Tag: tax planning

I am just back from a much-needed vacation and elbow deep in work once more.  In our office we hold weekly huddles where we discuss ongoing tax planning projects, tax resolution work, and those ever-present upcoming deadlines. Just yesterday we worked up our 90 Day action plan which focused on completing all in-house business, trust and personal tax returns so we can file for refunds for our clients AND clear…  Read more

This morning we are headed home after a much needed after tax season vacation; it’s so much easier to pack when all we are adding to our luggage are a few logo tee shirts (heads up NYS they are each under $110 so no additional sales tax is due, but I do check the box each year on my personal tax return to report the recommended sales tax). It’s been…  Read more

The April 15th 2023 tax deadline is in my rearview mirror and it’s definitely time to relax, reflect, party and take a much needed vacation. For me that all started Tuesday, with a long walk at sunrise followed by a nap, soak in my whirlpool tub, leisurely bagel brunch and then another nap.  What, no workout, NO, I needed a break from that too.  I am glad I was able…  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

Today is a major deadline day, it’s like a perfect storm for me with a sunny afternoon and mild temperature expected later.  I really wanted to stay out on the beach and continue my walk even though it was overcast at 7AM.  Not gonna happen as today is March 15th, the perfect tax season deadline storm of beautiful weather and several major business, fiduciary/trust and partnership tax return, election, estimated…  Read more

It’s Friday morning and I am just back from the beach, where at last the sun was actually visible! It’s positive thoughts that help me through these long days of tax season and starting my day at the beach certainly helps set the pace for the day… Friday Morning & Here’s the Sun at Last In Rockaway we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day early, this year it was Saturday March 1st,…  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

It’s been crazy busy here as we head into the heat of tax season, and, if I have learned anything from prior tax seasons it’s “Take Care of You First” and it will all work out in the end, or if not, starting the day right should set the stage for your mood and your interactions. This week I made a new friend as I started my day with a…  Read more

All the talk of Groundhog Day reminded me about the 1993 movie starring Bill Murray, probably a good choice for streaming tonight with a bowl of popcorn.  As I googled the Old Farmer’s Almanac also popped up on my feeds with comments about how people swear by it.  For me I am happy to check the daily and weekly weather forecast and the Rockaway Beach tide charts on my cell phone.  At least…  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

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

Holiday season is here and going strong with homes lit up inside and out, community sponsored decorations and oh so many “feel good” holiday movies 🎥 and series to watch on our favorite streaming platform.  So many times we say life imitates art and art imitates life, so I thought I would share a holiday happy ending story that began last November… After wadding/scanning through the selection of holiday movies…  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

Once again I am happy to be writing this blog as I attend the 21st annual tax practitioner’s symposium ATS 2023 formerly LITPS.   We were live again this year at the Crest Hollow Country Club where I connected with my professional friends, served as a host and participated on a tax panel “The Tax Man Cometh”with Scott Ahroni, esq and several of his partners and associates.  I am keeping this week’s post short and sweet as…  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

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

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

Our office is still going crazy as our “final” tax deadline of October 15th approaches.  We have given up on sending out repeated emails for “that last missing piece of information” which can help our clients minimize their tax liability and are just working with the information we have “in house”.  I have checked with other tax professionals who are experiencing the same behavior from some of their clients.  I…  Read more