew up and mom/sister have a joint account....which is also Mom AND Sister). The sister is unaware of this. LOL...I'm just venting....after her NYC parking scam that she "told me in confidence".

FRIEND....not client Or, are you telling me we are suppose to report "anyone" hiding income? That's good...because I can tell her: "Hey....I'm supposed to report you....so please don't tell me"

This isn't tax, but sort of tax. I have a very greedy friend. She has to "beat the system" and "win" in all situations. I know she thinks it makes her look smart....but it really makes her (to me anyway) look like a dishonest super greedy person. (She hoards $$$. She's got tons....yet rarely spends.) Here's an example. She likes fine dining. Yet, somehow...she often finds hair in her food (of course, she only mentions it after she's done.) The list of greed extends to: medicare, NYC rent, NYS unemployment, NYC parking....and somehow she gets away with murder. Of course, she is chronically anxious and losing her hair....but she beats the system. Now, we come to tax.....gets paid cash, reports nothing. I'd say she gets about $25,000 annually for babysitting....but 2013 will be about $75,000. She has been taking money from her mother to care for her (her mother is in very bad condition)....and the mother will claim $50,000 in medical care expense on her Schedule A. Here's my problem ........ She's always trying to confirm with me that she "beat the tax system"....that the IRS isn't checking her e-mails (she's totally anxious because she's afraid of them spying on her).....and she won't get in trouble. My response is generally...."Yes. You can get in trouble."....and I change the topic. In addition....she always says "I'm telling you this in confidence"....to all her greedy adventures. Here's my question. I really don't care what she does....but I don't want to hear about it. It makes me lose respect for her. What's a nice way of saying...."Please don't tell me."? Right now I'm so sick and tired of this that I avoid her phone calls..........

Things happen......and sometimes it can be as simple as forgetting to plug in the lamp. First...make sure you didn't make a typo or the program carried the information forward correctly. Although you've done the return for 5 years....ask them if there is any possibility someone is claiming the spouse as a dependent or if the spouse possibly filed separately already. Most likely, as everyone else suggested....identity theft. Mail in the paper return asap.....and have them contact the social security office asap.

I guess they like paper....the 201-X is five pages. And then you have to add everything that was on the original return (not just the changed forms).

I charge unless it's my fault. Maybe $25..... But, in NYS you have to send in every single page again....and the NY-X is 5 pages....so those amended NY returns can look like a book. This is especially true when people MUST file by Jan 15 to get that refund......and a 1099-Int comes in a few weeks later. Otherwise, they get in "the habit".

My all time most disgusting clients ever (did them once...and I prayed the return would be accepted) who made lots of $$$ (him...engineer...wife...attorney) asked how they could lower their tax. I said "make less money"........ Well, that didn't go over too well. Both parties in this couple completely lacked personality....they had those permanent sour looks on their face. If people ask me "to explain" and "what's the magic number" I tell them it's a formula.