RitaB

They will be assigned an account number after they file the first return, and even then, I never know what my clients' account number is unless something goes wrong. You're good, just leave it blank.

Are you kidding? I've laughed my head off all day. I would give anything for a video of this day in this office. Only you people could believe this without seeing it. I really do love my job, and wow, these people need us. BAD. SO. BAD. Whew, still can't stop laughing, guys. Good hugs for you, and you, and you...

I knew she was yours! ISTG. OMG, tears are rolling down my face. Whew. Therapy.

Bahahahaha, this morning I did the Sch A seminar for a new client. She had 14 noncash contribution receipts with nothing on them. She figured that those treasures were worth $2200.00 Me: Your standard deduction is $12,600. That's the amount the IRS will allow you to deduct without itemizing your deductions. Your mortgage interest is $2,500, your property tax is $500, and let's say these non-cash contributions that are blank amount to $3,000. (No I did not mention sales tax, stay with me here.) I write the numbers down and show the sum is $6,000. Do you want to take the $12,600 or the $6,000 deduction? She: I don't know, are you allowed to give me advice? ISTG (I swear to G**) this happened. You cannot make this up. I will be filling out the Sch A to show her, and I wasted fifteen minutes on the seminar, too. The seminar took longer for her, as you might imagine. I'll charge her ten bucks for the two minutes to fill out Sch A, print it, copy it, BBFB. No, I ain't doing the 8283.

I had this last year for a poor grandmother, long time client, who had her grandchildren ten months in 2015 because the parents of the kids were incarcerated. I made asked her to get everything she could on the list of suggestions that IRS provided. I forget the form number, but you can google. Yeah, it took a while for me to assemble and make copies. She got her big @$$ "refund" of taxpayer money. I charged her for the audit assistance this year when she came in and didn't know WTH the interest income from IRS was. Yeah, she paid me. No, I didn't charge enough. Yes, she also had the kids 2016. No questions from IRS this time. She called me and thanked me. And let me tell you it was high time.

Yes, you can deduct shipping. Cubic, but that varies depending on final arrangements. Cardboard or pine? I also have a feed sack special now through April 18. Yes, my soil is so rich it should file a tax return.

I'm not following the two suggestions about getting the 8332s. You need that form if you're claiming someone and you're not the custodial parent. Everybody here is wanting to claim a kid or kids that they say live with them. Why would you tell her, after she says all three kids live with her, to have husband say they really live with him but he's letting her claim them? And why would you tell him, after he says one kid lives with him, to have wife say the child really lives with her but she's letting him claim him/her?

Perhaps my use of the word "make" was a little heavy-handed. All this season, I have told my parents, "Hey, I'm sorry to ask you to do this but there is so much fraud that IRS is asking us professionals to get some evidence from the person claiming the children blah, blah, blah..." A custodial parent can get evidence and it's all good. Time consuming, and a pain in the ass, but good. A noncustodial parent who has a legitimate right to claim the exemption of a child can get the signed 8332. You've got a two HOH / three kid situation there. I think with CTC and EIC you could see $3030 or heck, even $4040, in penalties. I hate the requirements, too, but evidently that's the price we pay for crooks. Some of whom are preparing returns. (The reports of me actually murdering clients are also exaggerated, just saying. I hardly ever do that.)

I think this is exactly why we have the due diligence requirements. I would not take the word of either of them. And obviously you can't now. I would make both produce evidence of the kids' residency. School records, medical records, post cards from bull crap solicitations the kids received (somehow THEY always find where the kids live). I would also ask mom for her lease agreement if she's renting or settlement statement where she brought her new place. They'll be dated 2015 or 1/1/2016, right? A lease agreement might also have kids listed on it. I would only prepare the return of the one whose story panned out. And it might be neither. And they may both decide to look for someone who won't be so, well, diligent. If somehow both come up with documents indicating they are being truthful, I'd pick one and hope they wrap it up in 2017. If I did either return I'd document the crap out of everything.

I took the original post to mean ROTH 401K.

No, it does not. Taxpayer has failed to repay it, so it's a withdrawal. But basis (contributions) in ROTHs are withdrawn first, so that will affect things.

Well, there ya go! I can expense the lots (just section 179 land, who cares??), and he can just not report the income. I mean, come on, win / win! Patrick Cox is his Realtor anyway. I write off all Patrick's clothes and lunches cause Realtors do that, you know. It's in the Hairdresser's Tax Guide.

So, I document everything cause I've seen a thing or two. Guy comes in 1/30/17 and asks me what to do about a lot he sold. You report it. Well, I bought another lot. Refer to my first advice. So, I think I'm all done with his return this morning, which includes payback of all the APTC for which he did not qualify, and I warned him he didn't. Yeah, I put it in writing last year. Attached a copy to his stuff 2016, and I'll attach it to 2017, too. And I see my note from 1/30/17 about the lot. I text him: Did you sell lot in 2016 or 2017? 2016, but I bought another lot. I guess taxes are easier when you just make up your own code. Cause IRC is more like guidelines, really.

Yes, none of that side hug crap. Make it count.

I just want one more person to say, "I didn't get that much out of it." One. More.

Raise your hand if you'd rather take a beating or reprint the whole %^&$ return than to give this form to a client. I'll never forget the time one of my most irritating clients came back in the next day to interrogate me over that form. At the end of that meeting, I said, "You can bet you will never get a $1 break on SE tax again."

Yeah, I know, so I'm doing the whole memorializing the conversation CMA and sending both him and Mrs. Loaded a copy.

Yeah, I have sections in the yard by width and length, too. It's efficient use of plot space.

Guy has called twice. I finally call him back. Is it ok for Mrs. Loaded to withdraw $80,000 from her annuity I manage in 2017? What do you mean, is it ok? It’s her money. Of course she can withdraw it. Well I just wanted to make sure it’s in line with your planning. My planning? Matt, she’s in the 25% bracket, that won’t go down because she has other investments that you don’t manage. So, whatever you do, whatever you do, withhold 25% so she won’t be in here crying at tax time like she was this year even though I told you to withhold 25% when we had this conversation last year. There is no crying in taxes unless it’s me. (Laughing) You are in the throes of tax season. Matt, I am in Affordable Care Act hell. Withhold 25%. Do it.

This made me think of the couple doing fertility treatments and he has court ordered child support payments to both first and second wives. You can't make this stuff up. Well, it also made me laugh at what a great picture you painted. I've never seen notes written on salami but I knew exactly what you meant.

I want to hug people who don't do email, don't text, no land line, and cell phone voice mail box has not been set up. Yeah, I want to reach out and touch somebody. Can you hear me now?

Hahahaha, I love you guys. I have a stack of returns where people owe. Pretty soon it will be time for me to change the greeting to, "Hey, this is Rita. Come get your sh*t. Yeah, I'm here, why are you even wondering? Come get your sh*t. Don't even wait for the beep. Hang up now."

Dear Client, Thanks for bringing in three copies of your 1099-Int for your checking account and nothing regarding the sale of $25,000 in mutual funds.

My office cleaning lady (me) is behind. My copy and assembly and receptionist girls (me, me, me) almost had a breakdown(s) last week because of staples and unopened envelopes and that one guy who comes in when she's closing the blinds and already clocked out and stayed an hour and the time change and something about a wine per diem. My preparer (me) is doing great. I think. I like thinking that and it's the first day of spring and will be 70 degrees and sunny here today, per my weather girl (me). I am about where I always am, perhaps a little ahead.

Oh, wow, you're welcome, I just thought I'd say something because of the cricket sounds. Yes, if aunt is reporting the whole ball of wax, I would use Sch F for her. Absolutely. And I would do more favors for people if they'd put me in their will, just sayin.