RitaB

I keep a hard copy or every tax return and a hard copy of every document I used to prepare a return. Also notes from conversations unless they are really stupid like, "Hey, my middle initial is B. I don't know why the W-2 has R." OK, I keep those notes, too. Which may push me over the top for most anal preparer. But I can grab a file and see what happened. And it has paid off quite a bit over the years. I'd just copy the SSA-1099s and attach to my copy of the return. I would put two on a page, and the other one with the note about "the last preparer wouldn't let me deduct my church contributions" on another page. That way I also know to always do Schedule A and skip the explanation of why shy can't itemize.

Well, I can see why you'd try to help him. Sorta. If he makes nothing, neither do you. Tough situation. I hope $XX was a lot. Hope it gets better, but if not, we've all had some flat tires, it's part of life.

I was thinking, three years, that's not bad... Actually, yes, you are EXACTLY right. That is very upsetting.

Theoretically, it would be good to pay an accountant, too. Either know what you're doing or hire somebody who does.

On another board, there is a discussion right now about a rental property that a professional completely depreciated over 10 years. If IRS can't catch that, I'm not a bit worried. But, yes, I am sure about my depreciation schedules. I attach them to returns, and I don't care who sees them. Are you sure every software uses different classifications and processes? I've only used ATX, so I didn't know that.

OK, I'll bite. Why are we glad? I am happy for IRS to see every worksheet I do. Why shouldn't I be?

Crying. Oh, my aching back.

Good. A lawyer should know, well, the law.

Well, my good AR friend, on this farmer I'm on, if I go to 1040 EF INFO, then on the bottom tabs look under "E-filed Forms," it shows that the Form 4562 is e-filed, but not any worksheets. He did not add any assets. But, boy he sure enough tried to subtract personal insurances and had to bust him on it. P. S. And on another other (sorta) topic, I wish the whole ACA had never happened.

That's right. Living expenses are living expenses. And if there is much whining from the client: "I will take the scholarship and gladly pay the tax, it's a better deal than this career, wanna do it that way?"

Good over here, too. Haha we are all so gun shy now. ATX ruined us forever, just like that ex.

My Malox moment yesterday was when the guy wondered why he didn't get EIC this year. You did but your self-employment tax exceeded it. Oh, and his income went up 20,000 because HE GAVE ME HIS INVOICE BOOK TO ADD UP HIS SALES. Yes indeed HIS fee went up. $25 for the ten minutes of bookkeeping, $25 for the stupid @$$ question, and $50 for the verification that he's a cheater. I hate EIC so much.

Or just fling it at the door. Anything to avoid the catching up. Please, let's catch up in June when you bring me an ice cream cone. I swear, guys, I had a lady talk non-stop for 45 minutes yesterday about her husband dying in the bathroom, and the son couldn't make it in from Corpus Crispy, and the autopsy, and the brother with cancer, and the depressed mother. And, no, I am not shushing her, or charging her double. But, wow, some clients wear you out. When she picks up, all of you have to blow up my office phone. Thanks in advance.

Yes, I agree. I would definitely do some local investigating. A $150,000 house rents for much less than $1,500 here. I'm sure it's more in other places. We've all seen the TV shows where we were shocked at how expensive (or cheap) property is depending on the location. Obviously condition of the house matters, too.

Yes, I agree. I use ATX, and I also duplicate the MFJ twice and delete information to produce the MFS returns I also do this for the inevitable two or three couples a year who ask, "Would we be better off to file separately?" even when I know filing separately won't help. I give them a copy. I don't charge the first time they ask about it.. It generally only happens one time, and they understand and appreciate it. They do not understand or trust the worksheet comparison. Sometimes I don't either.

I think I'd just say, "Here's the Sch C where your income from consulting goes, and here's the Form SE..." In other words, I wouldn't discuss the Box 3 vs Box 7 with him at all.

I think TP does qualify for the exemption for 2015, but not 2016. See #22 at the IRS site, link below. One month penalty being the same as a year's penalty I have not come across and that does not sound correct. https://www.irs.gov/Affordable-Care-Act/Individuals-and-Families/Questions-and-Answers-on-the-Individual-Shared-Responsibility-Provision

Are you completing a 1095? Yes, charge for it. If the 1095 is brought in by the client, and it just tells me they had insurance all year, no, I don't charge to look at it. If I have to figure SRP, or figure out an exemption that applies, yes, I charge for that.

Yep, sounds like work to me, too.

Yes, deduct the eligible expenses in the year the payments were made (even if by a loan), regardless of any forms and worksheets. Sometimes you gotta wrestle with it. Keep good records; IRS might check up on it.

Well, thank you for that vote of confidence. Nah, I know I'm worth more. But I would far rather undercharge than be perceived as someone who overcharges. It's not all about money to me. I did 385 returns last year. I'm that person who has to make everybody happy. I do get irritated when sloppy, corrupt, preparers get away with murder. Also get irritated that we pay the salaries of people in government who waste our money like there's no tomorrow. If all IRS is doing is writing checks, it's not ok. But, apparently they are doing at least two audits this year and that one year when the phrase "tea par..." never mind.

Oh, and I she is married now. Same preparer charged him 100 to miss his non-taxable retirement. All he had was a 1099-R. So they paid 250 for wrong returns and 275 for a correct return. They'll be fine. I do believe.

I charged her 275. Previous "preparer" 150. The returns are not remotely similar. The other preparer made at least twice as much per hour as I did. No, clients don't usually understand that. She may when I show her. She already has the lender's opinion after all.

Yeah, about two miles from my office, I can hook her right up with a doozy. Give her something worthwhile to do. 15,000 miles on 500 tax returns would make a dent in the national debt. And there's no telling how much EIC is involved. She gets a lot of likes on Facebook...

Yep, I sure can.