Lion EA

Or, Form 3115...

Did you get transcripts of those prior years? Was there a Form 1099-A?

On Pi Day?! What a nice hubby.

It's tax season. If we don't vent about something, anything, we'll explode at our family or hug a client and have to lug him to the workshop at Rita's. This forum is our steam valve.

Oh, yeah, my long-term memory is waaay better than my short-term memory.

I don't have any of these, but when you dispose of the residence before paying it all back, aren't you liable only for the remaining payback -- up to the profit from the sale? Your client probably had no profit. Do research it. You might be a real hero if you can get them refunds from amendments in the off season.

Are you looking for NY Form IT-112-R? The instructions are pretty good: https://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/current_forms/it/it112ri.pdf

Over the weekend I filed three extensions for returns due 15 March, because they don't have everything. I probably have all that I can handle right now, but I have been saying 15 March for personal returns. The weekly Nor'easters have had clients rescheduling or delaying drop offs! Some years I say 1 March, because so many are missing something when they drop off. I already had one client go elsewhere, because she wanted to bring me everything at the end of March and get it done on the spot to file before her ex -- who probably filed way back in January, so why should I go out of my way?! (Two new clients replaced her.) And, I have some prior year returns, including 2014s which need to get done. So, no promises after 15 March.

Yep, either CT cast a wide net in hopes of catching some working under the table or (more likely) a computer hiccuped. Another preparer told me to have my clients call, that calling wards off further action. So, far my clients who call have been treated kindly and not asked for any proof. Even my client who actually did NOT file 2013 (out of the country, house robbed, recreating 2013-2014 data) was treated kindly. One had moved in 2012, so had filed a CT 2012 PY return reporting his last date in CT; he still received a 2013 letter. 2013 letters for personal tax returns and 2012 letters for OP-424s are what I'm seeing so far. Gotta be costing CT a fortune to answer all the telephone calls. And, I'm not enjoying answering all the questions, either!

Thank you, Catherine and all. NY may try to hold on to them. But, if they do sell their house, I'm going to suggest they use the mail drop idea and change as many documents as possible. They just want to be rid of the house before the roof and furnace break down!

Me, too!

They don't care if they change their residency or not. They just want to sell their house. So, they want to know if they need a physical presence in the US for anything: banking, FAFSA/college application issues, DL, etc.

I added a cyber security rider to my E&O this year via NAEA. File is a pain to get to, but it was what was offered. About doubled my insurance, but I didn't pay much and know I'd better have it no matter what the cost.

Oh, yes. I NEED laughter, especially during tax season!

Exactly! I even had a client tell me that her lawyer charges her when she calls him, so she calls me instead. With her legal questions! We gotta raise our fees!

We preparers have to start charging more like lawyers!

Does he actually write her a check each month, or was a QDRO put in place at the time of the divorce so ex receives her check directly from the plan?

Do you have an hourly fee? If not figure it based on what you charge for complex returns/hours you spend on complex returns. I'd probably not charge for any research I needed for my own general knowledge that can be used on other 1041s or other returns/questions in my practice. (Show everything on the bill, but then apply a discount.) But, I would charge for research specific to only that 1041. Also, know in your own mind what your minimum is, the amount below which you never want to see that client again. Hand the client the bill and act like you expect payment. If they balk, you can offer to increase the discount because they're a continuing client or organized or nice or have multiple family returns or it's Wednesday or whatever. If you have to go below your minimum, fire the client as soon as the check clears. If this is a one-time client anyway (estate, no other family as clients) I start with NO discounts at all. If you gave him a quote, don't be afraid to go above it if the work increased from what he originally outlined. Explain what changed to increase the time and work. (If you're not done yet, stop to call him to explain what's changed and what your new quote is.)

I don't let clients use my internet. If they're able to connect their phones to their own carriers (not always possible out here in the boonies) then they can use their own devices on their own networks. I'll hand them my landline to make a necessary telephone call.

Hard wires here, too.

When I set up my OIH, I had an electrician come in and install four recessed lights in the spare bedroom (173 sq. ft.) I was converting to an office. Due to some issues in the ceiling/beams/whatever, the placement wasn't great for clients sitting across the desk from me but great for me. I added two tourchiere floor lamps in the dark corners. And, really lit up my desk with a table lamp (I moved it from our bedroom dresser when the photographer was coming, because I needed something to fill in the space below a print hung really high on the wall from before I removed the hutch from my desk; but I liked it so much I kept it on my desk). I have windows on two sides, so get sun from morning until sunset. Brightness is not a problem for me. I am running out of space, though.

After the stylist worked his magic!

Way too many client stacks to photograph and maintain security! Pretty much the same except for open returns on my monitors, and a bowl of soap instead of that cheesy fritata thing in the picture.

This was NEVER typical. I stayed up all night to get it this clean. Then, a professional photographer had his stylist rearrange my office for a photo shoot for CCH's Partners quarterly magazine, so it looked even better! Never has since 2011.

Not current but typical. Three monitors. Middle is data entry and right is government forms, both portrait so I don't have to scroll to see a whole page. Left monitor has email on the right and Chrome tabs on the left, including ATX Community.