This week is deadline week for corporate, partnership and other business tax returns. So each day is about the same escalating into the 15th which is this Friday. All must be postmarked or efiled by midnight Friday. The IRS seems to think deadlines are awesome. They think that because they can start charging obnoxious penalties once you miss the filing deadline. Congress creates these rules, which are onerous and putrid just like congress. They do it to create revenue for their own nefarious activities. I hate them. The IRS is the public face (ugly) of congress for enforcement. The system works ok unless you fail to comply or they (IRS) create an error that starts a problem. When mistakes happen on either side it can take years (no kidding here) to clear it up. I usually get errors fixed in under 3 months. All by US Mail. The IRS does not do email or text or helpful phone call. I have been working on one clients problem since 2010. IRS owes him $20k. Have had direct meetings at IRS district office twice. They admit it. They are sorry. So far, not able to fix it. Anyway, deadlines are just the beginning of the screwed up administration at the IRS. Or, actually, congress is. I have come to dislike what I do for a living. It’s like beating your own head with a hammer and not ever being allowed the courtesy of a break. No more ranting.
Today I have one appointment for a client to pick up two returns. I have to keep my schedule open because the people who wait till the last minute are the types of people that show up without an appointment. They also are usually poorly groomed and unwashed too. Just kidding!! No, I really like to keep the last few days prior to deadline open so I can have time for late arrivers. And late filers. I also charge more. Or should I say, no discounts or coupons. Like there are any. So I expect unknowns to show. They do also tend to pay immediately. They are obviously used to how this works in other areas of their lives. I want to say clearly, most of these people are very nice and I like them. It’s the deadlines I hate.
Just got off the phone with a friend. She is at the hospital. Her husband is having a procedure. Since she did not say, I figured, based on his age, he was getting a colonoscopy. Bingo. For those of you unaware, when a man in the US with health insurance hits age 50 the insurance will pay for one. My doc just called and told me when to show up. That’s it. It wasn’t so bad. Except, the day prior you have to drink a gallon of nasty tasting liquid to clean you out and not eat either. The drink is not good. I asked and got permission to drink swiftly. I shotgunned that crap. Yuck. But quick. They allow clear liquids to drink as well. I chose Vodka. I think that qualifies. I want to give every guy a little advice. Right before the procedure, in front of your wife, ask the doctor to look for your car keys while in there. And your head too. After the procedure, again with spouse present, have doctor say out loud he did not find either. Now she has lost two things, forever, that she can use in an argument. You’re welcome. My procedure was fine. He gave me ten years before we do it again. They don’t quit till you are 80 at which point you are close enough to dead it does not matter I guess. So back to friend, from nature of the call I would say he is fine. And I hope she does not pick on him too much. Hey, it’s not every day you get a tube stuck up there. At least I hope not. My doc did take pictures of it. He failed to provide me with a framable 8×10. What a jerk.
Well had only one client stop by my house this am. It’s amazing how busy I get around deadline time. All of a sudden people get interested in doing their taxes. Well, at least I like the client who came by and I have known her a long time. Gotta take care of those.
Off to work and more taxes. Same client was waiting for me today as was waiting for me yesterday when I walked in. I had his returns done so I quickly got his efile docs out and him on his way.
Next appointment, yes another one, came in immediately after. Able to process all his returns while he waited. And then he paid! Yay for him. Need to invite him to all the parties.
Next appointment is with Hal. Yes, back to back to back appointments. We needed to discuss ongoing business. We do large case tax planning as a team. While we were talking, one of our biggest and best prospects called me and said he was ready to get started and could he come by now? Like I would say no. We first discussed this with him 18 months ago. He came over and the three of us got his final questions answered and he is ready to go. Life can be super fantastic at times. Like now. This is a good one and will help him immensely. And pay us a fair wage as well. Win win baby!
Balance of day doing tax returns. Which is what many days are like. Most really. I am managing to clear out quite a few. I will be really happy when 10/16 rolls around. It’s about six and I want to go home. Since I’m in charge, I am leaving.
I went to a local car lot to look at an S2000 for Marika. I saw it advertised last weekend. I have been looking for one for a year or so. It’s silver with a red leather interior. Seems nice. I forgot to take a picture for the blog. But I will be back there tomorrow or Thursday and can get one. I have been trying to find a good one for over 12 months and this one just popped out of nowhere. Good for her. I know I can make a deal on it. Seems clear. I will keep all updated. Ok, forgot to mention, we agreed on price. Now I have to get good terms. We are moving. Marika is a little amped up which is no surprise. We have been sitting on this for months.
Drove home quickly. It’s taco Tuesday but since I was not home Emily picked up dinner. She actually picked up exactly what I would have. Funny. It’s like we know each other.
After dinner I had to scan a document to Marika. The save function will not work when I scan a document. Totally screwed. I had to do a backdoor save through an email to myself to get it where I wanted it. Stupid. I really hate technology. Really. But I got it done.
Tuesday night is also for garbage. So I am off to do that. Well I have to say, the garbage job 99% of the time is just me. Tonight, Emily came out and helped. That was very nice. I have complained in the past about the task, many times. But I have never complained that someone needs to help me. So I can say, it was nice and I was surprised pleasantly that she helped. She did most of the work too.
Went in, watched a little TV, read for a few minutes and went to bed.