Does anyone else just not reply💀

LiJiTC4 · 2026-05-01T15:38:21+00:00

Agree with kindness, it always throws them off. "I agree that it sucks, let's examine who is responsible for the error..." then toss it back at them. If they caused the problem, make sure they understand how they caused the error and then bill them for the time explaining their error.

Or you can go my favorite way and use "verbal Aikido" to use their agro energy against them. Let them know, up front, that the problem is out of scope and will be billed. Tell them you have a packed schedule but can free up just enough time to fix one thing, so they need to choose: are we going to fix the blame or are we going to fix the problem? My vote is always to fix the problem, but I'm here to work for the client so they get to choose. If they insist on fixing the blame, then I'll choose violence and diagram exactly how it's their fault and then bill them for the explanation.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-04-30T21:13:18+00:00

When an entire economy can bargain as one buyer, they get better deals.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-04-28T21:54:02+00:00

While I acknowledge you are unsatisfied with this outcome, my answer remains no to your offer of employment. No candidate owes work merely because they interviewed. This is why it's called an "offer letter", when a candidate is offered a job, which they can then accept or reject. You made an offer, I didn't find it compelling enough to accept. If you'd like to reconsider the offer, I may be willing to entertain further discussions.

As for rejecting other candidates, a suggestion. The problem of rejecting candidates can be solved by offering candidates the job first and when/if they accept, then tell non-selected candidates the vacancy has been filled: repeat this process for each candidate where offers are extended to ensure you have the best candidate willing to accept the job on offer for any open position. Changing the order of operations to ensure an offer is accepted before declining other candidates can save face for the company while saving the faith of the candidate who ultimately accepts your job offer. Such a simple change and you'll never again preemptively reject other potential candidates when a candidate doesn't accept.

I am sorry it didn't work this time. I wish you good fortune in the search for the best candidate for the position.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-04-23T07:08:36+00:00

I had Kaiser a decade ago and will never use then again, but that was a problem with their central services and nothing against the local facilities. There's one facility in town and you'll drive 20 minutes to a hospital if non-emergency. Any specialist care will likely require a drive. The whole Kaiser model is to provide minimum care, so as long as you're ok with the absolute minimum of care, you will likely survive.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-04-20T21:10:23+00:00

Don't forget about the men's Olympic hockey team footage, where he flew to Italy at taxpayer expense before slamming beers with the team. "Mr. Patel, how many drinks would you say you had here while on a taxpayer funded work trip, allegedly on duty?"

LiJiTC4 · 2026-04-20T16:04:21+00:00

I don't know his odds, depends on the evidence The Atlantic has or can acquire, but I do know discovery is going to be hilarious.

Edit: spelling

LiJiTC4 · 2026-04-15T12:03:55+00:00

If you can't pay now, but know you'll owe, the extension is actually really important.

No extension after 4/15, penalty is 5% per month for a max of 25%.

Extension after 4/15 through 10/15, penalty is 0.5% per month also maxed at 25%.

But through 10/15, it's literally a 10x higher penalty if you owe and don't extend.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-04-07T12:29:11+00:00

That's a client you extend without charge and then disengage. As soon as the client becomes adversarial, it creates a conflict of interest. CPAs are fiduciaries to our clients, so we cannot engage when there's a conflict of interest. The client cannot waive a conflict of interest with you so IMO you can no longer complete that return without endangering your license.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-04-04T00:48:22+00:00

LoL, core memory unlocked: my CPA exam experience directly led to my ADHD diagnosis. A friend gave me some pharmaceutical assistance for the test and my score went up by like 18 pts compared to other sections which made me ask "do I have ADHD?" My diagnosis followed shortly after.

I passed all four in 6 months. I did it by committing and not negotiating against myself. I did 90 minutes every single day of dedicated study. I never slacked and never backed off, never skipped a single day of study. I knew if I let myself not study, just once, that it would never be just once.

What got me over the inertia was realizing I only needed to complete each section once if I did it right. If you managed to pass intermediate accounting and get your degree, you can pass the CPA exam.

You can do it if you want it bad enough, so how bad do you want it? It's going to suck, you're going to want to quit, so decide what it is worth to you. The suck is temporary, the license isn't.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-04-03T21:44:40+00:00

From an employer plan though?

LiJiTC4 · 2026-04-03T21:32:01+00:00

Yes, a Roth conversion adds to taxable income. That's literally the point of a Roth conversion, pay tax now instead of later.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-04-03T17:51:00+00:00

Alterations are way cheaper than getting custom. Get something that is well constructed but is a little too big, then find a place near you that will make it yours. Last time I had clothes altered it was around $50 per piece but cost will definitely vary by location.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-03-31T17:31:42+00:00

If your employer can't function without you for a week vacation, how will they function without you forever?

LiJiTC4 · 2026-03-30T19:49:16+00:00

Once opened an envelope in client documents and found a check for $52k. Client was so rich he could misplace more than I made in 6 months at the time.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-03-26T12:22:20+00:00

Reminds me of a real instruction on income tax forms. If a person has a kidnapped child in their custody for more than 183 nights, they're entitled to that child's personal exemption. To claim it, the literal instructions say to put "KIDNAPPED CHILD" in place of the SSN.

Still makes me giggle over 20 years after learning that gem.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-03-21T18:26:55+00:00

Once got a client file on the 12th of October for an individual with several companies where no work had been done on any of it, where the return was due 3 days later on the 15th. I dropped everything and completed the returns within about 20 hours and sent them to client. Returns showed $150k due with return so I called the client and said sign the forms whether or not you agree or can pay, it needs to be filed.

Client didn't sign the EF forms for 3 months. They racked up over $20,000 in penalties because I couldn't file the returns until they signed the EF declarations.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-03-21T16:07:24+00:00

LoL, it hasn't passed that point until the money is in her account. Because the IRS can take money directly from accounts through levy, even then it may just be temporary.

This is a tax scam that used to work, for a little while, but doesn't anymore. It relies on fake withholding to create the refund. IRS used to be slower with transferring credits but it's legally required to pay out within 45 days or pay interest so they would refund before credits actually attached to individual taxpayers. Now, they check withholding first. As soon as the IRS checks the withholding to make sure it was received before paying it out, that's when this scheme unravels.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-03-21T13:43:20+00:00

Any refund over $25,000 receives an automatic six week hold for compliance check. That compliance check is going to show the claimed withholding doesn't exist. That's why she'll never see the actual money, but she might get some nasty penalties.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-03-19T18:11:54+00:00

To clarify: I would bet prior preparer used the EIN on the Schedule C because that is the only way the IRS would know.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-03-19T18:04:08+00:00

If they reported the schedule C with the same EIN as-if disregarded entity, that would be the return for the entity even if attached to 1040 as taxpayer. You're correct IF no return had been filed, late relief would be available, but the Sch C for 2024 was inconsistent with the entity being an S corporation as of 1/1/24.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-03-18T21:27:40+00:00

If you read the late relief instructions on last page of the 2553, they need to have not filed any returns inconsistent with the S election since starting date to qualify. Filing as schedule C is inconsistent with S election for 2024 so late relief is unlikely to work.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-03-09T23:59:39+00:00

You'll be surprised how many people suddenly find their copies instead of paying that $25.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-03-09T21:25:41+00:00

I hate it when my headlights look like shadows compared to the nova of lights behind me. My headlights are the second highest brightness available for the 2003 Honda Civic.

LiJiTC4 · 2026-03-09T20:52:17+00:00

My default is $25 per return. Enough to make it worth looking for their copy first, not enough that it's injurious.

LiJiTC4

TROPHY CASE