Discussion:How's your tax season going?

You do get the award so far, however I might be running right behind you. My wife's aunt died this week, a dear friend and mentor suffered a major heart attack. Too many client issues to deal with. It's an Irish thing to wear your heart on your sleeve, I guess.

But, hey, I look on the bright side, I could be a Patriots fan.

Tom

I'm just wondering if this is something new, what do you think. One of my client's gave me a card of condolence and included a check for $100 as a "bereavment donation". Is that something new? It's a little embarassing and I am thinking of donating it to one of my mom's favorite charities.

I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this very difficult time. I know you lost your mom earlier this season.

Best wishes,

Tom

This makes me step back & realize how unimportant tax season is in the grand scheme of things.

<<<<<<<<<<< BIG HUG >>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Wish there was more I could do for you. You have been given too much to handle in a short period of time; it's almost inconceivable.

Condolences,

Belle 14:53, 6 April 2008 (CDT)

I can't imagine how hard this season must have been. Be strong and know that our thoughts are with you.

Fred

That's beautiful!

Better than my view of the mailbox on the corner of my street.

Tom

Another overcast rainy day here in the low 50's and a client who called whining, "Is my return done yet." NO YOU MORON!!!! YOU JUST DROPPED IT OFF FRIDAY!!!!!!

WHY DOESN'T THAT MAKE ME FEEL BETTER!!!!!

Tom

Ww, that is beautiful! I haven't seen anything like that in years. It's so peaceful.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!! I'm turning blue just thinking about it!

Will the whining never end in the tropics?

Tom

Tom

Oh good grief. I'll have to fix this later! Fixed.

What to do, what to do....

Tom

Seriously, is he saying he had a lot of unreimbursed business epenses? If something doesn't seem right, then follow your intuition. It's usually correct, and then you are in the delicate position of trying to elicit more facts from the parson.

This is the way to proceed. The confidentiality privilege of CPAs (or anyone) does not cover return preparation itself. Therefore, you ask to make your confession to the priest. In it, bring up your issues, and be assured that, as long as you don't waive your confessional rights, all matters to be discussed will be held inviolate.

Tom

Muldoon lived alone in the Irish countryside with only a pet dog for company. One day the dog died, and Muldoon went to the parish priest and asked, "Father, my dog is dead. Could ya' be saying' a mass for the poor creature?" Father Patrick replied, "I'm afraid not; we cannot have services for an animal in the church. But there are some Baptists down the lane, and there's no tellin' what they believe. Maybe they'll do something for the creature." Muldoon said, "I'll go right away Father. Do y a' think $5,000 is enough to donate to them for the service?" Father Patrick exclaimed, "Sweet Mary, Mother of Jesus! Why didn't ya tell me the dog was Catholic

I have seen Religious and Priests get themselves into a pickle, mainly because they are rather naive, and like to think the best of people. Some even get blackmailed. Seriously doubt any such issues exist with Tom's client! I was kidding about the confession.

This guy is a nice guy, just not sure he knows that not every meal he buys is deductible. Someone told him it was, of course. So he thinks that every time he went to dinner, it's a tax break. Ugh.

Tom

Here we go again!

Tom

BTW - the cabin (in the Arrowhead), got another 8 inches after the first 20, and they are under a blizzard warning today. Guess I'm not missing out on any gardening up there. Too bad, bc the snow was almost gone last week.

Do I need help planting???? Of course I do! My husband jokes that everyone should be very afraid to take a tour of my gardens with me because I will draw them into the insanity. I hope to become a master gardener someday, which would give me a good excuse to have a greenhouse!

Bodies buried underneath fields of corn tend not to be found.

My wife asked me right after my daughter was born how was I going to handle it when she was old enough to date. I said, "She can do whatever she wants once she's out of the convent." But maybe there is some merit to making friends with farmers and excavating contractors.

Natalie's getting handy with the smileys!!!!

Tom

(I couldn't find one with popcorn.)

Tom

As for "us" Natalie, I think they all know what "we" have. lol. shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Tom, have I mentioned my wall of weapons tactic?

Seems Natalie does have too much time on her hands.

I did not enjoy yesterday. Long-time friend and client reamed me out over the fact their return won't be done before they leave tomorrow. Their S corp books are a mess because my bookkeeper made a whole bunch of mistakes and I couldn't believe it. Just adds to my frustrations this year. Been up since 4:30am and only on my computer since 5:00am since it reset itself sometime last night (darn Windows updates!). Ugh.

Tom

Did I mention that I repeat myself?

Yeah, having my third cup of coffee now. Trying to get all my reading and email stuff done before I hit the office. I'll get in by 8 leave at 10. That's plenty.

I sit here, type a few lines. Review a return, wait for my ride. and go, I think I can, I think I can, I know I can I know I can.

Tom

Here, take this. It makes you nervous. OK, here's too much money.

Anyway, client attempted to do a recon based on my instructions and a sample I provided. Total cash did not agree with the balance sheet at the end of the year, and they included 2008 transactions. Now I am going through each person's transactions and checking the bookkeeper's work. There are many, many errors, including reporting owners' expenses as client expenses, not recognizing commission income, wrong dollar amounts, wrong dates, reporting owners' liabilities as security deposit refunds and on, and on. I'm almost done. Then I'm going to put together a list of all of the corrections that need to be made.

Before I do that, however, I think it's time for a nap.

By the way, Fred, riding my bike and working out are what allow me to get by on four to five hours of sleep a night. And speaking of gardening, maybe you should take it up -- keep those hands of yours busy. It's also very therapeutic.

Natalie complains all the time that she is cold. I think she is under the mistaken impression that Hawaii is next door to the Arctic Circle. Next thing she will tell us is she's so cold she just saw a penguin.

Tom

Joyce, thank you for the offer, but I'm going to have to decline. It's really hard to ride bike in "rain bullets." Just the thought of it makes me shiver!

I just realized I had my poles mixed up. I really meant to say Antarctica, but you get the point.

Now during the summer, I am sure that we will be treated to how hot it is in beautiful, tropical, Hawaii. We will hear stories of the VOG and tsunami warnings and kvetching how life in paradise is so awful.

I sure hope at some point, Fred will have won the People's Party nomination for President when in November he will win a 50-state victory clobbering the other two miserable main line party candidates. At that point, he will fly Air Force One to Hawaii whisking his hot tropical Hawaiian flower Natalie to Washington, DC to be his First Lady, where she will be waited on hand and foot by Fred and the over protective Secret Service. Fred's first Presidential act will be to sign an Executive Order adopting a "shoot first, ask questions later policy" for the Secret Service, CIA and FBI towards any man who comes within a gnat's eyelash of Natalie or his daughter. As a result, Natalie will become a prisoner in the White House Rose Garden being forced to enjoy the hot, hazy, humid, weather that accompanies every summer here in Washington, DC since as we all know DC was built on a swamp.

Tom

Musta been the tequila.

Fred, are you going to show him the wall of weapons?

Tom

Time to do the taxes.

(I know, wrong thread)

My long-time assistant, who has a tendency to ask me to do her kid's returns and their boyfriends or girlfriends, just stopped by. Seems one of the boyfriends, whose return I did, is mad. He owed money, but it wasn't my doing of course. His employer screwed up and also put the wrong SS# on his W-2. I told him there was no point in filing until it he got the correct paperwork as it would have come back.

Well, she just walked in while I was on the phone with a client, picked up his folder and told me he was going to do his own return and walked out.

If I wasn't on the phone with a client, I would have gone on a tirade. The absolute nerve of them to waste my time. He is getting a bill for my time or she is, but someone's going to pay.

This really frosts me to no end.

Tom

Of course, all the women here warm my heart.

Tom

One hour and 10 minutes to e-file a state withholding return, three federal extensions and one partnership return!

I think the Pandora Radio is slowing down my computer Fred. Do you notice your computer slowing down when you have Pandora on?

almost time for tequila