RitaB

$360 for the return, if you've done all the monthly accounting so it's not a train wreck, sounds reasonable. I agree with MAS's observation that the previous accountant may not be the problem. If a business hasn't filed sales tax returns for 15 months the owners aren't without blame. In TN, they would have received a LOT of notices and assessments. Oh, and they might notice that sales tax payments weren't deducted from their bank account. Who lets that go on for 15 months?? I'm not saying you don't want them. I'm not saying get a retainer. I'm saying give them the benefit of the doubt, but if it starts to feel like a flat tire, it may be because it's a flat tire. Best wishes - I hope it's a great job for you.

It seems to me that in every discussion we have about software, the time it takes to "get through" to Tech Support is a major consideration. I don't understand why this is at the top of the list. I didn't call Tech Support one time this past season. I don't think I even called ATX during the season from hell. I read the ATX forum daily, and this one, and it was helpful. I did call another software provider, when I tried them out briefly during the season from hell, and I remember getting through quickly, but my question had to do with removing a form from a return, and the solution the technician offered would have removed the form globally. As in, "Kiss Sch C-EZ goodbye forever, who needs it?" When I told her that her solution would result in removing a form globally, I was on hold a good while, I suppose while she consulted someone with more experience, or looked up "globally". I don't know. Is it the norm for you all to call Tech Support for your software? If so, why are you calling them? I'm not being facetious. I just really cannot get my head around why this is so important to some of you and not important to me at all.

"Oh, are you reading the paper? How about I lay right on top of it and read with you? And is that bacon you are eating?"

The opinion of neighborhood cats is overrated. Check out my daughter's cat Enzo, who knows what is important:

I generally charge $25 for a dependent with a couple of W-2's. I charge the parents a little less than the non-storefront preparers in this town and a lot less than the storefronts, so I don't feel much like giving away my work. I've not had any complaints. Yes, I know that some take that as an indication that I should charge more. You do your thing and I'll do mine.

Perfect. #9. The absolute most draining day I had this season was a Friday when three clients told me things that they apparently needed to unload. I sat there nodding, smiling, frowning, sighing. They left a lot lighter. I hit the door early, went home and stared at the TV for 45 minutes. It wasn't even on.

Hahahaha, I know this is serious, but Tom, you should be afraid of jshtax, not me. Crying.

Well, yeah, there's that. I have one who swears every year that she changed her name with SSA. I just nod and continue to use her old name.

Remember way back yonder when you could qualify for EIC with negative AGI? I swear it's true - I had a couple who received EIC with negative AGI. One had 4,872 SE income, other had (8,439). I didn't give them EIC, never occurred to me. IRS sent them the letter saying you might qualify. Year was 2001. I'm looking at the file right now. I have in my notes where I called IRS in disbelief, a Ms. Casper didn't know either, spent 30 minutes on it, finally told me to have clients fill out the form and hope for the best. They got $346. EIC is a nightmare, in my opinion, and I wish it had never been instituted. I fear we are stuck with it forever.

I had to ask myself: Do I want to be feared or loved? I decided I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.

My best off the cuff answer: Attach the e-file acknowledgement history and Form 8948.

Anybody can put "TN" in their profile. Tom.

Don't know why you keep picking her over me.

Be self-employed and have 30,000 business miles. Be self-employed, have three kids, and net income of $13,500 - 17,450. Be self-employed and lose money every year. Every. Year. Have a day job and a farm that loses money every year. Every. Year. Give away your yard sale crap that is worth thousands. Wink. Wink.

I think people are nuts and anything they don't want to do increases their chances of being audited. I have heard many people ask, when I tell them they will have to get an extension, "But won't that increase my chances of being audited?" That's when I say, "Pssshhh, I get an extension every year and prepare my own return in June. Or September. Whenever I feel like it. And you're not doing anything wrong, are you? If you get audited, they probably owe you, right? Bring it on!" Then they go home and think about all the money they didn't report and miles they made up and worry. But they got an extension anyway.

We probably all have more nice clients than stinkers, don't we? I know I do. It's good to have everybody on here to tell my horror stories, but bottom line, I have a lot of fun flapping my yak with my folks, as MAS says, and it's a great feeling when somebody leaves with a big smile because an actual human being talked to them. Sometimes about things I don't want to know, but nonetheless...

I called one Monday night, return was finished 3/17. Me: You need to pick up your return. She: Oh, yes, I've been so busy. Me: I'm here right now. (Her place of business is two miles from mine, she passes me twice a day going to and from work.) She: Oh, I'm off on Mondays. I'm at home.

The 14th was like that here. I guess I just I had more people who owed, and they put off picking up. Also, had more people who should know by now what to bring forgetting things. I don't know why they suddenly didn't know I needed pages 2 - 16 of the 1099-B. What???? Well, also the TN Dept of Revenue decided to put business tax returns on a calendar year, so everybody was due April 15. Supposed to be filed electronically so I picked up some folks who just couldn't set it up. Then their site was down. Just stressful.

I've actually been eating popcorn and stalking people on FaceBook a good bit today. Just realized my smoke alarm battery is dead; thought I had a bird in here for a couple hours there. Yeah, I may need help.

Me, too! I spent most of the day yesterday with slackers I mean people picking up, double checking stuff, and I would have missed two extensions if I hadn't. Also filed some city and county business tax returns for my year-round bookkeeping folks. I left at 5:15 and thought, "What do I do? It's still light outside." I'm here now catching up on bookkeeping and payroll tax returns. My office is a wreck, but it sure is nice with that phone not ringing and that door not opening. It's like a cruise really. Except for the sun and oil.

I'm all about that. Just did four. Didn't look back.

Did Joan say "hell"? I really want to strangle whomever does the ad that implies that if you moved you have deductible moving expense. It's hard enough already to combat that wrong idea; don't pile on.

I think nobody ever knows about most of the ones that screw up, and they are gone forever. You know, like putting mortgage interest on both Schedule A and Schedule E, valuing that yard sale crap nobody would buy at thousands of dollars, deducting church donations on Schedule C, deducting gifts to individuals, deducting all your meals, deducting both SMR and gasoline. And multiplying by ten. Ok, I'm depressed.

Yep. I miss the ones I lost to them, too. Evidently, though, if you know you got married, or had a baby, or packed your stuff in boxes, took them to a new place, and unpacked them, you know how to do taxes.

This guy is why you have a club. I forged ahead on a long-time client yesterday, dropped off 4/7. I knew he was going to owe. I also knew HE didn't know. I really don't understand why people don't know things about their own finances. He sold $24,000 in cattle. About 8,000 in expenses. Has a day job. "I sold how much? Are you sure? I have to pay what? Wow, if I had known that I woulda bought a tractor." Me: "OK, how did you not know you sold 24,000 in cattle? Do you NEED another tractor? (Wife is going, "NO!") And if not, do you think it's a good investment to spent $16,000 to save $4,800?" Crickets. I'm just stunned at how little people think.