RitaB

I don't really track lost clients very carefully, but I lose a few (I'd guess 2%) and gain a few every year, so I feel like it's pretty much a wash. I do about 300 returns a year. I was thinking this morning, I have lost probably 5 or 6 clients over the years (19 years) because they wanted to count as a business expense every mile they drove for any purpose times 10. Glad to be rid of them, and that appears to me be the most abused deduction of all time. And, yes, I just got off on a rabbit trail. Sorry.

You could do it for $50,000. Well, $50,000 and a pizza, cause it would be a long day.

Well, she sounds even better than my first husband. I see no problem here.

I did well after I bought a new computer as well. And when I renewed with ATX, I told the sales rep, "Hey, I just want to do tax returns. They are not sexy. We don't need sexy software, so if you have any pull, tell them to dial back the bells and whistles." He told his office mates, and I could hear them laughing. Hey, am I right or what?

I live in Tennessee, and my clients would not read a letter if I sent one. Or worse, they would call me to ask what it said. And I betcha they are about average. If a return stays the same year after year, I charge the same fee for about three years, then go up about 10%. More if good ole PITA is in play. I don't announce it, or even comment about it at all. Ain't nobody got time for that. I don't gouge, and they know I don't. Nobody announces fee increases to me, they just happen. Happy Thanksgiving!

I wasn't here yet, either. But I have a friend who was born on that day. Is that news worthy? Old farts?

Did Eric come up with that, too? Sweet!

I feel like CSI Boa Vista just sitting here with my popcorn...

The worst problem with her is that people will assume YOU are in on it somehow. Just look at the comments here. You said absolutely nothing that indicated you prepared her or her mother's taxes, yet people who oughta know not to assume did exactly that.

Yes. Yes, it is. Oh, I love it when clients pay attention and ask me questions, but if they can't tell those are part of the form, and have been for all twelve years we've been doing this? Hey, "maximum" and "threshold" and "dollar limitation" might be clues...

There's always THAT ONE GUY who calls you in a panic, thinking YOU entered lines 1, 3, and 5 on 4562. The maximum amount, threshold cost, and dollar limitation - 500,000 and 2,000,000 and 500,000. *$%& that guy.

"Make him listen to Justin Beiber..." Arr, arr, arr, arr, shivering me timbers off rolling in the floor.

Let me know if they start beta testing chocolate cake.

I thought about that, but then she would have two jobs, and the W-4 would burst into flames, and I'd have to go through it all again.

Girl at church last night, does her own return, picking my brain about how to complete her W-4. I answered every question with "Yeah, that will be fine." So, as far as she knows, M/0 thru M/7 are all fine. Unless she wants to pick "Married But Withhold At Higher Single Rate" and any number of exemptions. Which is also fine. But she knows to stay away from Head of Household, cause her husband is Head of Household.

Thanks for the replies. Got the return done Wednesday. It was like eating pudding with a fork: not impossible but a total pain in the @$$. Glad it's done, because they were very anxious about what they were gonna owe, and I figured I might as well do it right now rather than do it sorta right now AND later. I love these people. I had to deal with the sale of about 20 assets, and the wife wanted a reduced rate for the tax return since they were only in business six months. (Uh, nooooo.) They only paid the realtor $32,000.

Well, I'm not catching on. I need to prepare a return for an S-Corp that closed 6/30/13. I tried the Rollover / Last Period Tab, and I had no depreciation whatsoever. So, I rolled over 2011, just gonna look up 2012 depreciation from my copy of the 2012 return, figure the 2013 depreciation and override like a madman. I entered the 2013 dates on page one of Form 1120-S. I go to the asset list to start entering sale of assets, and there are many, and I can't enter 2013 dates. I really, really, really think I was able to prepare a short year return with the prior year software in a galaxy long ago and far away. Am I dreaming? Thought I'd ask you guys since I'm flying Han Solo here.

Wow, took em two years to get her when she was right there on Facebook. I feel a little better about those amended returns now.

But we should take comfort that this would not happen today. Yeah, right.

Glenn Beck and I were born on the same day. Just saying.

I did not know that (read in Johnny Carson voice). Thanks, Eric!

We are now!

I'd love it if we could hover over the thread title and get to see what the thread is about before making a committment. Nothing personal to anyone. I love you all. Like a fat kid loves cake.

Yeah, me too! I have thought so many times this season that it has been a great blessing to have you all. I've learned a lot and laughed a lot because of you. Thank you.

Well, John, that deserves a "like" but I have reached my quota of positive votes for the day. It really sounds like I am a very agreeable person. Tom.