RitaB

Awww, that's so sweet. Thursday, I had an elderly gentleman come in with his forms to see if he had to file. I told him no, if that was all he had, he did not. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a $25 gift card from Cracker Barrel. He said, "That's what you said last year, too, and you're awful sweet to let me come in and ask. Have a big lunch on me." He got a hug.

That is correct if none of the dividends were reinvested, ever, and taxbrewster is not sure, and this is why accountants mumble a lot. Vanguard and client are your go to guys on his question.

Nah, #8 will be on vacation or doing a side job that I don't know about, and all the others you will love.

Oh, wait, nine. He's fabulous, and will never try to do his own return again. ;)

I do eight pastors' returns. Four do everything right as far as I can see, including tithing. One of those four complained about my $150 fee five years ago, when I inherited him from my mother, who was charging him $75. I reminded him that the lady before her charged $210, and that was the end of that. #5 I have always suspected of underreporting income (no W-2). He got married this year to a lady who gives 25% to church, and is the best organized little lady on earth, and suddenly his income tripled. I think she held his feet to the fire. So to speak. #6 & #7 are nice guys, but they don't tithe, and they are finishing last in life and have not put it together. (Christians gotta tithe, that's the LEAST we can do.) #8 - Well, I can't believe he's called to pastor. That's the nicest thing I can say there.

Well, bless the LORD, Y'all, the new Preach just picked up, I explained it all in great detail, and he was just fine, asked for some business cards, said the Realtor (oh great...) who told him FMV of rental was looking for a preparer and senior pastor’s accountant is on pain meds and fell asleep on him during interview, and he’s giving them my card. I am so relieved. Hugs and kisses all around!

Oh, yeah, that's a good idea. Morningstar is great for that. Of course, if client did NOT reinvest dividends, that won't work.

Last year I found a Santa Twix!

Vanguard is pretty good at getting it right. If they tell you the cost basis, I'd say it's correct. And most everybody I have did well on mutual funds this year. Your client can open on online account and find out a lot. But, yes, I have had to flip through old returns many a time and come up with basis by adding dividends. Never with Vanguard, but maybe it's an account that was transferred to them and they don't have the history or something, like Judy said.

What I hate is when the preacher's wife does it for free so the little gal can save on my ridiculous $105 fee, and the preacher's wife reduces the penalty on IRA withdrawal by the total amount of medical expenses, and the amount that exceeds the threshold is exactly zero. And you tell her she owes $208 in tax and the preacher's wife says you do not and the flying monkeys are like ok, sorry, Sister TaxProWannaBe knows better than me, get outta here, you and your little dog, too.

I ask the preach what's the FMV of the furnished house. Reply: "I spoke with Realtor Parishioner today. FMV is between 900 to 1000 with 750 on the low end and 1100 on the high end." Ok, 950 it is.

Not gonna lie, this was me last night: This is me today:

Yes, I've just about had enough. Hahaha.

Yeah, I've got one I'm gonna have to do, too: "But my sister and her husband file separately and split the kids and they 'make bank.'" Mmmmm hmmmmm, betcha a dollar to a donut one or both spouses is filing HOH, and the other Single.

I understand what you're saying. But if a person is surprised by the consequences of their own actions, that person is always gonna blame somebody else. There's nothing we can do about that. When a person is irresponsible, somebody pays. It needs to be the irresponsible party. Yes, I have become my mother. And I don't wanna pay that gal's taxes. Or get her refund. (Unless it's refundable credits, then I'm kinda mad, because that's often a reward for under achieving or hiding income.)

She wants to file and I want to feed my kids. Win/win. I don't see how it's any different than a client coming in that wants to file a current year return. We read clients the riot act all the time about doing things right. So, if it's been long enough, they get a pass on doing what they should have done? I think that's a disservice to the people who file when they should. Gonna respectfully disagree with you, OldJack. You're still the bomb.

Are you still here? Are you still talking?

Oh, good, no statute when you owe, so no smart @$$ will tell her you shouldn't have done them. Did I mention I've had enough? ;)

And I'd do them all - that's what we do for a living. And I don't care about statutes and helping people get out of paying taxes. Or that she won't get a refund. Or any fringe crap. I'm sorry, I've had enough. Or as my momma would say, "I've had enough. I've had ABOUT enough. I'd had JUST ABOUT enough." So there you have it. Hahaha, oh God, I am scaring myself now...

*on

And a good swift kick. And how is it that people don't know better than that????

I have one with daycare in home, but it's confined to 35% of home, so I depreciate 35% of home. Even if it wasn't confined I'd be conservative on that because you know they're gonna sell that house somewhere down the road and the hairdresser didn't tell them about the 4797 part. Maybe decide the percentage based on hours the house is used for business.

"I hope this won't change my taxes." Bahahahaha, OMG the things clients come off with! I double-dog dare you to say "Nah, that won't change your taxes," and see what reaction you get. Sometimes I just say stuff like that to call people out and saying stupid crap that they know is incorrect.

Little Shop of Horrors. They are slow and inaccurate. Just like my clients.