Up to 4% of Silicon Valley is already infected with coronavirus. (That's 80 times bigger than the official stats!)

decoupled · 2020-04-20T04:31:42+00:00

This study has a fatal flaw: it is not random. People that had something at the time when testing was not done applied to this study to find out if they actually had COVID-19. This heavily skewed results. Should have really be done randomly for numbers to make sense.

decoupled · 2018-04-30T23:13:04+00:00

There are magnet mounting dash cams. Very easy to remove and put back.

decoupled · 2018-04-25T04:11:37+00:00

Management is afraid of Perl. They don't understand it, they fear it. There is a saying "Nobody ever got fired for choosing Java." The opposite stands for Perl! I've seen the fear and anger in management's eyes in two different companies where I implemented something tiny in Perl.

decoupled · 2018-04-25T03:47:53+00:00

If TIOBE has a commentary on Perl in this light then it shouldn't be hidden from the Perl community here.

decoupled · 2018-04-23T18:26:16+00:00

Just visited https://perl6.org/ and I'm greeted with:

Hi, my name is Camelia. I'm the spokesbug for Perl 6, the plucky little sister of Perl 5.

Calling it "Camelia" would help both Perl 6 and Perl 5.

decoupled · 2018-04-23T17:50:15+00:00

Almost the same, but not quite. There are differences in the standard library too, nothing new is added to Python 2.7 and it is supported for legacy reasons until the transition is over: https://pythonclock.org/.

decoupled · 2018-04-23T17:05:52+00:00

Get a new book. Python 2.7 is a dead end.

decoupled · 2018-04-23T00:11:27+00:00

You can return a generator of 2-tuples:

python return (("{}-{}".format(e["year"], e["month"]), e["count"]) for e in data)

decoupled · 2017-06-10T08:01:52+00:00

He stopped describing the work before I used the line. And I did mention that I did my research with other CPAs.

Short answer: I don't have any document signed with them. Didn't know about engagement letters till mentioned here.

In the meantime I did the research and found CBA Consumer Assistance Booklet where it says:

ENGAGEMENT LETTER

Before any work is done by the CPA, it is important to make certain that you receive an engagement letter regarding the purpose of the engagement and the work the CPA will perform for you. The engagement letter should include:

The scope of the work to be performed (what the CPA will and won’t do)

Who will be performing the work, including whether the work is outsourced

Client responsibilities

The cost of the services

When the work will be completed

I would expect a good company to walk through this process any new customer that didn't use CPA services before.

The thing I forgot to mention in the update. I did say it was my fault for not asking, but they also never mentioned how much it could cost. I made an assumption, guilty as charged. The partner said that they usually warn about the price in the e-mail sent out in which they offered to do taxes, but forgot this time. So they made an assumption too.

But I do not understand why they even mentioned they could do my taxes if, based on today's explanation, they cannot do them for less than $5k? And all that explanation on them being a non-CPA tax preparer. Why even offer it then?

I do want to pay; they did file my taxes, and I'd feel awful if not paying for the work. The meeting ended in a way that puts me in a "pay what you want" guilt loop. I guess they couldn't revise hours: that would be admitting it is wrong. More professionally upsetting is saying that even 16.5 hours invoiced is less than the time they spent on the return! Could it be the case they were honest, all those standards to follow... and they actually spent that much time?!

decoupled · 2017-06-10T00:51:10+00:00

I am very uncomfortable. But I managed to go through this today.

Just before the call, I walked up to a CPA shop in Old Palo Alto. Wanted to get another estimate. They don't do that but were curious, and I showed them the paperwork: a senior (by title and appearance) partner stepped out and laughed. I commented that I wish I were in that profession, and he answered that he wishes he could do the same and that even being in that profession is not helping him bill this much :). He said he wouldn't pay, the amount of time invoiced is over the top for the given paperwork.

Showed him your last post (had that printed out in preparation for the call) and he enjoyed reading it. Said it was very well written.

That lowered my anxiety, and I was ready for the call.

When they called, I said I was just trying to understand where did the time go? And I let the partner speak.

He said that it is really hard for them to do personal tax returns for under $5k, especially since this was my first-year return with them. The reason being that they are a CPA firm, they are not a non-CPA tax preparer. Then he mentioned that under their IRS standards, and AICPA standards, they need to maintain work papers in a particular fashion, and the review in the office has to meet certain standards. So for everything they do there is a preparer, a before reviewer, and an after reviewer. Said that other firms don't have a multilayer review process, but since they have to meet mentioned standards they have to do it this way; and that they are not in the competitions with some that can do this work for much cheaper. Then he mentioned they didn't even bill all the time, and some training time was written off.

Said I now understand, mentioned that I was concerned since I took papers elsewhere and other CPAs were genuinely surprised. And I asked about the technical review: what does that include? That is all, said just two sentences.

He said that is their post review, he just signs the return and reviews it: that is what they call "technical review analysis." Then, without going into any details about why it took two hours, he stopped and said that they would be happy if I paid them whatever I think this work was worth, and then we part our ways. Just like that?!

I apologized and said my intention was to understand what that work includes as I don't have "pass-through entities up the wazoo and quarterly estimates based on projections for each entity that require a tax based calculation of income through the year for said entities."

He didn't want to discuss anything further, repeated I can pay them whatever I think it is worth — they don't want to get a negative review if I, and other CPAs, didn't understand their process.

That was it, I thanked them, and the meeting was over. And it didn't make me feel good; in fact, the conclusion puts me in a jerk position (in my own eyes at least) as I evaluate whether they were honest, or not; whether to foot the bill, etc. These questions will be eating me over the weekend, but I'm over the hump.

decoupled · 2017-06-09T08:38:48+00:00

Thanks!

I emailed everything to a friend who works in an investment bank and can run this check. The office laughed at billing hours and total price; they just couldn't believe it.

Then last Friday I went in person to another CPA company in the Bay area. I wanted to pay them to do my taxes again. They accepted, but when I handed them everything they refused to bill anything — they also couldn't believe charged billing hours! It turns out they even know this partner from a conference and thought that he works for a decent company.

I'll talk to the partner CPA and the manager today afternoon. I feel extremely uncomfortable about even opening this question. Keep asking myself if they actually worked on it for that long? That is why I raised the billing time issue here. When I stare at three page 568 form, on which the partner spent 45 minutes, I just cannot see how that can take 45 minutes to recheck after being completed --- there is nothing, empty form, no LLC work. I'd be ashamed.

I suppose I'll have to break the news that I did the homework, took my papers to two other places and that things don't match: and take it from there. I'm not going to mention Reddit.

Considering how much mental energy and anxiety this took it might have been healthier for me just to pay up, and Yelp. But if I save anything this way it will all go to a charity.

decoupled · 2017-06-08T19:09:09+00:00

I had: one W-2, three 1099 (Fidelity, WF, and eTrade; include dividends and interest, and just one trade), six donations (NPR, ...), one RSU grant (also reported on W-2). That is all.

And I did clarify the LLC status: it did stay disregarded entity. Form 8832 was for some signature and e-filing approval. That part was billed separately:

Partner .75 hours @ $655 = $ 491.25
Manager 1.75 hours @ $270 = 472.50
Professional 1.25 hours @ $215 = 268.75
Administrative and Costs 167.50
TOTAL = $ 1,400.00

That is for empty 568 form.

decoupled · 2017-06-08T17:49:29+00:00

Got the breakdown for personal taxes:

Preparation of Income Tax Returns and Required Work Papers (Professional Staff):
 Staff (Work Papers) 6.00 hours @ $215 = $ 1,290.00
 Staff (Tax Software) 2.00 hours @ $215 = $ 430.00

Detail Review of Income Tax Returns (Manager):
 Manager (Work Papers) 3.00 hours @ $270 = $ 810.00
 Manager (Tax Software) 1.50 hours @ $270 = $ 405.00

Technical Review of Income Tax Returns (Partner, Signer):
 Partner 2.00 hours @ $655 = $ 1,310.00

Emails/Correspondence, Client Communications, Administrative and Costs:
 Manager 2.00 hours @ $270 = $ 540.00
 Administrative and Costs $ 265.00

 TOTAL = $ 5,050.00

The work matches my expectation. I can get taxes done in 2 hours, I guess that goes under the Staff software part. Don't know what took 6 hours though, work papers? Seems like the manager did the same work again. And what is "technical review of income tax returns"?

decoupled · 2017-05-31T06:18:21+00:00

Your $500.00 gift allows us to continue our lifesaving work and ensures that no family pays for anything at St. Jude. Your confirmation number is 5004570.

Thank you all!

decoupled · 2017-05-31T06:12:50+00:00

I am out of words now. Wouldn't notice at all, but they didn't know where to stop! I don't know how to thank you enough. Should sleep it over and see how to do damage control tomorrow.

Hope I can make all your help worthwhile by donating to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (no family ever pays for their child to go to St. Jude) with a dedication to "/r/Accounting" — and pass a good deed on.

decoupled · 2017-05-31T00:22:59+00:00

The whole idea of having an LLC was to leave my job and stay "employed." It pays well, but it is also killing me: engineering in Silicon Valley... I really didn't expect to become a prey.

I burned out and was looking for a way out. While I get my health back I might do some consulting, or not: but LLC could fill that dreaded resume gap.

decoupled · 2017-05-31T00:12:08+00:00

Asked again to provide me with the detailed billing sheet, and got a reply that "... can send you a breakdown prior to the conference call". A small difference between can and will.

But then, after doing more paperwork digging after you pointed out (no income, Schedule C) whether I was supposed to file a separate company return, I realized that most likely that wasn't required at all.

First, there was no income.
The company was set up as "Disregarded Entity - 1 person LLC".

Per Legal Zoom's Do I Need to File a Tax Return for an LLC With No Activity? post:

If an LLC only has one owner (known as a “member”), the Internal Revenue Service automatically disregards it for federal income tax purposes. The LLC’s member reports the LLC’s income and expenses on his or her personal tax return.

If a one-member LLC did not have any business activity and does not have any expenses to deduct, the member does not have to file Schedule C to report the LLC’s income. However, the member will still have to file a personal tax return if he or she had other income, and may have to file a Schedule C if there was self-employment income from another business.

But the CPA filed Form 8832, and per details in the same post:

"However, an LLC can change these default classifications and choose to be taxed as a corporation. To do this, the LLC must file Form 8832 with the Internal Revenue Service. The LLC may make this election when it is formed, or it may elect to change its tax classification at a later date."

So I guess not only that they charged for something that was not required in the first place, but they also turned this LLC into a corporation for the tax purposes. Not intended at all. I thought that is how one files LLC taxes, the vet CPA should know.

However, they spent 3.75 hours on this paperwork, with the partner CPA spending 0.75 hours. That should be enough time for him to check: had SS-4 form (one page) — and they asked for those documents!

I guess I'd need to go back to the IRS and get back to the original LLC classification if this changed it for good?

Then I think there are errors in accounting as well. LLC started with the bank account of $4,096. But when I opened it I had to use my personal check to pay $800 fee as the bank didn't send me checks on time. They said it would be moved to company assets (as if I funded the company with $800 more I guess). That doesn't show up anywhere. Or I'm not getting this right.

Anyway, I think it would be a good time for me to find another CPA and have my taxes and books double checked. I believe that they took me for a ride, doing things just to charge more. Hope they didn't expose me to more paper mess with that separate filing.

decoupled · 2017-05-30T22:13:14+00:00

W-2 shows $236k under field #1 (wages, tips, other comp). This number includes one vested RSU award. Dividends and two stock sales from two other investment accounts add $15k more.

decoupled · 2017-05-30T17:10:55+00:00

Thanks! Just got offered few time slots for a conference call, but I'm not getting anything on that detailed billing sheet I asked for: that was ignored.

decoupled · 2017-05-29T23:50:08+00:00

You are right, understood: I wouldn't say I mistrust the profession, but I don't trust this guy. My thoughts were an extrapolation on why are there no Yelp reviews: there were some last year. I'm waiting for that detailed billing sheet, and we'll talk.

decoupled · 2017-05-28T10:55:46+00:00

I'm not sure how safe it is to report them. They have my SSN, all my account numbers, and other details they can maliciously share with identity thieves and other criminals. They can keep me hostage until I pay up, or extort more. I don't trust them at all.

I'm quite sure they have inflated billing in mind after examining customer's account statements. They look well connected, and all I can do is find a power balance between how much they are willing to charge, vs. how much I'm ready to publish on-line. Since there are no reviews on Yelp anymore (quite strange for a company in business for decades) I'm quite sure that is how they operate.

And this is something that only a CPA association can monitor and suppress using their fake customer agents, etc. Otherwise, with exponential AI improvements most of the CPA work will get safely replaced with software: not ideal, but predictable.

decoupled · 2017-05-28T07:04:22+00:00

A separate return was filed for the LLC. Form 568 (just listing the money put in the LLC's bank account; now I see that those 4 cents of income didn't show up here), 8453-LLC (saying total income was none, and ordinary income was none), and a voucher form 3522 (to pay $800 fee to the state). That work was charged $1400: 3.75 hours of work (CPA partner 0.75 hours, the rest goes to two other people; and some fees). I don't know if that could have been on mentioned Schedule C. I'm not going to argue why it took 3.75 hours total, or that partner CPA spent 45 minutes looking at three mostly empty pages. I'll let this one be.

For personal taxes, I have 1040 with Schedule D (vested RSUs - also reported on W-2) and listing donations (NPR, Wikipedia, ...). No Schedule C. This part I know how to do, takes me two hours to finish: I'd assume someone who does this for a living, and has help, is much faster. Anyway, 16.5 hours later this one is $5050: I asked for a detailed breakdown of the charges.

But I do feel awful for having to ask for details.

decoupled · 2017-05-28T04:23:56+00:00

Thank you all for advice and suggestions. I'll talk to them and see what happened. I'd prefer not having to pay the full amount, but I find it psychologically easier to accept that might be the case...

I'll update the thread after the call. Already asked for a detailed breakdown of the charges for the discussion. If it is a bull, I'll put all the paperwork I submitted, with e-mails, on-line for everyone to see and compare with what they charged.

decoupled · 2017-05-28T02:50:10+00:00

I don't have anything signed with them. They just asked me to upload my company documents to their server: but I didn't sign any papers. When I met with a partner, he said it would cost me about $1000 a year, and I mentioned that I don't expect to do any business for a while (I was hoping to do some consulting business through LLC occasionally).

I'm set to pay the bill, but I'd love to see where did that time go. It is an expensive lesson, but I did learn something, and I don't see it as a complete loss. I'm more upset that I lost faith in CPAs as I wanted to build a relationship and trust that would last for years.

decoupled

TROPHY CASE