Missing Board Posters

[newbie]

Curious. With board is restricted to professionals?

I'm an EA, have been since 2004, but that alone doesn't make me any more or less of a professional than anyone else on this board! From 2004 to today I have learned so much more from the real world than I did from studying and passing the EA exam, and most of that is because of this fantastic board and 99.99% of the board posters.

Just a hunch - there is no board restricted to professionals that any of the posters have moved onto. Someone just gets them-self into a rant cause not everyone fills out their profile or agrees with their every answer. Someone even told me if I filled out my profile she may spend more time with my ?'s, I filled out my profile?

Newbie...fill out your profile and I may spend more time with your questions. Pub 17 for starters. taxea

This board does the best job limiting posting to "professionals". If no product purchased no password then no posting. You can view but can't post without the password. If you're not a professional I would say the mere act of purchasing a TaxBook is a step in the right direction to becoming that professional!

Geekgirldanny from July 2005 until now how much have you learned from the posters on this board, whether it was someone giving advice or someone asking a "stupid" question?

Even professionals on this board have made mistakes, that alone does not make them less professional. Just because I or anyone ask a question that a certain professional on this board already knows the answer to doesn't give that professional the right to bully, tell someone to stick to the basics or to do their own research. Why does such a professional waste their time on this board to begin with?

I am thankful for having this board to post my stupid questions and view other Q&A's. I say keep up the good work TTB!

[taxmom34]

well said, i could not put into words any better than you just did, Newbie.thank you

[WhiteOleander]

I agree with Newbie. Sometimes I ask myself how did I ever pass the EA exam to begin with. I can talk myself in and out of scenarios and sometimes need a voice of reason. Asking a question doesn't make one less professional. And someone who is brand new in the business may ask some very elementary questions. But, hey, someone taught me!

[JON]

Up to us

to read and decide which opinions are better. That is obviously something you have to do with this type of communication. No one uses this as there only source, but it gives information necessary to continue the investigation. I do have one complaint - why cannot BEES be required an answer every question that is posted on this board :-) ? Give up your practice.???

South Dakota Music Hall of Fame inducting their second group tonight. Talismen, Flippers and a bunch. I wish I was in Sioux Falls for the party. If you are close get to it. Castaways also. Bees could we get our choice of back ground music on your website to calm our tax season blues when looking for answers???? There are lots of people who should probably rate me - I have avoided that for years.

THETAXBOOK - is doing GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gretel]

I'm an EA, have been since 2004, but that alone doesn't make me any more or less of a professional than anyone else on this board! From 2004 to today I have learned so much more from the real world than I did from studying and passing the EA exam, and most of that is because of this fantastic board and 99.99% of the board posters.

I agree with all my heart, I think this is also my year for becoming an EA. Just passing an exam doesn't mean anything and I truly with some practice experience from working in an office where I can ask more experienced workers. I learned everything from scratch by myself and had I know what I was up to, I never would have dared to even start my office. Yes, this board has not only been a blessing but also a life saver for me.

[ChEAr$]

Someone told me that although participation on this board is restricted to those with a password, the general public may read our posts. And that this was the reason she chose to not reveal actual name, location, etc.

Is this true?

[geekgirldany]

Even if this board was for pros only, IRS regulations prohibit you from disclosing client information to other pros, unless they work for you in your firm. You NEVER should want to give enough detail about a client where someone else might guess who you are talking about. Even if you were to send me a private email, you can't disclose who your client is, their address, or any other information that might give me a hint as to who they are.

I know about the IRS Regulations in regards to privacy.

I was just suggesting blocking the search engines. It is a little uncomfortable having a client say they read what you wrote in a forum that is for tax preparers.

[geekgirldany]

Geekgirldanny from July 2005 until now how much have you learned from the posters on this board, whether it was someone giving advice or someone asking a "stupid" question?

Newbie, you bet I have learned from this forum. I have learned alot and appreciate everyone on here. They have answered my "stupid" posts and helped me through difficult times with clients. Believe me I did post alot of "stupid" posts and still do at times.

This board supported me in becoming a EA.

I am in no way putting this board or the people on it down. There have been several that helped me outside of the board.

I agreed with TAXEA because you can't really tell a person's knowledge in taxes. Can you really even do that on boards that are "closed" to only certain members... no you can't until a person starts posting.

I don't know.... I didn't mean to offend anyone. I was really just making the suggestion on the bots crawling the site. That is all.

[taxea]

How can anyone restrict their board to pro's only. Is there some kind of secret pro password I'm not aware of?

The forum requires the poster to register and include a profile of experience and training. It also allows other posters to look at the profile of other posters. They are very good about monitoring the site and keeping DIYers off.

I truly believe this helps one to determine the way to respond to a post because you have an idea of the level of experience the poster has.

The Tax Book has taken this ability away from us. The other forum also monitors the forum and moves messages to the non-pro area of their site. They post a response asking the poster to fill out their profile and if they are not a pro it refers them to the site for non-pros.

It is not difficult at all to maintain the confidentiality of a client on a public forum. This forum is an example. If the poster does not give away their location as part of their user name...how could you even figure out where the client is, much less, who the client is?
I have no idea where most of the posters on this site are unless their user name gives it away. Even if a poster says "the law in CA is"....that doesn't me the poster's business is, it only means that the poster is familiar with CA tax law.

[Bees Knees]

The Tax Book has taken this ability away from us.

This message board allows you to post your experience and training in your profile, and it also allows others to see your profile. That ability has not been taken away from you. If you would like to tell everyone your experience and training in your profile, go right ahead and do it.

Personally, I don’t care what your credentials are. I only care about correct answers, and I have learned from experience that being an EA or a CPA does not guarantee a correct answer.

[Lion]

Restrictions

This site has been restricted to purchasers of TTB products. That seems like a reasonable restriction for a company that sells TTB. And, it's a pretty good restriction from my viewpoint, also. It means tax pros and others who are serious enough about tax preparation to invest some actual money in a quick research resource. When we get a DIYer or an advertiser or a tax protester, we can ignore that post. TTB does a pretty good job of deleting those eventually.

But, among ourselves, this is where we can let our hair down and vent or ask a question about a new situation without our clients recognizing us or themselves. I may have been preparing taxes for 15 years, but I've never done a Form 5500 and would have lots of basic questions if one of my current clients opens up a qualified retirement plan needing to file a 5500. And, the new Form 990 had a few wrinkles for me, even though I used to prepare several of them each year. In my sole proprietorship, If I can't ask you guys, who can I ask? Thank goodness, you all have given me answers and direction and moral support when I've run into a new situation or forgotten something or am just not thinking straight in a sleep-deprived state.

[Black Bart]

Agree with Newbie AND Dany

Your post did indeed "say it all," Newbie (you don't sound so "new" anymore) and I'm in your corner.

Note to Bees: Dany has a good point about the search engines.

Originally Posted by geekgirldany
...this forum is picked up by...search engines...I wish (it) could be stopped. I like to go into detail on my questions and postings. That is why I sometimes later go back and trim them down after the discussion...because anyone can view this forum.

Originally Posted by geekgirldany
I know about the IRS Regulations in regards to privacy. I was just suggesting blocking the search engines. It is a little uncomfortable having a client say they read what you wrote in a forum that is for tax preparers.

Awareness of privacy regulations is what prompted Dany's suggestion in the first place. Obviously, neither she nor I are talking about giving out names & ID, but sometimes we must go into detail about a client's situation to fully explain a problem. The context alone could tell a reader that a certain situation is strikingly similar to their own and might in fact be referring directly to them. This possibility was pointed out here a while back (by John H I think) who noted that it probably wouldn't apply in Chicago, but it might in Smalltown, USA. Google picks up TTB threads and potentially allows our clients to read our posts. I don't like it and if there's a simple, inexpensive way to prevent it I'd like to see it done. Of course, it may be that the board owners want posts picked up as a means of advertising TTB and, if that's the case, then certainly that takes precedence over individual preferences.

Originally Posted by geekgirldany
...I don't know.... I didn't mean to offend anyone. I was really just making the suggestion on the bots crawling the site. That is all.

Note to Newbie: Most of us here "know" Dany well enough to realize she's not putting anybody down for asking questions, basic or otherwise. If there's a better or more "fair" person on this board, I don't know who it is.

[newbie]

I agreed with TAXEA because you can't really tell a person's knowledge in taxes. Can you really even do that on boards that are "closed" to only certain members... no you can't until a person starts posting.

I don't know.... I didn't mean to offend anyone. I was really just making the suggestion on the bots crawling the site. That is all.

Note to Newbie: Most of us here "know" Dany well enough to realize she's not putting anybody down for asking questions, basic or otherwise. If there's a better or more "fair" person on this board, I don't know who it is.

I didn't mean to imply Dany's post to be offending, if taken that way I apologize.

I still disagree with taxea's professional profiling, as far as I know there are no Gold stars given on this board for the most posts, so if you don't like my question - move along to the next.

[Bees Knees]

Obviously, neither she nor I are talking about giving out names & ID, but sometimes we must go into detail about a client's situation to fully explain a problem. The context alone could tell a reader that a certain situation is strikingly similar to their own and might in fact be referring directly to them. This possibility was pointed out here a while back (by John H I think) who noted that it probably wouldn't apply in Chicago, but it might in Smalltown, USA. Google picks up TTB threads and potentially allows our clients to read our posts. I don't like it and if there's a simple, inexpensive way to prevent it I'd like to see it done. Of course, it may be that the board owners want posts picked up as a means of advertising TTB and, if that's the case, then certainly that takes precedence over individual preferences.

Obviously, a private company selling products wants Google search engines to pick up their website. That is something every message board participant is going to have to accept as a condition of using this free service.

With that in mind, I suggest everyone use caution. We may not want to identify our location, if it is a small enough market where our clients could recognize us. We might also refrain from using actual numbers. I think we all understand math well enough to be able to substitute fake numbers and still get the concept behind the problem. We don’t need to identify the actual occupation of our clients in most cases. Why tell us they are a carpenter when you are asking about net operating losses? The NOL rules in general apply to all businesses, not just carpenters. I think it is possible to ask a client specific question on this message board in a way that our clients will not recognize themselves in the question.

[BHoffman]

Privacy

Might also advise that board participants be careful about disclosing their "true" identities.

I imagine there are whistleblower fees paid by the IRS to those who might like to make some money by reporting fellow posters whom they judge to be unqualified. I imagine there are some who feel it is enjoyable to compare their credentials to others in order to justify an attitude of superiority without the bother of actually providing the best answer. Not one of us is immune to being made a target simply by posting questions or answers that are deemed unsatisfactory to another's standards. That includes those who most harshly criticize others.

The internet is not a safe place. There are always trolls and troublemakers who seek personal information from others in order to satisfy a personal agenda. IMO, your credentials and your experience are your business. Credentials only prove one is good at passing tests, and not necessarily good at preparing tax returns, and not necessarily good at answering questions about preparing tax returns.

It's nice to know what State you practice in, but only to ask and answer state-specific questions.