Tax preparation fee

[WICPA]

I give my hat off to the newbies (last 10 years) that are licensed CPAs or EAs as the the licensing requirements are much stiffer than the "Old Days". Tax laws have changed with too many interactive parts that effect too many issues even with a "simple return". I don't know of anyone, even on this board (although I can bet one or two or three here would give it a grand effort and be super at it), that would be able to complete a return "by hand". Just look at when you make an entry and the program carries it to 1,2 or 3 other places/forms. Law makers know that software will solve those interactive calculations.

Don't get me wrong, I would not even try nor would I be able to complete a return by hand any more. I'm just too spoiled to even think of trying.

Not sure if I agree with licensing requirements being stiffer than the old days. I have an associate currently studying for the CPA exam. I tell her she has it made as we were not allowed to use calculators on the exam. Calculating fully diluted earnings per share by long division almost did me in.

That being said, glad to see many "old timers" still practicing. We need to lend that experience to the new practitioners so they do not make the same mistakes we made.

[Anarchrist]

I have a millionaire friend who does his return by hand every year. One year he forgot to check the box that Sch D was required and they sent it back to him.

[BOB W]

I give my hat off to the newbies (last 10 years) that are licensed CPAs or EAs as the the licensing requirements are much stiffer than the "Old Days". Tax laws have changed with too many interactive parts that effect too many issues even with a "simple return". I don't know of anyone, even on this board (although I can bet one or two or three here would give it a grand effort and be super at it), that would be able to complete a return "by hand". Just look at when you make an entry and the program carries it to 1,2 or 3 other places/forms. Law makers know that software will solve those interactive calculations.

Don't get me wrong, I would not even try nor would I be able to complete a return by hand any more. I'm just too spoiled to even think of trying.

[Twin Turbo Z]

Humm.... I don't remember that one..... I started in 1975, must be before that....???

Are you talking about the Carbon Sets?

Started in 1977 here !! I still have and use carbon paper from time to time. Grand kids think its magic !! They have me print off blank forms and they play tax office. Better than playing Dr. !!!

[Twin Turbo Z]

Definitely changing business plans this year. Time to slow down, do less returns and charge more. As Bob mentioned a few posts back. Good game plan !!

[BOB W]

What about the time 1040s were on white paper, 1065 was on yellow paper and 1120s were on blue forms?

Humm.... I don't remember that one..... I started in 1975, must be before that....???

Are you talking about the Carbon Sets?

[TAXNJ]

......Its funny. Most of the younger generation could not survive without computers and the internet. Let alone do a tax return by hand !!....

Should not blame only the”younger” generation but also the “older” generation, especially when many posts and/or reply posts either “blame” the tax software and say to “do an override” when they mostly don’t reference/read/ understand the tax laws and/or say “my software says I can’t do it that way”.

One could always go back to doing returns “the old way” or use the benefits technology offers.

[ATSMAN]

That summer PTINs were announced, I jumped on my dial-up internet and grabbed one; mine has four leading zeros

Mine has 3 leading zeros and I think I did not use it the first tax season fearing that the returns may get held up because my Soc was missing. I also grabbed an EFIN but did not start e-filing until my street was wired for DSL. I had too much problems with those dial up modems on my street with constant hangups. And yes my first tax software was EZ Tax a DOS program.

[Uncle Sam]

What about the time 1040s were on white paper, 1065 was on yellow paper and 1120s were on blue forms?

[Lion]

Oh, I'm old, too. However, I've been preparing taxes (other than my own or for a company where employed) only since 1996, more or less. I do remember the peel-off labels, the tax books clients brought in, and learning a DOS tax program. That summer PTINs were announced, I jumped on my dial-up internet and grabbed one; mine has four leading zeros. One of my clients is in radio broadcasting and one of his affiliates blames all computer/communication issues on solar flares.

[BOB W]

Gosh, is that all of the old timers on this board (4)?

[Twin Turbo Z]

Its funny. Most of the younger generation could not survive without computers and the internet. Let alone do a tax return by hand !! I remember ordering forms by the case directly from the IRS and State / States. But the Genie is out of the bottle, so to speak, and no putting it back. Well unless we have a huge solar flare and everything gets wiped out. Or the magnetic poles flip (which has happened).

[ATSMAN]

Yup... The sticker peeled off and you put it in the address section of the 1040 instead of filling the header out.

You realize how America has changed from those good old days! Now you have call centers in third world countries trying to steal American's identities and wreak havoc on America and our Govt. takes no action to eliminate this threat! In the next 50 years these countries will be walking all over America!

[BOB W]

Yup... The sticker peeled off and you put it in the address section of the 1040 instead of filling the header out.

[Twin Turbo Z]

I

Most of us may have started traveling to client's homes (back in the day), our only expense was a pencil, calculator and a small copier. Back then client's received IRS packets with forms according to how they filed in the prior year. I used pencil to fill out the form and then photo coping made the final copy like black ink.

Remember the sticker on the IRS book they sent had everyone's social security number on them !! Those were the days.