Blog

This is the last time (for a while) that I will refer to tax season 2024 in my weekly blog.  We all know that tax season never really ends until the IRS and most states shut down their e-file portals in October, but we can dream.  Every year we say “this has been the worst tax season ever”, and it has been yet again.  Friends and family roll their eyes…  Read more

It’s tax season and as we accounting professional head into our even crunchier time where we are balancing our time between finalizing those returns which can be completed and those which are being extended, we are spending even more hours sitting at our desks.  I am also spending time balancing on my ” classic balance ball office chair” which I rotate onto from 2 other chairs throughout the day to literally…  Read more

We survived the first major tax deadline day of tax season 2024 and were able to celebrate a bit last weekend even with the rain on St. Patrick’s Day.  It’s amazing what some dogs will put up with for a bisket or photo opp.  At least they were able to stay inside and pose for “St Patrick’s Day Dog’s on Parade”… Winston Such a Good Sport Mitchie, Service Dog in…  Read more

Getting caught up on a week that got away? Here’s your weekly digest of some stories relevant to business and the economy. Snow storms during tax season when so many of us work remotely are a beautiful distraction , no effect on work schedules, and fewer cars on the roads.  Even so, I was glad to see that the crews were out continuously cleaning and salting the roads. We do…  Read more

Mid-February and tax season is in full swing, but that doesn’t mean we accounting professionals can’t have fun.  This week we celebrated Valentines Day, “played hooky” during a morning snow storm and are looking forward to a three day weekend as we celebrate President’s Day on Monday February 19th by closing the office.  We can always share some beautiful local photo’s and in a few months we will visit in…  Read more

I have been enjoying my mornings lately, starting with a long walk on the beach with my husband; nice to share the beautiful scenery even in this bitter cold weather, but… he caught the cold/flu that has been going around and was grounded. I went out on my own Saturday morning, it was beautiful, but the frozen snow made it really slippery.  Can I blame him for my slip and…  Read more

What a week of crazy weather and it just started snowing again this morning. I was happy to take advantage of the extra time off on Monday as we celebrated the life and ideas Martin Luther King jr.  A week of cold weather, soup and taxes as we head into our busy time of year.  Last week I mentioned a planned trip to meet a friend for dim sum, it…  Read more

A BIG Good Morning 🌅 and welcome to 2024🥂🍾🥳🎇, I am happy to repeat the sentiment we have been hearing and repeating over the last few days “Best Wishes For A Happy Healthy New Year for You and Your Friends and Family”; I for one will continue to wish everyone a good day.   This week when speaking with my daughter we talked about the holiday meals and visits we had…  Read more

I look forward to holiday season as a time when we come together as friends and family to celebrate our accomplishments, enjoy each other’s company and favorite dishes, create new memories, recount anecdotes from past holidays and watch a series of favorite classic movies.  I hope everyone enjoyed the 2023 Hanukkah🕎and Christmas 🎄holidays as much as I did.  Some of us had some stormy weather⛈️ and others had a white…  Read more

Hanukah, also known as the festival of lights, how nice to have a holiday that lasts over a week with so many ways to celebrate, food, friends, games, presents and candle lighting.  We were happy to be invited to our good friends’ home for Friday night, the second night of Hanukah and the commute (just across the street made it a no brainer).  With eight days and nights, this week’s…  Read more

December 1st, how did this happen, I feel like it was just summer a week or two ago and I was working in my garden.  I guess the holiday decorations 🕎🎄that have sprung up this past week are a sure sign that it’s holiday time, even if we here in NYC are experiencing “warm” 37–48-degree weather. It’s winter somewhere, certainly in Michigan where we spent last week.  It is certainly…  Read more

Black Friday, for me is a day to sleep in, post my weekly blog/newsletter and spend the day with family.  We arrived in Michigan late Wednesday evening and have been enjoying this family time.  Take a look at my weekly take away and you will see this week what is most important to me, as I keep this very short and sweet… Detroit Delta Lounge Meet-Up for Next Flight ✈️…  Read more

Sending best wishes and our thanks to our veterans and their families this Veteran’s day 2023.  We salute you and appreciate your courage and service to our country. Thank You Veterans I am loving the beautiful photos that I have been receiving and am happy to share.  This is an actual photo from my friend Renee’s back porch (she is a show off)… Fall Sunrise Weaverville, North Carolina Added benefit when…  Read more

It’s official, LIPA has accepted our application and paperwork, we are now banking our exported KWH.  That means that not only can we “withdraw” KWH when our panels are not producing, we can now report our solar panel project on our 2023 personal income tax return and receive tax credits from the IRS and NYS.  As NYC residents we also qualify for a real estate tax reduction over 4 years. …  Read more

I live and work down the block from the beach so it’s easy for me to become a “tax season hermit” although I get to see some beautiful sunrises I usually wake up in mid-October to the realization that it’s fall and foilage season has begun 🍂 🍁.  Here is the link to the  I💗NY Map to foilage in NYS; thanks to freiends in other places I am able to share…  Read more

Tax season 2023 officially ended on Monday the 16th, so we will be able to relax a little before working through some of those returns that did not make the deadline cut off.  I did take a break over last weekend to take a walk on the beach… Amazing Sunrise on Rockaway Beach this Weekend Reports are in, the stiped bass are running.   This fish is not camera shy, even…  Read more

Good morning, you are in our thoughts Hoping your family, friends and loved ones are safe and doing well, but I wanted you to know about this: The IRS just granted a major extension for returns due 10/16 and other filings. It primarily affects those actually in Israel. In some cases US preparers with clients in Israel may qualify for relief for those clients. The NYS Society of CPA’s wrote…  Read more

After so many days of rain it was wonderful to join with friends in their sukkah last Friday evening for shabbat dinner which coincided with the first night of Sukkot 2023.  It is also pretty cool to be able join in  daily ritual of shaking the lulav and etrog.  The first 2 and last 2 days of the holiday are the most strict, so I waited until yesterday for photos. It was really nice to understand the meaning…  Read more

Today is a perfect tax storm day with many 2022 extended tax returns and estimate #3 for 2023  due.  As we brace for this major deadline many of us are also watching the weather reports as Hurricane Lee moves up the atlantic coast; it looks like a perfect storm is heading our way too.  Remember that safety should always be the top priority, so take precautions to protect yourself and your loved…  Read more

It’s labor day weekend and I can imagine that many families are planning a long weekend as the kids will be heading back to school next week.   We often talk about planning, tax planning, vacation planning, retirement planning, etc.  I never reccomend doing something “just for tax purposes” but with proper planning you just might take a partial business deduction for a portion of your trip expenses.  Summer travel  plans can…  Read more