Hi y'all

[powerage]

My name is Timothy Watson, I'm in Florida, and I'm entering my 4th season as a tax professional, not an EA, and this is my first season using TTB, which is great. I have done nothing but read and practice on the new version of Drake for the last 2 weeks at my job, using their practice problems, which I have already finished.

I spent 3 years at a franchise of one of the top 2 chains. My second year I passed the franchisee's 90 hour book course, which included 2 written tax returns as the exams, and I was promoted to office manager. Though I have very much to learn, I do have confidence in my abilities. I switched to a start up company with great roots in Florida, and the money is MUCH better. I run my own office of 1 with built in traffic.

But, most of my returns are too easy. And being in Florida, very few state returns. Basic stuff here. I do get a little bored. Y'all would also.

I see there are many EA's here, and I'm glad to be able to learn from everyone here. Y'all really know your stuff. Thanks for your expertise.

And for the record, I prepare every return honestly, ethically and using due diligence, and to the best of my skills and knowledge, including using tools like TTB and other sources if needed. I will not knowingly prepare a false return.

In my spare time, I'm a computer geek and webmaster, I own 6 domains and run a tax blog. I also collect tattoos, I'm a metal head, and a struggling internet marketer. Oh yea...go Steelers!...and my user name is from AC/DC's greatest album.

Now that that is out of the way, I'll mostly be lurking. I can read the board at work, but cannot post, only on my home computer. And I'll be at work most of the time, where they watch us.

Looking forward to learning from y'all, and I hope y'all have a great tax season,

Tim

[Zee]

Welcome Tim! Where in Florida are you located? I understand your frustration. It's hard to remember many of the complex tax situations discussed here, if you are handling only basic returns. But, even basic returns have become quite complicated over the years...so much for simplification. Like you, I haven't encountered much of what I've read here.

[Lion]

Recs

Welcome to TTB and to the Forum. Ask your current clients to recommend you to their friends, relatives, and colleagues. Especially ask your more complex return clients since they might have friends with more complex returns also. Ask your lawyer and your broker and other professionals you know to recommend you to their clients.

[geekgirldany]

In my spare time, I'm a computer geek and webmaster, I own 6 domains and run a tax blog. I also collect tattoos, I'm a metal head, and a struggling internet marketer.

Welcome Tim. Wow! I am also a geek, do website design, and dabble in internet marketing. It will be great to have another computer geek around here Welcome!

[Snaggletooth]

Watson

Tim, you are welcome here. You will eventually get your E.A. and there are many of us who only recently got ours in the last 2-3 years. For what it's worth, I am a Steeler fan too even though most of the people here in Tennessee are Titans fans (these two teams play in Nashville Sunday). I've always preferred the Steelers because they are blue collar, rugged, no-nonsense team instead of a team with prima-donna Hollywood players.

With your experience at storefront firms, much of the market they target are simpler returns, quite overwhelmingly 1040As, so your base is essentially the product of what you've done. This will change. As you get started, you've got to really go out of your way to provide uncommon service to clients that they will not get anywhere else.

Clients with 1040As and 1040EZs will have neighbors and kin folk who own farms, rental property, stocks, mutual funds, and small businesses. You're clientele will eventually grow into a balanced customer base.

We are a group of tax folk who have become somewhat of a comraderie, and we hope you will enjoy getting to know your cyber-friends. We have fun, too, when appropriate. And most of us appreciate TTB for sponsoring the board.

Ron Jordan, Manchester, TN

[oceanlovin'ea]

Welcome, Tim

I am in Polk County. I worked for a storefront business for 15 years and have had my own business for 7 years now. I LOVE being on my own. Of course, I have a smaller business than the number of returns I did after 15 years at the other place. But it is okay. I get referrals every year....got 26 referrals from my clients last tax season. For the size of my business that is great.
Study and take the EA exam. It will open new worlds to you. I see you are in Pinellas county. There are some great EA's in that area. You might eventually get a job working for one of them and then you would have access to those more complex returns.
I love reading this board, answering sometimes and asking frequently. Sometimes I feel like I know the answer but am a little shy about answering. But the knowledge here is outstanding. You will gain a wealth of knowledge here. The great thing is that you can read it anytime. So you are busy during tax season and can't post much now, but during the summer or slower times, you can catch up on what you missed.

Enjoy the board and welcome.

Linda

[Chief]

Tim, look in your private messages,

My name is Timothy Watson, I'm in Florida, and I'm entering my 4th season as a tax professional, not an EA, and this is my first season using TTB, which is great. I have done nothing but read and practice on the new version of Drake for the last 2 weeks at my job, using their practice problems, which I have already finished.

I spent 3 years at a franchise of one of the top 2 chains. My second year I passed the franchisee's 90 hour book course, which included 2 written tax returns as the exams, and I was promoted to office manager. Though I have very much to learn, I do have confidence in my abilities. I switched to a start up company with great roots in Florida, and the money is MUCH better. I run my own office of 1 with built in traffic.

But, most of my returns are too easy. And being in Florida, very few state returns. Basic stuff here. I do get a little bored. Y'all would also.

I see there are many EA's here, and I'm glad to be able to learn from everyone here. Y'all really know your stuff. Thanks for your expertise.

And for the record, I prepare every return honestly, ethically and using due diligence, and to the best of my skills and knowledge, including using tools like TTB and other sources if needed. I will not knowingly prepare a false return.

In my spare time, I'm a computer geek and webmaster, I own 6 domains and run a tax blog. I also collect tattoos, I'm a metal head, and a struggling internet marketer. Oh yea...go Steelers!...and my user name is from AC/DC's greatest album.

Now that that is out of the way, I'll mostly be lurking. I can read the board at work, but cannot post, only on my home computer. And I'll be at work most of the time, where they watch us.

Looking forward to learning from y'all, and I hope y'all have a great tax season,

Tim

Look in your private messages. I sen t you one.

Welcome to the Board. I am in Pinellas County as well.

[powerage]

Thanks for the warm welcome

Thank y'all for the warm welcome, and I hope you had a great day today! I had a Merry Christmas, and I saw 2 deer and a 4 foot alligator, which I went within 10 feet of. I love alligators and crocs, they are incredible. Our link to dinosaurs.

Anyway, I will reply to y'all tomorrow individually, and I'm looking forward to learning from y'all.

Tim

[DaveO]

Welcome aboard Tim. I lived in FL for a number of years. Collier and Charlotte counties. I loved to go fishing in the gulf and went deep sea at least once a month, funds permitting. I remember alligators as being rather cranky and quite tasty. We had Egrets, Herons and Eagles in our back yard which bordered a deep water canel, home to lots of sealife. Fresh fish and lots of citrus. I work in a small independent office and prepare individual, small business, trust and estate income tax returns. This board is a great resource that has helped me out many times.

[joanmcq]

As a former Pittsburgher, tattooed freak geek (but not a computer geek; I have roommates for that) I say welcome aboard!

[PIGLEE]

You mentioned using Drake, they also have a tax forum. I check out Drakes, and The Tax Book forums EVERY DAY. I don't respond much, but LEARN ALOT. If you need an answer, that you can not find with your own research, Post them on a forum, you get fast answers, and a lot of opinions, and some fun here and there.

Jan

[powerage]

Thanks

Welcome Tim! Where in Florida are you located? I understand your frustration. It's hard to remember many of the complex tax situations discussed here, if you are handling only basic returns. But, even basic returns have become quite complicated over the years...so much for simplification. Like you, I haven't encountered much of what I've read here.

Thanks Zee! My office is in Pinellas Park. I agree, some basic returns can be tough. Just not in my area though lol.

[powerage]

Thanks

Welcome to TTB and to the Forum. Ask your current clients to recommend you to their friends, relatives, and colleagues. Especially ask your more complex return clients since they might have friends with more complex returns also. Ask your lawyer and your broker and other professionals you know to recommend you to their clients.

Thanks Lion. I have been doing that and passing out my business cards and talking taxes with everyone I know.

[powerage]

Thanks

Welcome Tim. Wow! I am also a geek, do website design, and dabble in internet marketing. It will be great to have another computer geek around here Welcome!

Thanks geekgirlany! I don't really do design, I usually just buy themes or sites, and then I know just enough code to get me in trouble lol. I can tear down and rebuild a computer, and I fix computers on the side. Which mainly means cleaning spyware, malware and other junk off of people's computers. IM is tough. I have moved away from that and I have just concentrated on having blogs and sites with quality content.

[powerage]

Thanks

Tim, you are welcome here. You will eventually get your E.A. and there are many of us who only recently got ours in the last 2-3 years. For what it's worth, I am a Steeler fan too even though most of the people here in Tennessee are Titans fans (these two teams play in Nashville Sunday). I've always preferred the Steelers because they are blue collar, rugged, no-nonsense team instead of a team with prima-donna Hollywood players.

With your experience at storefront firms, much of the market they target are simpler returns, quite overwhelmingly 1040As, so your base is essentially the product of what you've done. This will change. As you get started, you've got to really go out of your way to provide uncommon service to clients that they will not get anywhere else.

Clients with 1040As and 1040EZs will have neighbors and kin folk who own farms, rental property, stocks, mutual funds, and small businesses. You're clientele will eventually grow into a balanced customer base.

We are a group of tax folk who have become somewhat of a comraderie, and we hope you will enjoy getting to know your cyber-friends. We have fun, too, when appropriate. And most of us appreciate TTB for sponsoring the board.

Ron Jordan, Manchester, TN

Thanks Ron! Always great to meet a fellow Steelers fan! I have been a fan since 1972. And I grew up in a Browns household.

With the storefronts, yep, you are right. In my area though, I think maybe there are other factors and people do not really care about their taxes. Mainly, the returns I do are MFJ with 1 or more kids, AGI usually under $40,000, mortgage interest and real estate taxes as deductions, and little else. And they receive a big refund. I try to educate them a littleabout lowering their refund and having more money in their pocket throughout the year, but they don't care. I do get some self-employed people, 1009-B's, and an occasional K-1. I love these.

I'm happy my company ordered TTB, and after lurking on the board for about 2 minutes, I knew I had to join. After being on the internet for the last 6 years, I rarely frequent board's. But I already like this one.

Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go!!