Lion EA

NOW down to $38000. For that family of four with two children to care for while the parents work, subtract another $26000 for child care, and maybe they have a parent with Alzheimer's to care for also. THEN how much do you have for food? Don't forget that one of those children may be allergic to dairy, eggs, tree nuts, wheat and wheat germ, etc., and have expensive food supplements not deductible as medical expenses. Not to mention his medications, epi-pens, etc., which don't quite rise to the 7.5% of AGI to be deducted. NOW you have $2000 to feed and clothe four people! And, what about saving for retirement? Or the couple I have that are both self-employed and made $300,000 last year. But the second-year consultant has made only $10,000 this year, yet so many of their benefits are based on their 2008 tax return. I look at families making over $250,000 per year and know that they're three times better off than my family. But, I also know the expenses to live in the northeast and also see the expenses of my individual clients. The families with autistic children who keep full-time nannies (starting at $30,000 plus room and board and use of a car around here) even though the mom ends up staying home to care for the child, so no deduction for child care expenses. A friend in the midwest pays only $125 per week for her nanny to help with her autistic child. I remember moving from Santa Barbara, CA, (not a cheap area!) to CT and finding food costs triple (we have to truck it in from FL and CA) and property taxes ten times more and heating and A/C going from almost zero to hundreds of dollars per month. And, I had to buy winter clothes! Our cars wear out and rust out in years instead of decades. And, that's not even comparing CT to IL where I grew up or MI where I spent a few years. I wish our family made $250,000; but $250,000 is not rich.

His adventure with Catherine? Or with loading the old programs? Hope it's successful, whichever it is!

I notice he did not use the "people" elevators for his vandalizing but just the freight elevator that would carry IRS employees and equipment and such and not outsiders. But, he worked for the IRS!!

I think so. Not from any research, but from overhearing some PTO mothers talking about forming a non profit. One of their lawyer members said it once had to be a corporation or association but now can be an LLC that applies to be a non profit. So, don't do your research too far in the past.

My prayers are with you, Billy.

A very :bday:

A very :bday:

Great news, Marilyn!

You can do a seminar with another professional in a complimentary service. Maybe a broker or realtor or banker or lawyer (estate or marital or...) or a SSA staffer or.... Have a theme, such as new tax laws or women & money or retirement planning or small business..., and bring in a non-competing pro to flesh out the topic.

Happy Memorial Day! Enjoy the long weekend. I'm trying to get a large return off extension!

Join everything where you have an interest. There are local networking groups for small business owners, such BNI, to breakfast together and get to know one another. Let everyone you meet know that you specialize in small business taxes, tax planning, etc. Over time, I've gotten clients from church, from my broker, and from a lawyer at church, as well as from existing clients and friends. Make sure you tell your existing clients, both businesses and individuals, that you are taking new business clients. Make personal calls on your local small businesses to meet the owner, give your 30-second elevator speech, and leave a brochure and business card. Host an open house at your location, inviting business owners. Love the idea from Mike about a targeted seminar. Talk to your banker, too; new businesses opening accounts might ask him/her for referrals to a good tax man. See if you can display your brochures/cards there, too.

A very :bday:

A very :bday:

A very :bday:

Thank you. My son drove in from PA. We all went to UConn to celebrate our daughter's graduation! It could not have been a better Mothers' Day: both my kids and both with degrees. What more could a mother ask for?! (PS That's her in the UConn band uniform.)

Do you get extra points for purple?! I bet you don't have any trouble collecting from your clients with a rifle hanging on the wall over your desk.

I think the requirement is over $10,000 in an overseas account. Read the directions to see if it's necessary to file and to see if they say anything about late filing.

A very :bday:

Our friends at VMSUS offer Conficker virus help, also.

A very :bday:

A very :bday:

FAFSA rules are different than IRS rules. You will probably need the parents' information for the college, especially since the child is not eligible to claim themselves even though the parent does not claim him/her.

Why does he get a personal exemption if he's a dependent?

And, the AMT exemption for a dependent is a VERY small number compared to the exemption for all the other filing statuses.

Thank you, Joan, for sharing.