Discussion:2011 Tax Season Done!

Extensions are all client request (few) I must just be getting better with age A whole week's vacation, what will I do?

My practice is primarily Accounting Help, Training for Business Entreprenuers My "tax" practice is several hundred 80% owners of those businesss. Just getting better and faster in my old age (well technology has a lot to do with it)

I DOUBT SERIOUSLY if the overwhelming majority of "Tax Season" Preparers could even DO-IT without technology

Been at this since the 1974 ACT, paper & pencil returns with IRS Instructions, RIA, CCH, Prentice Hall SOME WHERE TO BE FOULD NO Instant anything, put a number on a mointor screen AND IT FINDS IT's WAY TO EVERYWHERE, DIAGONISTICS WHEN ONE SCREWS UP

NO, only a very few could even today take just client data and blank forms (oh maybe Master Tax Guide) and Do-it-Right

I even saw here someone ask where the input page was for the FEDERAL prior year refund (l0l)

Have a peaceful slide to the finish.

I apologize if it came over here that way. I meant that without all the technical "help" in the current "Prep" world far to many simply "if I input it the software did the rest.

Long, long ago when returns were prepared by hand "those" preparing them had to Know where it all went. It was also great traing for new staff. The IRS forms are highly technically accurate (from the crap Congress gives them) Not too many years ago Congress changed Capital Gains. The IRS wrote to them, "what fit in their word processor DID NOT fit in an adding machine!" Conrgess wrote back, oh well then just make the Sch D "what we MEANT it to be.

Podolin, IF it came across different than this I apologize

I LOVE "ALL" the instant research, diagonistics et al. Just know that some simply rely on it. IF "I" can't prove what I know a return to LOOK like then I go back to find out who is right or wrong I have NO "Pay for service" Client that I do not take FULL responsibility (without computer assistance) for their tax returns. They are not a product provided, "based simply upon what they give me" (That "they" think OI Need.

Programs have a little check list if "In complete disposition" unless checked the sale is OK, but the suspended passive losses don't come through

Have a peaceful remaining "season," that is what Extensions are for.

Mufid

I agree with pretty much each comment. It's quicker to do a return via software, but you still need to know it's right and when and why it's wrong, if it is. Right now I'm working on something that I'm pretty sure is not coming out right, but my program will allow me to do what I want if I put the right info in there. Now I'm researching it to see what it actually needs to be. Once I'm finished, it'll be quicker to fix it electronically than it was manually. Probably tidier, too.

There are many, not here, that prepare returns only relying on the software. I stated in that post I saw a person frustrated because he could not find where to input the prior year Fed Refund He went on to say, do i just use "Other Income" (saddly for some taxpayer - lol)

I'm only first time in EVER done before midnight of THAT day BECASUE of technology

Action, you don't have to leave your desk to do your research. Heck you can propably find it in "google"

Sorry I upset anyone

Mufid

I guess paperwork is not for everyone. Just would be nice if they could get it together, just once. Ugh.

I caught one bug because I was doing a part year MN resident for the first time, and I was checking everything. The marriage credit wasn't being generated and the system wouldn't let me override it. The vendor had to issue a fix. Another bug was for amending a return for Illinois for 2010. It was plugging in the new overpayment where the previous overpayment should be.

This is the first year in 30 years, I get one "Get out of Jail card," right

Many, Many racing to Post office with complicated "questimate" Paper extensions, Uhg

My vision of my office brings back the scene in Vonnegut's Cats Cradle where the Albert Schweitzer type stands in his jungle hospital, the dying all around him, and says to his son, 'Someday this will all be yours.' You make plans of attack for each day, but emails or phone calls alter these, as another mole pops up.

Another 'expert' filing separately for Feds & NJ tells me that since his wife's state tax is wiped out by the Philly Wage Tax credit and she gets a $50 credit for her half of the RE tax, he thinks that he can now take 100% of the RE tax since she isn't using it....had to spend 20-30 minutes finding the reference in the instructions.

But for everyone like that, there are moments when you get clients like the couple who moved to NYC last August but whose employer never took NY or NYC tax out, and to complicate matters, the couple owned the place they live since 2009. Told them NY may consider them full year residents depending on usage of the place (23 year old daughter first moved in earlier in the year). Suggested they pay 90K with extension to NY.....reply, 'send us the form or we will send the check to you.' (he makes 2.4M) No yelling, no bitching.

Only one from last year, who didn't return.

Today, was a leisurely day, by design. I had the remainder of the clients come yesterday to sign and pay for their returns.

I'm done, another year done.

I have several extensions but only one for which the work has been submitted. I just need two items that I know he must have in order to be finished with his return. It is 9:17pm on 04-17 and I know he won't show up today.