RitaB

I don't do form billing, either. Probably most of us have some sort of hybrid method of billing. We all know that all Sch Cs, for example, are not created equal. We all know that a Sch A with two or three entries is nothing. I print and explain to my clients once or twice. Explaining takes longer than doing. If you don't do form billing, I assume you do charge for your time. If you don't charge for your time, I think whatever method of billing you use covers that somehow. My time is everything. When I see that a client is still bringing me these items, I choose two minutes and Sch A versus ignoring and risking them thinking I missed something and/or having the ten minute Sch A seminar again. The charge is going to be the same regardless. And it will be fair. And there is no penalty for looking at the return and reading it. It's not hidden in the fine print. I teach the clients I can and survive the others. Now, if they want me to add a stack of receipts, I do provide bookkeeping services, and I assume they'd rather pay me for that than spring for a calculator and do it themselves. They like their time, too. And I am telling the next person who says "long form" that they are all 8.5 x 11.

Of course. If you don't, they talk all over town about how you didn't "let" them take their deductions. I get a new client every couple of years that tells me that. You can explain to some, but others will never get it. Easier to do the form.

Yeah, my girl here that's so smart she apparently just hires me to save time made a big production of telling me she didn’t bother with adding medical and donations or bringing 1098 for mortgage interest because she has done the math and doesn’t have enough to itemize, yet she highlights husband’s union dues for me. And tells me what it is because apparently I can't read or see yellow. Oh, yeah, I'm doing the 2106 and Sch A. Don't be telling me about yer taxes.

Well, he and I both knew he'll likely be in heaven this time next year, so it really was the sweetest thing ever. But that other heifer...

That's right. Be nice to me and I'll be nice to you.

A tale of two new clients. 1) Lady bitched about my $150 fee yesterday, which included searching property tax data to set up new rental and the sale of business property from closed trucking business. She always paid her friend $75. Always. Is this the same friend you told me always fixed up your return so you have never paid SS/MC tax and now you have no SS benefits? That friend? No, the new one. The one in FL who is not answering his phone, which is why you're here? That friend? Yeah, that one. 2) Retired gentlemen who came in three weeks ago, 88 years old, had a friend preparer with an actual PTIN who really screwed up his 2014 return nonetheless. I was sick when I saw other guy charged $40. I charged $150. Client wrote the $150 check and also handed me a $20 cash tip. He came in yesterday (which is not easy, he's pretty frail) to say, "Well, I got my refund check yesterday, just had to come by and tell you I'm now obligated to come back next year if you'll let me." I gave him a nice hug (not the one where I measure for the grave in the back yard), and said, "Well, then I am obligated to be right here waiting on you." "Yeah, buddy," he says. What I have to learn to do is think about the second client more than the first.

I just now figured out that you meant would you really report the mobile home rental on Sch C and not would you really report RV rental on Sch C. I was really struggling trying to figure out with what you were trying to accomplish there. LOL. Three. In 50 states. Three.

Absolutely correct if you mean "...and submit a W-3c with a W-2c to correct the incorrect W-2," and I think you do.

I absolutely would rather amend pro bono than have the all day [or 47 minute] conversation where the end result is still, "I dunno." About the same amount of work to just amend free gratis. Plus I'm a hero! I did have one lady that tried to school me on all of it, and I did remove her SRP. I made it clear to her that she will handle any IRS correspondence regarding the issue pro se. My biggest fear is the SRP will NOT be removed for 2016, and all the people who skipped out on it cause Lefty guessed correctly will get away with it. And I look like I'm working for IRS because I prepared a complete and accurate return. No good deed and all that.

Still figuring the SRP. Not discussing it if they don't bring it up. Overwhelmingly they have not.

So preacher client comes in trying to find W-2 forms. I tell him they sell them all day long at Staples. It's late, and if the church is not going to pay me the $35 I quoted you April of 2016, at least let me see it before you submit to SSA. Preach: SSA? Blah, blah, blah, explain, explain... And then we talk some about the lady who was dealing meth in his rental. Story was on the news yesterday, and he shares how the cops told him they wish he still had the $740 cash she paid him for February rent. Me: $740?

Crying. And THAT'S how we do math around here! Give me my roses while I'm here. (And my inheritance.) The principal went toward meals and incidentals. (Clothes and vacations.) (Steven, don't get offended at us, we're just playing.)

Yes, there had to be principal in there, for sure, but it's not uncommon for there to be much more interest than principal. I just looked up a $5,000 series EE bond issued 10/1986. It would have been purchased for $2,500 and the accumulated interest would be $9,032 when it matured 10/2016. So, yeah daughter had more than $60,000 left after paying the medical expenses. For sure.

Do you wonder if the guy coming back with $7,000 in business expenses for $4,000 in income helped them decide he wasn't in business? Asking for a friend.

Yes, of course if you owe you're required to file. Has nothing to do with whether he is required to file a federal return. Or whether he does file a federal return. Do taxes. Make money. I stole that saying, but it's a nice saying.

Don't mean to be insensitive either, but kids and other relatives don't consult us about money that belongs to someone else. Looks like daughter made provisions for a $60,000 cushion for taxes.

And insurance companies are in business to make money, so that tells you there are not many claims.

No, there is no savings bond interest exclusion for medical expenses.

My opinion is that all a SMLLC does in TN is add expenses to your life and some billable work for me. It might POSSIBLY fake somebody out by making them THINK you'd be difficult to sue. Kinda like that time back in the eighties when I tied my horse to a lawn chair while I ran in the house for a Mt. Dew and she stayed put. My motto is do your job right, have the appropriate liability insurance, and don't worry about it.

And the phone tax credit! I got 711 articles that year. Who cares what my basis is in my $180,000 stock sale? Get me that $30 phone tax credit!

Well, my guy is all about protecting himself from identity theft. You might tell her. It couldn't hurt.

I know! I have about three of these, but I didn't want to rub it in. I'm glad to know it's not just my good fortune. It's a great time to be alive! One told me this morning he didn't put his depreciable assets purchased in 2015 down, but he can get that if he needs to. You know, in case I forgot what they were. I had to wipe away a tear. I'm sorry I complain at times.

You are so right. But that's a foolproof system you gotta give him that.

I just have to share the system my client has developed to ensure that I know exactly what I'm getting into. If only all my clients were this savvy.