Just another day in paradise

I would be shy about preparing this return. If I am understanding the situation correctly you can't be sure if the information supplied to you is correct.

Oh come on.....I cannot understand why you don't have that return ready for signatures..... so what if the Schedule C info isn't available.... you've got the W2!   

Ok, so the day gets better.  Ironwoman just had some clients in.  In previous years they had a couple of residential rentals and a small schedule C along with each spouse having a W-2 and a little bank interest income.  The residential rentals were sold off a couple of years ago and in 2023 the schedule C was put to rest.  So they make an appointment.  Yeah, they found something called America Free Tax to do their own returns this year.  He has spent the last week and a half working on his return.  He has been trying to use the five bucks or so of expense on the return for hail damage that wasn't covered by insurance. The hail story was just one of the various other important matters related to their two W-2s and the few bucks of interest income.  As a side note, they have AGI of roughly $150,000 so they aren't out living on the streets.  Just shy of an hour after they arrive, they depart and tell Ironwoman they will see how things work out and let her know.  As a big side note, Ironwoman has a great deal more patience than I do.  Where do these people come from?

You can't all have perfect clients like mine. 

Last week one of them brought me a bag full of lemons and tangelos, from the trees in their back yard.  The lemons pair well with the frozen sockeye salmon that my kid brought me.  He and his wife don't like the texture, not like farmed salmon, and I can understand why.  I'm experimenting with different ways to prepare it.  The tangelos are sweet and juicy and easy to peel.  I have one for breakfast every day.  

Same day, another client who doesn't have trees but does have chicken coops in the back yard, brought me a dozen eggs.  Different sizes and colors because the chickens are that way too.  Usually I have to go to Europe to remember the taste of real eggs.  

My favorites are the ones who give you a few documents at different times and the ones who have to show you every piece of paper they ever owned.  

Off topic... but I'm too tired/busy to start a new thread....

From a client after I prodded her for a decision on his IRA contribution: