I just voted in Travis County. I thought it was a little odd how they ordered the presidential candidates. If you're looking for Biden, you have to go to the second page. Based on convos outside, we weren't the only ones thinking this.
I just got a P&L from a client that put $3.5 million in "Other Miscellaneous Revenue" but this amount is 60% of their total review. I'm pretty sure it's not "Miscellaneous"
In about an hour, my mom is going to have a procedure on her brain to help reduce (or even eliminate) her Parkinson's and essential tremors. If you could send prayers or positive thoughts that it goes well & works, that would be great! 🤲
In what world is it appropriate for clients to email a tax professional at 8:30 am on a Sunday morning reminding them that they haven't responded to an email sent Saturday afternoon at 4:30 pm?
I'm serious, I'm almost OVER IT!
#TaxTwitter
I'm on the phone with IRS PPS and faxed my client's POA, death certificate, and Letters Testamentary.
IRS Agent: the taxpayer will need to call.
Me: But, he's dead.
IRS: Let me put you on hold for 5 to 7 minute...
#TaxTwiter
What a pedestrian explanation for a complex problem. How about a series:
Tax prep fees are rising because:
-tax law keeps getting more complicated
-complex tax laws make return prep take longer
-even "simple" returns aren't simple anymore
-tax deadlines are stuck in 1955
-Burned
My mother in law passed away last night. She's been in a memory care facility for years, and we knew time was running out. Her heart finally gave out, and now she's home, but our hearts are broken.
Rest in peace, sweet Dottie 💔
One of the most frustrating things in tax preparation is actually knowing the right answer, but not being able to figure out the input so that the tax software shows the right answer on the tax return.
#TaxTwitter
Thank you all for the prayers and positive thoughts! 💖
I just got the call that mom is out of surgery and is doing great. They had her cut a piece of cake and then eat it - and she was able to do it without shaking! This will be a life-changer for her! 🥰
In about an hour, my mom is going to have a procedure on her brain to help reduce (or even eliminate) her Parkinson's and essential tremors. If you could send prayers or positive thoughts that it goes well & works, that would be great! 🤲
@ewarren
Have you actually talked to a professional tax preparer? We definitely DO NOT want it to be harder to file returns. Why don't you talk to
#TaxTwitter
or
@AICPA
for ideas on how to simplify taxes for ordinary American taxpayers.
For taxpayers who are resisting their tax professional's advice to extend your returns, all I can say is this:
It's a lot easier to extend your return than to find a new competent accountant.
@mountainwesttax
That sucks for them, but it is a good reminder that partners of big accounting firms are really just employees who get a k1. Most of them have no authority and no autonomy like you associate with a title like "Partner"
Dear software & service providers in the accounting space:
No, we really don't have the time or desire to meet with your sales rep, not even for 15 minutes. Please stop flooding our email inboxes.
Regards,
#TaxTwitter
I love all the connections that have opened up during COVID where
#TaxPros
from different firms & different parts of the country are helping each other out.
For all the divisiveness & negativity out there, the past year really brought the accountants &
#TaxTwitter
together.
I thought busy season was over. I feel just as busy, although I'm intentionally exercising and working fewer hours.
#TaxTwitter
- are y'all feeling this too?
Is there anyway to mark the W4 to just withhold a straight 24% for federal taxes? I have a client with a main job, and several side W2 gigs. If they could just withhold 24% on the side gigs, they'd be fine. Their situation doesn't really work with the W4 form.
#TaxTwitter
There must be a Murphy's Law about the slower someone is to provide you their tax information, the faster they are to complain about the time it takes to finish their tax return.
#TaxTwitter
I don't have any details yet, however, I know that one of our
#TaxTwitter
friends needs our support. Deb had to change plans and go to Houston tonight. Her son's in the Texas Medical Center ICU and it sounds really bad. Please keep her & her family in your prayers.
The same advice can be applied to accounting studies. Learning GAAP, tax, cost accounting, etc., is great but you don't come out of school ready to actually practice accounting, much less advice clients on how to improve their businesses.
Law schools need to be teaching not just the theories of law, but how to practice law. They are entirely different things. By practicing law, I mean things like project and process management, basic finance/accounting, intro to tech, relationship building, negotiation etc.
#law
If you're a partner in a partnership, asking why you don't have your schedule K-1 on February 4 is really bold. Have more patience in general, but even more so this year.
I have to say, being gay and taking openly about LGBTQ issues in a large public setting like
@westerncpe
#NewMoneySummit
isn't always easy to put those fears of rejection out of your mind. Thank you to all the attendees for being so supportive and engaged with our discussion.
My 82 year old aunt has decided it time to stop her life-saving therapy and enter into hospice care. I know it's the right decision for her, but it fucking sucks.
I'm not looking for sympathy, I just have to get it off my chest, and I wish I weren't so selfish wishing she didn't
I just got word that my step-mom is in the ICU and probably won't make it through the night.
She's a sweet lady, and if you have a moment and could send a prayer or positive energy for her, that would be so appreciated.
The fact that
#TaxTwitter
is scrambling to find a new home and keep connections is a testament to how important this group is to the accounting community. I love y'all.
Rarely do I get a wildlife photo with my phone that's actually worth printing and framing. I think this might be one of the few. This was right up the hill from us at the Sawmill Reservoir.
The metric I use to measure how bad this tax season is going is how much sleep I get. I've never had this much trouble sleeping and waking up anxious in my whole life.
Well, Barb passed away peacefully after they removed the life support equipment. The pneumonia was more than her body could fight.
Even though she was my stepmom, I didn't meet her until after my dad passed away. She was in the process of divorcing my dad at the time he passed.
I just got word that my step-mom is in the ICU and probably won't make it through the night.
She's a sweet lady, and if you have a moment and could send a prayer or positive energy for her, that would be so appreciated.
Taxpayers working with tax professionals need to remember to treat ALL our staff with respect.
It's too hard to replace a good staff member, so we can't let rude clients run off our good staff members.
Dear clients,
Emailing to tell me the return looks good and you're making your payment isn't the same thing as actually signing the return and sending me authorization to efile the return.
Thanks,
#TaxTwitter
Thank you to everyone who sent support and well wishes. My aunt is at peace and with our Lord tonight.
She started dating my uncle when I was a kid, and we immediately hit it off. It's like she "got" me right from the start. We could laugh at anything and read each other's
My 82 year old aunt has decided it time to stop her life-saving therapy and enter into hospice care. I know it's the right decision for her, but it fucking sucks.
I'm not looking for sympathy, I just have to get it off my chest, and I wish I weren't so selfish wishing she didn't
My attorney in Italy sent an email confirming the recognition of my Italian citizenship this morning. 🇮🇹 How the hell am I supposed to work today after this email?
This has been a long journey, and I've learned so much about my family in the process.
Shout out to a young girl
The IRS knows there is a deadline on Monday, yet they still decided to take down the efile system all day on Saturday.
They are either completely and utterly dysfunctional and clueless, or they're doing this on purpose to mess with tax professionals.
#TaxTwitter
The IRS needs a new system for taxpros using PPS.
We should be able to always call in or log into a website, enter our CAF number and phone number, then be entered into queue for a callback.
This would reduce frustration and removes CallEnQ from the equation.
#TaxTwitter
The IRS needs a special penalty waiver for taxpayers with dementia.
I suggest this mainly to reduce the stress on the caregivers who are trying to help their parents or family members.
#TaxTwitter
Today I'm looking down at my new tattoo and thinking about how accountants put ourselves in boxes to meet an outdated version "professional".
We say we want diversity, but only if it fits inside this box. Among the other types of diversity, we need diversity of spirit to
I met someone yesterday that straight-faced said her tax preparer only charges her $75 for her 1040, which includes 4 rental properties.
1st off, how can they even cover their hard costs at that price?
2nd, for that price, how can they spend the time to make sure it's
Y'all, I just nearly broke down talking to one of my elderly clients. Her husband passed from COVID just a few days shy of their 65th anniversary. If my "tax" call can help her and brighten her day, then it's worth it, no matter how long it takes.
"The business tax account will allow businesses to check their tax payment history, make payments, view notices, authorize powers of attorney and conduct other business with the IRS"
#TaxTwitter
IRS introduces business tax accounts
I'm still dreaming of that far off day when no client is having a "tax emergency" and I can get to my backlog before those backlogged items turn into a "tax emergency"
#TaxTwitter
PSA: Today is NOT the day to reach out to your tax professional and try to get on their calendar next week. Honestly, most of us haven't even looked past the deadline in terms of scheduling and appointments.
Shhhh, don't tell them but I'm thinking about cutting off my staff's access to Axcess and the server over the Memorial Day Weekend to force them to take some time away from work.
I love that they're dedicated but they need to take a break.
You know that question you've been waiting to ask your accountant because you knew it was tax season, the first day after the deadline isn't the best time to send it, unless it really is an emergency.
Give us a day or two to get caught up on life in general.
OK, I'm kind of stunned tonight. A friend of mine since we were in preschool/daycare at church lost his father yesterday to a heart attack and his mother tonight to cancer.
If you're someone who prays or sends positive energy, could you please send them his way.
Have you ever dreaded one of those calls with a number that was a lot higher than expected, but then it turned out that the client wasn't surprised or mad. Whew!
25th Anniversary and 10th Wedding Anniversary. ❤️🥂
Getting "married" wasn't even in our vocabulary or an option on our first anniversary.
After 15 years, we didn't need a big flamboyant wedding, so we did it over saying grace for Thanksgiving dinner in 2013.
I think that was
I got some new artwork, and it's time for the reveal. I am in love with this tattoo!
I can't thank Paolo Grippo enough for this artwork. He's at Vice and Virtue in Austin. Check him out.
There really is no need for
@Intuit
to be so disrespectful to the accounting profession.
Seriously, they can advertise effectively without being rude and dismissive of accounting and tax professionals.
#TaxTwitter
Note to self:
Next year's engagement must clarify that if you're a pass-through entity that's extended on March 15, it's not going to be finished until after the April 15th deadline.
#TaxTwitter
I don't understand this logic:
• you can expense a gym membership if you're overweight and your doctor prescribes it
• you can't expense if you're healthy and trying to stay that way
Whoever said tax professionals don't do anything after April 15 is sorely mistaken. The past two weeks have been crazy busy and there's really no end in sight.
I'm hoping it pays off by being less crazy in the fall.
#TaxTwitter
Just because tax season is over doesn't mean that your taxpro is sitting around with nothing to do and can immediately answer your question or solve your problem.
At least for us, we've still got a backlog of projects that aren't related to the April 18 deadline.
#TaxTwitter
Now that we made it through a work from home busy season, I think the office as we knew it on March 1, 2020 is dead.
The office of the future will be different, as will our roles and tasks. Embrace this change because there's no going back to a pre-COVID mindset.
#NewNormal
It's Tax Day Eve!
One last late night of working on 2019 Tax Returns. Good luck to all of
#TaxTwitter
for getting the final returns over the finish line.
Here are your instructions to use the IRS individual online account to find your 2021 amounts for:
• Stimulus Payment (Economic Impact Payment) and
• Advance Child Tax Credit payments
Hint: You will need this for your 2021 Form 1040 🤓
#TaxTwitter
The IRS agent told me that payments must always be made by the taxpayer and the spouse shouldn't be making the payments.
The thing that bugged me is she didn't seem to have any problem that their system treats the spouse as a less important person than the taxpayer.
Even though it's busy season, I'm wrapping up for the day. We're hosting a firm-wide dinner at Franklin BBQ tonight for all employees and their families/significant others.
Mouthwatering pictures are likely to come later this evening. 😋
I know I should have been working, but I took a break to do something creative.
If anyone in
#TaxTwitter
land is insterested, I created a face mask just for us:
"Saving the economy, one small business at a time"
So we just made it official. Our tax department will be working from home until further notice. It had been encouraged but up to the individual employee. Now it's not. We're all going remote.
I encourage every other
#Tax
firm to do the same.
#TaxTwitter
I talked with a former co-worker who has been an IRS CID agent for years. Y'all, we have to tone down the rhetoric.
He's a lawyer by training with 2 small kids. Honestly, CID agents are just people doing their job of enforcing tax laws.
#TaxTwitter
I was upstairs in the office all day. I could smell something good but didn't know what Curt was cooking. Imagine my surprise to wrap up a tax return and come down to find this!
It's never a bad day for lasagna 😍🇮🇹
I got two gnarly tax returns done today that have been hanging over my head but needed undivided attention, which is actually hard to do during most work days.
It was nice to have a work day that was uninterrupted and productive. 😎
I can accept the fact that it will take a long time to reach the IRS on the phone. I can't accept not even being able to get through to someone. This has gone on for WAY too long.
I'm just here to give you an estimated tax amount based on what you've given us so far. If you don't like our estimated amount, by all means, make any adjustment you want. It's in your hands now. You can true it up later, but there could be penalties and interest.