RitaB

I meant 304 unique clients, too. I wasn't clear about that. 304 federal returns. I think I made it less clear instead of more clear. I know most of you, if you have 300 tax clients, 300 of them have a state return. Only about 30 of mine do. So, you blew me out of the water. I should have said, "I have prepared the returns for 304 clients, but very few of those had state returns." Honestly, I'm not sure we can compare apples to apples here; if I were behind a concrete wall, not meeting with clients, not processing returns, not copying documents, not stapling my finger, not answering the phone, I could "do" a lot more returns. But, I'd have to pay somebody to do all the other stuff that has to be done, especially the stapling of fingers and ER care. I'm not sure "how many returns do you do" means the same thing to everybody. It takes longer for all the "not preparing" that has to be done than the actual preparing. At least that's my experience. Also, 300 1040's is not the same thing as 300 1040's with Schedules A,B,C,D,F and Forms 8949, 4592, 2441, etc. We might oughta give up on this one.

The fat lady is clearing her throat. I'm going in to work because ten people have not picked up, and I have payroll tax returns and sales tax returns to do. And because I always go to work. Betcha someone new will come in, too, because there's always somebody who heard on the news that it's Tax Day. It's a good thing they announce that on the news...

Never been more ready for the fat lady to sing. And thanks to everybody as well. Don't disappear; I'll be lonely.

I see the early withdrawals for stupid stuff a lot. And, Saturday, retirees with more pension income than I make, need an extension because they can't pay the $4,600 they owe until they take out a distribution. It's not early, but it's still stupid. They make stupid purchases. They are paying on seven, count em SEVEN, timeshares. Just pay a hotel bill, people. Or stay at the house. Geez. Saturday they remarked, "Well, in a couple of days you can take a vacation." I have not had a vacation since 2008. I don't even care. I enjoy my kids and my home and not being up to my eyeballs in debt. People need to work on having a life they don't have to escape from and get their together financially. Someday when I can get all three kids together, we ARE going to the Grand Canyon. Been wanting to do that since the Brady Brunch did. I think I told you all that last year, too...

I've done 304, but that's very few state returns, only eleven Corps, Partnerships. Thirty extensions, probably get a few more before it's over. Would like to have more extensions; I'm here all year. I'm the entire staff. Well, my daughter will come in twice for an hour to put files back in the cabinets. I get overwhelmed and let them pile up. She gives me the look, too.

Yeah, I'd take a look at last year's return your client filed with slouch/souse (I know - your client doesn't have a copy - mine wouldn't either) and try to make an educated guess. For example, if there's $12,000 in mortgage interest and slouch/souse is still in the house, etc. Of course, last year's deductions mean nothing really. So, I'm gonna waffle and say I'd go with what was best for my client and warn them about what might possibly happen. And I'm interested too, has anybody had a client to get a letter saying, "Hey, your standard deduction is zero, Skippee"?

I think that'll just make it be rejected. I do what Joan said, just be sure and read that you are deleting an efile before you commit.

That's hilarious. I am looking at one now with "Dr. Pepper" written in and an arrow to the offending spot. There is now.

There was both blood and extensive bleeping. Not gonna lie. Oh, one more thing: Stay up to date on tetanus shots. Carry on.

The guy who just picked up got two amended forms. Five minutes after I got the return done, he would come in with an amended form. I gave him all three tax returns I did. Not counting the one with blood from the stapler incident. Next year I won't even start on his till April 10.

Psshhh, gimme a Band Aid, I'm good. But I had to reprint the bloody tax return.

Don't stick your finger anywhere on the anvil of your heavy duty stapler when it jams. Or when it pretends to jam. Or any other time. You're welcome.

Yes.

Yeah, but we would all feel better because we've done a lot worse. Embarrassing scenarios are underrated.

Gettin tired of your April.

Gifts that live forever on your hips. Yes, I get them, too. Gifts, we tell ya!

I also love it when you tell them their return is ready, and they run down their entire schedule for the next week trying to think it through as to when they will be there to pick up. We really don't care, just pick up.

This popcorn is like regular popcorn on CRACK!

I forgot to GET tips. My bad.

Sick lady, very complicated return, caregiver has wasted so much of my time, "handling" the taxes, took the trouble to write down every medical expense, every donation (there are hundreds), didn't add anything together. I ask her on one of her visits where I find out everything I never needed to know: "Did she make any estimated tax payments?" Caregiver: "No." Then more yakking. She and sick lady pick up yesterday. Caregiver: "You know, I meant to ask you why she was writing checks to United States Treasury. I didn't really know what to do with those." I almost told her what to do with them.

Well, they might still be confused. I did this a few years ago, would still do the amended return exactly this way, but I'd leave wife as taxpayer for future years. This couple switched it to the husband being taxpayer the next year, and a few months later IRS sent a letter wondering why they hadn't filed. I made wife call and straighten it out, as she was the one with the bright idea to file separately without figuring out the consequences. And of course, she prepares their return herself now. Of course.

I feel like I am about to hit the stage where I am so tired everything is funny. I really like that one. Hope it kicks in soon.

Hahahaha, every other time I have a TN return, I forget to uncheck all the federal crap to be attached. TN doesn't even ask for a copy of the federal.

Well, I found this finally, I gotta say, I think it'll be ok either way, and IRS knows less about it than I do:

I tried that, too. They came in wanting to know, "Where is this 8879 thing you're wanting?" Yes, one week. Soft whimper stage, right here. (Thank you, Catherine, for putting it perfectly.)