Mark Rigotti, CPA wrote:

- quote -

Mark, my practice is similar to yours, a good mix of
individual and business, and for the latter there's monthly
write up work to do, along with filing sales tax returns
online (!) (yes, we have that down here) and of course
payroll tax returns end of April etc. And like you, I cut
down to a four day work week, 10 - 2 Mondays through
Thursdays.

But my computer's wallpaper is this color photo of snow
covered Ben Nevis in Scotland, the highest mountain in the
British Isles, and incidentally our view out the bedroom
window for those several days out of three weeks in August.
This is what I call "keeping my eye on the prize." and
makes tax season always so much more worthwhile. Of course
there is also that opportunity to sample more of Scotland's
most famous product by the dram.

Cheer$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

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JHaydenEA wrote:

- quote -

Season # 3 7 ????

Wow, I knew we had some really "old" hands, here.

Cheer$, indeed!
Harlan Lunsford

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Mark Rigotti, CPA" <rigotti[at]wideopenwest.com> wrote:
- quote -

I usually land up working through the weekend on quarterlies
and finishing up payroll work for my clients with a first
and sixteenth payroll.I clear the desk today ( Sunday) pack,
and go away for 10 days with no phone. Come back on the 28th
to finish up the quarterlies and start the 10-4 Pm
Tue-Thurs. schedule of work

As a practcing CPA my client list for a sole practioner is
huge. 580 returns and as of this moment, only 30 ( including
in that is 3 sub S corps) left to be done. I'll do tax
ending billing on May 1st, and pretty much "close up shop"
for various trips with my wife in our RV. When I was
younger,(hehe) I wanted to be a Math teacher, but my Dad
suggested becoming a CPA since instead of having only 2
months off I would have 8. Well he was right, although it's
not a true 8 more like 6....I love being self empolyed and
having to answer to no one except my lovely wife!

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Had to jump in here even though I am only a lowly taxpayer.

15 April Check banking activity online.
Yep - got my refund from the Federal
Yep - Computer shows a withdrawal from my checking account
to pay my state tax.

Print out statement from Quicken showing both entries.

Gather IRA stuff together.
Compute how much I need to take out this year so I don't
have to pay any penalty.

Put all the hunks of paper in file folder- label it-
shove it in box behind 2002 taxes.
Shut box
Done with taxes for another year.

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JanZtaxNOSPAM wrote:

- quote -

Have you ever seen a runner after sprinting at full speed
around the track? Do you ever see him just "stop" after
crossing the finish line? No, he'll start to slow down
gradually, finally walking and eventually stopping.

Just like a finely tuned running machine that we are (!),
some tax pros have to feather the engines gradually.
However I will NOT be at office tomorrow, but will resume
Monday for summer hours, Mon - Thurs, 10 - 2. with an
occasional week off last week of the month. And three
weeks off in August to go to Scotland.

Cheer$$$$$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

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- quote -

I have quarterlies, write up and stuff like that, so I have
to go back.

Followup to Post Office. Weather was supposed to be lousy.
Postmaster wonders who I know, as it was the perfect day to
sit outside and yes, I have the sunburn to prove it.

Helen, EA in PA
Member of The Tax Gang
Director, National Assoication of Enrolled Agents
Immediate Past President, PA Society of Enrolled Agents

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Mark Rigotti, CPA wrote:

- quote -

I figure if I timed her conception to avoid a tax-season
birth, then she gets to be the priority for all events
thereafter. Other than one swimming class (which I just
forgot - oops), I've been at at least one and usually 2
activities a week, and except for this week, haven't been
gone more than 12 hours a day. She's returned the favor by
not taking more than 10 ounces of milk a day, and by nursing
in her sleep all night long. And she's had her Mama home
with her or come to work with me (where her Grandpa watches
her) every day, so we haven't needed daycare.

My baby is such a big girl now, but I don't feel like I've
missed her whole babyhood with tax season, so I think we did
all right.

Phoebe

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JanZtaxNOSPAM <janztaxnospam[at]aol.com> wrote:

- quote -

I typically do nothing (other than lawn mowing and property
maintenance) for the last two weeks of April. Then, this
year I've been conscripted for jury duty the first two weeks
of May. So, I'll be out of commission for a month. Don't
know if I'd classify all of that as a "vacation" or what.
<g
MTW

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"This has been a fun thread. My favorites so far: Helen
sitting at the post office doing returns/extensions and
learning that some banks provide lunch to CPAs! "

I've never heard of that one before either.

"I'm curious -- all who have responded so far have mentioned
spending time with loved ones, going shopping, etc, but then
going back to work next Monday or Tuesday. Are you not as
exhausted as I am? Do you take time off later instead of
now? Or are your practices so non individual income tax
focused that you've got lots more to do right now (corporate
returns, bookkeeping etc)?"

As for other I don't know but for me I begin 4 day work
weeks in May. Generally, closed on Fridays. Lots of camping
and hiking on the weekends.

My practice is about 250 - 1040's of which I extended about
80. About 200 business of which about 85 are 1120 about 40
or 50 have Fiscals. For example I've 5 clients with 4/30
FYEs so I go immediately into tax planning mode for them on
monday. Somehow, I also have one 3/31 FYE - that came to me
from another CPA. For the life of me I've yet to figure out
why he set it up as a 3/31 YE.

Most of my 1040 work is the owners of the businesses thus
the high amount of extensions.(about 1/3) because we already
know where they stand and they are usually waiting for an
APRIL K-1 or just haven't gotten their stuff together. Plus
they know that I won't even look at another 1040 until May.

"Every year I take off a month after April 15 to sleep,
spend time with loved ones, reconnect with friends, clean
the house etc. (no fancy vacations). THEN I come back and
work on extensions (which comprise about 25% of the returns
I do)."

Rgs,

Mark

Just curious about how you keep going after such an
xhausting 3 month sprint.

Jan Zobel EA

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- quote -

4/15 - 9:00pm Close the office

4/16 Sleep in - re-introduce myself to my spouse -
buy a car

4/17 Big party for the staff

4/18 8:00am Be on my bike on the Kal-Haven Trail
(at South Haven)

Season #37 is history!!

Cheers to all.

Jim Hayden EA - Grand Rapids MI

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"Mark Rigotti, CPA" <rigotti[at]wideopenwest.com> wrote in

- quote -

<snip
4/15 Working noon till 9pm.

11:30 - Go in a bit early. Don't clock in. Stand around
office making sure waiting procrastinators know I work there
but am killing time. They don't know I can clock in early
and start. All other preparers are tied up.

11:50 - Move to computer and fire up tax progam. Via
periphial vision, I see I am like a rabbit that moved among
a herd of hungry lions. Don't clock in though.

11:51 - Head towards front where waiting area is right
inside door. All eyes locked on me like phasers on the
Enterprise. Walk past all and step outside for a smoke. On
other side of glass in full view of the den occupants.

11:52 - 11:59 Leisurely smoke butt right down to the filter
till it stinks worse than the disgusting butt itself.

11:59:30 Put out butt and dispose of properly as to not
hear about how smokers litter things up. Wait. Don't toss it
yet. Better double check that butt is out before tossing in
can so smokers are not blamed for starting fires. Faint
signs of growling through quarter in plate glass.

12:00 Clock in. Go up and get "early bird" procrastinator.
Procrastinator rises and gloats eyeballing seated
procrastinators.

12:05 "Sorry, you need your childs SSN to file for EIC even
though you are not claiming them as dependent. Set up an
appt for later in the day when you have it".

12:05-12:06

"But but but, whadda ya mean, yadda, yadda. Can't we just
skip it".

"Sure. Looking at your W2's and my EIC graphic it's only an
$846 hit to you."

12:07 Early bird procrastinator exits office "counting
tiles" through the gauntlet of second banana procrastinators
who snicker.

12:08-8:00pm - This is the day that makes everything worth
it. Thank God I am not like these people.

8:00pm - Lock up. Sit in parking lot for 30 min or so
watching the morons of morons pull up who figure they had
another hour. They go to dark window, rattle door, eyes up
to glass looking for a body inside to turn on lights and
unlock door just for them because they are special.

If only I could rapidly fly to the west coast and get in a
few more hours of this...

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"Harlan Lunsford" <lunstax[at]bellsouth.net> wrote:
- quote -

We have filed approximately 400 returns and extended about
450. The 15th and the 16th are work days just like any
other.

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- quote -

This has been a fun thread. My favorites so far: Helen
sitting at the post office doing returns/extensions and
learning that some banks provide lunch to CPAs!

I'm curious -- all who have responded so far have mentioned
spending time with loved ones, going shopping, etc, but then
going back to work next Monday or Tuesday. Are you not as
exhausted as I am? Do you take time off later instead of
now? Or are your practices so non individual income tax
focused that you've got lots more to do right now (corporate
returns, bookkeeping etc)?

Every year I take off a month after April 15 to sleep, spend
time with loved ones, reconnect with friends, clean the
house etc. (no fancy vacations). THEN I come back and work
on extensions (which comprise about 25% of the returns I
do).

Just curious about how you keep going after such an
exhausting 3 month sprint.

Jan Zobel EA

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- quote -

Evening of 4/15, either dinner out or something very good
and very easy at home. Including a very nice bottle of
wine.

April 16. Shopping for summer and leisure clothes, haircut
and color, facial and as much of the works as I can stand.

April 17 Sleep very late. Spend the day outdoors with a
good book and another very nice bottle of wine. Maybe see
what movies have come out of DVD since Christmas.

Jo

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"Phoebe Roberts, EA" <Phoebe[at]cottagesoft.com> wrote:
- quote -

Phoebe,

I forgot the one about changing the answering machine.
Thanks.

You've got a 10 month old? Enjoy him/her now.

--
Regards,

Mark Rigotti

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Mark Rigotti, CPA wrote:

- quote -

(snipped.)

Mine looks like this:
4/15 9 a.m. arrive at office and await any pickups or Efile forms
returned by clients so that I can get them done by 5 pm.

10 a.m. start work on payroll tax calculations for the 2 PM bank cutoff
for "blue coupon" tax deposits.

12 p.m. lunch: cheese and crackers and coffee!

12:05 p.m. back to work.

2 p.m. start to being to commence to file state and local sales tax
returns online so that I wil not have to come to work next day.

4:44 p.m. last client picks up her returns; 2003 plus amended 2002 and
2001 to reflect that she was NOT married when she thought she was!
These filed on paper with divorce decree attached which she didn't know
had occurred.

5 p.m. With apologies to Yogi Berra: "It's OVER!" get OVer it.

5:01 change my signature to Cheer$$$$$ and make up bank deposit. and
turn out the light.

5:03 pm. return to office to retrive that bottle of Chivas Regal client
paid me with. (yes, barter income, properly reportable!!!)

5:18 pm. Home at last and open client's payment.

Cheer$$$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

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Let's see,
4/15 10 am to 3 pm - sitting at local Post Office with IRS
CD-rom in laptop and printer, making nice nice with tax
forms and extensions, picking up an average of 3 new clients
(have done this for awhile)

6 to whenever - dinner with staff and those people that put
up with this (called spouses).

Whatever until 8 am 4/16 - poured into bed, just let me
sleep, we can celebrate tomorrow.

4/16 - basically relax. Am taking dog to walk trails to
start training for a 50 mile walk in October (MS walk,
Annapolis to the Capital building in DC - 3 days)

4/16 dinner time - may remember how to use stove.

4/16 later that night - well, I did make a promise last night. <G
4/17 - 4/18 - do everything I missed, grocery shopping,
clothes shopping, house shopping - SHOPPING.... and walk
with the poor dog who is still sore from the 16th.

4/19 - I made it a 4 day weekend... let's see what is on the tube....

4/20 - if the weather is nice, my CFP partner and I are
taking the day to smell the flowers, if lousy, we just might
start those extensions.

4/21 - real world, appts on the books already.

Helen, EA in PA
Member of The Tax Gang
Director, National Assoication of Enrolled Agents
Immediate Past President, PA Society of Enrolled Agents

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Mark Rigotti, CPA wrote:

- quote -

4/15:
9am - Take 10-month-old daughter to music class
11am - Wander into office, check e-file acks, e-mail, etc. Change
answering machine message to tell clients if they waited this long, they
can catch us at Tax Trot.
11:30 - shuffle extension paperwork, vouchers with balances due, etc.
for delivery to the IRS and OTC
12:30 - drive around to IRS and OTC
1:30 - back to the office to enjoy a nice lunch, delivered courtesy of
our bank (who buys lunch for all of their CPA clients' offices on 4/15)
2:30 - twiddle aimlessly
3:30 - go to Tax Trot, where I'll be annoyed when people who make more
than I do bring in their 1 W-2 for me to do their 1040EZ, but aren't
interested in learning how to fill it out themselves. If I'm lucky,
I'll get to do a return or extension for someone who really needs help.
6:30 - off to the April 15th party our practice management group does.
Some people will have been partying on the 14th, but I have a 6:30
delivery scheduled.
9:30 - home for the night

4/16
7am - sleep, nurse, sleep, nurse, sleep, nurse
11am - get up

I may work in the yard, or we might go to a movie or the park. Or we
may just sit around doing nothing. Saturday, The Very Hungry
Caterpillar (above-mentioned 10-month old) has swim class in the
morning. Sunday, we'll go to church (for the first time since January).
Monday I'll put in at least a token appearance at the office, but I
think everyone with information in will be done already.

Phoebe

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- quote -

4/15 all day - answer the phone in person (normally my
assistant answers) to deal with all the last minute
questions

4/15 - 6:30pm - splurge dinner at tres fancy restaurant with
5 other local tax preparers

4/16 - all day -- sleep

4/17 all day -- sleep

4/18 - all day -- sleep

etc.

Happy end of season!

Jan Zobel EA

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To spark conversation - I'm posting my 4/15-4/16 schedule.
What will be yours.

4/15 - 8am wait for last client pickups

4/15 - 10am - Still waiting

4/15 - 12noon - still waiting but have a subway sub on my desk

4/15 - 2pm someone comes by for a pickup

4/15 - 4:30pm close up the office

4/15 - 4:31pm the last pickup arrives

4/15 - 5:00pm sipping on my first adult beverage of the
evening (note with a client so that I can deduct it)

4/15 - 7:00pm finishing the 5th or is it the 6th or 7th
adult beverage of the evening.

4/15 - 7:30pm Myself and 19,874 of my closest friends will
witness the opening face off of game 5 of round 1 of the
Stanley Cup Playoffs between Detroit and Nashville.

4/15 - sometime after 10:30 have a few more adult beverages
with my client

4/15 - sometime before midnight arrive home and go to sleep.

4/16 - 8am MASSAGE TIME

4/16 - 10am Take 16 year old son for his drving test and and
written test to get his drivers license.

4/16 - 12noon (about) Take 5 & 6 year old sons and 5 year
old daughter (yes twins) and (Yes same mother - we've been
married 20 years in August) to Greenfield Village for the
afternoon to give ma a break from the little ones

4/17 - 8am - 18 holes before the faceoff for a potential
game six of the hockey playoffs.

4/17 - 3pm - Game six or potentially a nap

4/18 - 8am - Church - nothing else the rest of the day

4/19 - 8am - begin working on the 15-20 extended returns
that are sitting on my shelf. Also the start of my 4 day
work weeks for the rest of the year. Fridays are almost
always off.

Many happy returns to each and everyone.

--
Regards,

Mark Rigotti, CPA

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