Now H&R block did specify in their tax rules that....sm
Posted By: MTmom on 2009-02-27
In Reply to: You are probably going to be really in a mess - Looney
The animal had to be a dog and be over 50 pounds in order for it to count. I am taking advantage of everything that is legal as they have screwed us over long enough.
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H&R Block
H&R Block always. The one time I didn't use them, I got audited and ended up having to dish out almost $3k in taxes & penalties.
best to have a brief consult with a CPA and I don't mean H&R Block
there are always a little bit of difference from state to state and where you live regarding a business license etc. Try to find a CPA that specializes in small businesses, especially if you can find someone who perhaps has other MT's for clients? The gist of an IC is you do not have an employer, so you do not have someone to withhold taxes for you. The thing that always throws IC's is the tax withholding stuff. They have a great fear about it. This is where the CPA will help you out a great deal so you can base decisions on facts, not fear.
You will have another form or to to fill out at tax time (Schedule C, etc.) and next year you will have to do quarterly payments, but it's not that hard.
Who Must Pay Estimated Tax
If you had a tax liability for 2005, you may have to pay estimated tax for 2006.
the IRS has a nice site for small businesses, use the link below. any specific questions, feel free to email me.
Get an accountant...even H&R block will do.
I made the mistake of doing the taxes myself one year (TurboTax)and ended up getting audited for that year 2 years later. Luckily it only cost me $1200 but I'm sure it could have been much worse. I just go to H&R Block. At least if I get audited again, they'll handle all the work AND pay my fine if it's something they messed up on.
Here red this....H&R block was the one who told me about it first.
Top 10 Oddball Tax Deductions
TurboTax has outlined some outlandish tax deductions to help you increase your tax refund. We've uncovered what we think are the weirdest deductions allowed, from pet food to free beer to (we're not kidding) a girlfriend.
Can I deduct?
Admit it. As you've worked on your return, trying to come up with extra deductions to pump up your refund, you've taken a few flights of fancy. "Can I claim a deduction for all those blood donations at the Red Cross?" Nope.
"How about a charitable contribution for all the time I donate to the church?" Nope, again. "The wedding gift for the boss's daughter as an employee business expense?" Come on! On the other hand, over the years your fellow taxpayers have beaten the IRS in court on payments for many crazy things that most of us wouldn't even dream of claiming. We've uncovered what we think are the weirdest deductions allowed, ranging from pet food to free beer.
1. Pet food
A couple who owned a junkyard was allowed to write off the cost of cat food they set out to attract wild cats. The feral felines did more than just eat; they also took care of snakes and rats on the property, making the place safer for customers. When the case reached the Tax Court, IRS lawyers conceded that the cost was deductible.
2. Moving the family pet
If you are changing jobs and meet a couple of tests, you can deduct your moving expenses — including the cost of moving your dog, cat or other pet from your old residence to your new home. Your pet — be it a Pekingese or a python — is treated the same as your other personal effects.
3. A trip to Bermuda
This island is more than just a scenic place to visit: It's a great place to schedule a tax write-off. Business conventions held in Bermuda are deductible without having to show that there was a special reason for the meeting to be held there. That's a sweet perk.
Other countries in the Caribbean region qualify, too, including Barbados, Costa Rica, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. Meetings held in Canada, Mexico and all U.S. possessions also receive this favorable tax treatment. Attend a convention in Paris, Rome or Beijing, though, and there's no deduction unless you can show it made as much sense to travel abroad as to head to Pittsburgh.
4. Body oil
A pro bodybuilder used body oil to make his muscles glisten in the lights during his competitions. The Tax Court ruled that he could deduct the cost of the oil as a business expense. Lest it be seen as a softie, though, the Court nixed deductions for buffalo meat and special vitamin supplements to enhance strength and muscle development.
5. A private airplane
Rather than drive five to seven hours to check on their rental condo or be tied to the only daily commercial flight available, a couple bought their own plane. The Tax Court allowed them to deduct their condo-related trips on the aircraft, including the cost of fuel and depreciation for the portion of time used for business-related purposes, even though these costs increased their overall rental loss.
6. Babysitting fees
Fees paid to a sitter to enable a mother to get out of the house and do volunteer work for a charity are deductible as charitable contributions, even though the money didn't go directly to the charity, according to the Tax Court. The Court expressly rejected a contrary IRS revenue ruling.
7. Breast augmentation
In an effort to get more tips, a stripper with the stage name "Chesty Love" decided to get breast implants to make her a size 56FF. A female Tax Court judge allowed Chesty to write off the cost of her operation, equating her new assets to a stage prop. Alas, the operation proved to be a problem for Chesty. She later tripped and ruptured one of her implants.
8. Landscaping
Sole proprietors who regularly meet clients in a home office can deduct part of the costs of landscaping the property. The deductible portion is based on the percentage of the home that is used for business, according to the Tax Court. The Court also allowed a deduction for part of the costs of lawn care and driveway repairs.
9. Free beer
In a novel promotion, a gas station owner gave his customers free beer in lieu of trading stamps. Proving that sometimes beer and gasoline do mix, the Tax Court allowed the write-off as a business expense.
10. Swimming pool
A taxpayer with emphysema put in a pool after his doctor told him to develop an exercise regimen. He swam in it twice a day and improved his breathing capacity. Turns out he swam in the pool more than his family did.
The Tax Court allowed him to deduct the cost of the pool (to the extent the cost exceeded its added value to the property) as a medical expense because its primary purpose was for medical care. Also, the cost of heating the pool, pool chemicals and a proportionate part of insuring the pool area were treated as medical expenses.
Bonus Oddball Deduction
A girlfriend. The owner of several rental properties hired his live-in girlfriend to manage them. Her duties included finding furniture, overseeing repairs and running his home. The Tax Court let him deduct $2,500 of the $9,000 he paid her. The disallowed portion was for nondeductible personal services.
Updated for tax year 2008
Actually, you can put a block on your credit report that
NO credit card companies solicit you at all. Look up the three credit reporting agencies online and see what their websites say. Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. I don't get any at all except from American Express to my old business name.
As for the automated phone systems, I just push zero a bunch of times until I get a human. Impatient, I am!
yeah, me too, get about 20 a day anymore - block them - sm
that is what I do....granted a new crop comes in the next day, but I just keep blocking away. What is weird is I used to get a couple a day, now about a week or so ago it just went crazy and jumped to as you say 15-20 a day. I really don't want to change my email address either, so I guess I will just keep doing as I am doing, or else turn my Spamkiller back on.
You can block that number from reaching you.
They will block the number but not tell you who it is.
Call them right after a phone call comes in that is a hang up. Apparently, this happens a lot since SBC has an 800 number for this request.
Our block has parties a lot that go well into the night. sm
They have even had a couple of bands come and play. This was a problem last year for me because I needed my sleep and worked weekends. This year, it will be nice since I now work nights. For a short street, it is really lively.
Been around the block lots of time but tell me
what is padding? I have worked in this field for over 30 years now. I have very good speed and regular typing I could do at least 2000 per day. Now with VR and straight combined I do about 3200 per day. My audio will not go that fast in order for me or anyone to do 1000 per hour. The most I have done in an hour (without having to slow the machine down, listening only) was about 600. It cannot be done with my audio system, totally impossible as fast as you can set it.
I've used H&R Block TaxCut
on-line mainly because over the years I've needed "people"  to help with questions on tax issues that were a little complicated, especially last year with a move, partial-residence state taxes, sale of home, etc. I've not had any complaints with it. I paid for the highest service last year so I had unlimited access for questions, and the guy was really great, reviewed and signed the tax returns and actually called me with some questions. I've considered going to TurboTax though in the future because so many seem to like it, just haven't made the switch since I've got everything stored with TaxCut so far.
Yes, they can selectively block sites...
I worked for a company who did that. They had a list of approved sites that we could access, such as onelook, rxlist, physician search sites, E-mail, etc. They would also allow the MTs to put in requests for sites we thought should be added to the "allowed list."
Be careful doing that unless you somehow block out the pt name - could be illegal. nm
?
A friend of mine also had a bad experience with H&R Block
nm
How terrible. They can now block off the tear duct to
help keep moisture in the eyes. I had the temporary one put in and it really did help. I had one eye done and am not happy but I do not have the problems you do. It is so hard to know if you will be in that small percentage with bad results. I hope something is found to help relieve or correct some of the problems you are having...good luck and best wishes.
Preferences? Setting up NP with Doc signature block
Need to set up nurse practitioner dictator with Doc signature block, think I know how it should be set up but it's been awhile. Any current examples or preferences of how anyone likes to do this? Thanks.
Great idea. Thanks. I've had a mental block on
nm
Can an employer use software to search what is on your computer and how can you block this? (sm)
When an employer downloads their program onto your computer can they put software on it so that they can get into your computer and see what is on it, such as folders, files, etc? If so, is there any way to block it? This just popped into my mind the other day and I was wondering about it. 
Unlisted number, caller ID, and block unknown callers.
I think it's *67 to block unknown callers and *69 to find out last unblocked caller. There is another key combination to press when you want the phone company and/or police department to trace nuisance calls. You can fight this. Public edcuators have it rough. First, no respect in the classroom, then these punk kids think they can mess with you at home. Fight back. Escalate it to police chief, mayor, and supervisor of the phone company if you're getting nowhere with the lowly peons.
that would be same rules not some.
nm
different rules
for different settings. Cinics are allowed to use abbreviations pretty freely as to where hospitals are not for a lot of things due to possible misinterpretation. It all boils down to the fact that they are paying you and what they say goes!
BOS rules
I am an 18 year MT and I just recently heard of this Book of Style. What exactly is it? Doesn't the style depend on the program the account has. I've used several plateforms, and just about each one is styled differently, so what is the point of BOS? Old school MT!
BOS rules
I have been reading these comments. I have gone round and round with my employer over why the BOS rules are BS. But, I think the reason they keep changing things is because the doctors are getting cheaper and cheaper and don't want to pay anything for quality. That's just my little opinion.
BOS RULES
Well, if the BOS states "disk is the correct spelling, but I have a Rad who went to Med school and was taught disc and discectomy and discitis, who am I to tell him he now has to change it because the AAMT has a "book" that says otherwise. I still spell out my numbers up to 9 just like I was taught in typing class way back in 1982. So far, I've been lucky. My Rads like it their way and they pay me.
They do seem to have a lot of rules.
I saw on the other board, they'd like their own board..... Yeah, okay! 
Name rules
I believe you can use relative names - first names - but just not the patient's. Can your QA give you any guidance on this? I know the company I work for has very specific rules about what can and cannot go in a report, etc.
MQ Rules, literally! Go MQ!
nm
follow the rules
I too thought crepitus was the only correct form -- until the pediatric rheumatologist "corrected" me and insisted on crepitance. (As the Red Queen says, "All ways here are MY ways.")
New Rules For The Office
New Rules For The Office - Effective Immediately!
SICK DAYS: We will no longer accept a doctor statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.
SURGERY: Operations are now banned. As long as you are an employee here, you need all your organs. You should not consider removing anything. We hired you intact. To have something removed constitutes a breach ofemployment.
DRESS CODE: It is advised that you come to work dressed according to your salary,if we see you wearing $350 Prada sneakers & carrying a $600 Gucci bag, we assume you are doing well financially and therefore you do not need a raise.
PERSONAL DAYS: Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturday & Sunday.
VACATION DAYS: All employees will take their vacation at the same time every year. The vacation days are as follows: Jan. 1, July 4 & Dec. 25
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, relatives or coworkers. Every effort should be made to have non-employees attend to the arrangements. In rare cases where employee involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad to allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hourearly, provided your share of the work is done enough.
OUT FROM YOUR OWN DEATH: This will be accepted as an excuse. However, we require at least two weeks motice as it is your duty to train your own replacement.
RESTROOM USE: Entirely too much time is being spent in the restroom. In the future, we will follow the practice of going in alphabetical order. For instance, all employees whose names begin with 'A will go from8 to 8:20, employees whose names begin with 'B' will go from 8:20to 8:40 and so on. If you're unable to go at your allotted time, it will be necessary to wait until the next day when your turn comes again. In extreme emergencies employees may swap their timewith a coworker. Both employees' supervisors in writing must approve this exchange.
LUNCH BREAK: Skinny people get an hour for lunch as they need to eat more so that they can look healthy, normal size people get 30 minutes for lunch to get a balance meal to maintain their average figure. Fat people get 5 minutes for lunch because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim Fast & take a diet pill.
Thank you for your loyalty to our company. We are here to provide a positive employment experience.
Have a nice week.
read what rules??
OK I'm a guy but I don't know if I have been counted. 40/7 that's nothing. I have 3 sisters.
HIPAA rules
A lot of the national transcription services have many accounts where the hospitals/docs still want the name of the patient in the body of the report and do not want "the patient" in the body of the report. So the facilities still respect what the doctors want.
RULES ON POSTING
Unless the moderator makes remarks what we post I am going to post what I want to. If we were in an office we probably would have a discussion about American Idol, family, relationships. I feel this board has been helpful when you feel isolated all by yourself all day transcribing. I have learned alot of information that was not related to transciption over the past years.
Definitely need to set some rules and stick to them -
I also had contractors working in my house a few years ago, so I can totally relate. The phone was also ringing off the hook. I had people knocking on the door (contractors) at all hours because they knew I was here. I finally just about had a nervous breakdown and told my husband if he did not take some of these calls or come home to meet some of these people I was quitting my job. Low and behold, he took the wheel and I got to actually sit and work. He said he did not realize how stressed I was over all this. Maybe this will work for you? Good luck. :-)
They don't have set rules for saving
I've never had to set rules to get them to save money. My kids generally save most of what they receive without me telling them to, and they just aren't into shopping and spending money.
I assume they've learned from my example because I'm pretty good with money myself and don't spend extravagantly.
JLG RULES to those who have a clue
I am amazed and not surprised at how many children we have out here who apparently have not cut it with JLG and now have to bad mouth one of the finest companies there is and I know it! I have had many of my former MT's come to work here -they are making wonderful pay....but perhaps that is because they work?! They aren't sitting on the message boards crying the blues because they didn't listen, couldn't follow simple rules, and probably lied about the length of experience as an MT so they were FIRED!! JLG is one of the finest companies there is. The work flow staff and owners are the finest I have every had the pleasure to work for and I have been in this industry as a CMT and now QA for 22 years. They pay ridiculously HIGH and you have to have knowledge to make it with them. Stop saying things that aren't true THEY DO NOT run CREDIT CHECKS> FOOL THAT YOU ARE... if you cant cut it as an MT why understand this...JLG asks for a social security# simply to make sure that you belong to that SS# and that you are not an illegal alien  working with someone else's SS#, also to ensure that you do not have any delinquent tax liens with IRS because by law they can not employ you as an IC and not pay uncle Sam because if you have not paid taxes before , well that says it all right there. So don't run your toilet when you don't know what you are talking about. What would they care about your light bill, phone bill or any bills on your credit report. That makes no sense but neither does anything negative I have read about JLG. So do yourself a favor, stop trying to work for a top notch company until you build your resume. Perhaps go to an accredited school and learn to be an MT and stop taking mail order courses that get you know where but broke and without a job to pay the student loan back. Anyone wanting to be an MT at JLG should be honored to get hired and also we have more work and more accounts and more new accounts that we can not staff fast enough to keep up. Perhaps you didn't have enough work because you are one lousy MT because that's usually why you don't get work. I wish everyone working here now could here this nonsense but we are too busy to do what you do all day which is make up fairy tales. Apply with JLG. Do yourself the favor don't listen to people that are just disgruntled because they couldn't make the grade. And contrary to MS Opinion....QA knows about everything at JLG. We have to baby sit and grade all the work that MT's do incase they fib about the experience and we have to make sure it is all spell checked and dot their Is and Cross their T's. So QA knows everything from how much work is waiting to be typed, how much has come in and how much will be there the next week. Get off it and get real. Perhaps McDonald's is hiring. Because I make so much money I am buying myself a new 40 thousand dollar vehicle in 3 weeks and let me say this I made just that in the past 6 months.  Sorry it didn't work out Now get over it and if you don't like other peoples opinions STAY OFF THE BOARD Back to my life. Sorry you couldn't have one too. By the way I wont be back I do have work to do! I just had to come see for myself at the clown like stuff written about our wonderful  company.
New rules? Hmmm....sm
Since you seem to be a theological expert on all religions maybe you could enlighten us with facts instead of sarcasm and assumptions.
I'm seriously not trying to sound snarky, but after just coming off another forum I go to, there was a similar post. Everyone preaches tolerance should be given to all groups except for Christians.
Actually, we do let our daughter Trick or Treat, but I challenge anyone to look up the origins of All Hallows Eve. There are evil roots and I actually feel like a hypocrit partaking of it because of my own personal convictions (and would never judge anyone else for it) and belief based on what I've studied from the Bible, whose rules by the way go back over 6,000 years. Not what I'd call new and not made by man. Maybe you should study Christianity so that you have the facts before making assumptions.
I apologize if I offended you. It was not my intention. It's just hard seeing your faith ridiculed, disrespected, and slammed on every secular board you go to.
BOS rules for dates-help!
My mind has blanked--what is the current rule for doing dates in dictation? Isn't it to write out the dates as October 21, 2006, rather than 10/21/2006?? Thanks!
Company QA Rules
Ditto to what ok said. I do also believe that QA people need to confer with one another and get the rules straight. I do love feedback because that is how I learn and continue to grow. But it is annoying and impossible for an MT to do a good job with constant conflicting feedback. I have seen proofed reports with mistakes that QA missed. For instance I saw a report which said "2-mouth-old male" Mouth -- should be month. I have seen such a statement as "please see his noted" Noted? Should read note. Even QA is not perfect. I do respect those in QA who respect me. I value opinions to make myself a better MT. However, smart comments are not needed and do nothing for the good of the company.
counting rules
I have Sylycount. Go into the software under counting rules and there you can tell it what you need it to count.
Anyone here ignore the BOS rules?
I find local docs and clinics here in NE do not care about the BOS rules and actually consider some of them "mistakes." They like things done the way they always were. It drives me crazy trying to stick to the "new rules" when even the samples they give me are set up the same way they have been doing things for years. I find they still make sense and cannot get my brain to wrap around doing things differently for each account. I am ready to give up.I was told by an ivy league institution health clinic to do it "their way" which has been in place since the dark ages. Am I alone in this predicament?
mean? the rules here at MTstars is you cannot
My advice is this: Get the IRS rules for ICs and
print them out and give them to her. Tell her you want to protect yourself and her from the IRS ever getting involved. If you feel like an employee then you probably are. I'm shocked at the number of companies with unbelievable expectations of their ICs, their demands, etc. They do treat them like employees while offering no insurance, no bennies, etc. It is up to you to be the IC - you will fare far worse should you ever get audited by the IRS. I have known companies who treated their ICs like employees and then the IC got 'let go' and they went to the labor board and the labor board determined from the demands the 'employer' made there was reason for the person to feel they were an employee - no one wants that. Show them the list of 21 (??) guidelines laid out by the IRS - tell her you are meeting your contract and try to smooth it out - 12 cpl is a good rate - be sad to see you have to give that up!
It's not needed, but before the rules
of general English punctuation changed back in the late 70s or 80s, we would have put a comma there I think.
The rules changed?
I would have used a comma in that situation. But, I had no idea that the rules of English grammar had formally changed. This is a revelation; most of my grammar education happened before 1972.
I just came across rules on this today
Here is a link to some style rules for MT that you might find handy.
http://www.mtdaily.com/style.html
followup - 3 rules
#1. Follow up (verb): I will follow up with the patient next week.
#2. Followup (noun): The patient will come in for followup next week.
#3. Follow-up (adjective): The patient will have a follow-up appointment next week. I disagree mildly with the post about BOS2 on this.
Grammar good info in BOS/AAMT. Also any good grammar textbook from a bookstore would be good to review/read/study. I tried out Whitesmoke grammar program and hated it. Hope this helps!
It would be against the confidentialty rules (sm)
Send the job back into the cue with an explanation of why; there usually is a dropdown box. And don't let your curiosity get the best of you and transcribe it...DON'T. If caught, you could be penalized up to 10,000 and/or imprisoned. Read you handbook entirely. I know this subject matter is in there.
Apply the BOS rules
Expand abbreviations in diagnosis, impression, and assessment. Otherwise leave abbreviated. If you have the BOS, you can check under "abbreviations." A lot of companies say in their ads and/or on their websites whether they adhere to the BOS or not, and/or if that is a reference they require. I do not think you can go wrong if you generally apply the BOS rules whereas you have to watch out because some are using the 3rd edition now.
If they are changing the rules...then all
you can do is keep your emails to prove that you are just doing what they previously told you to do. If you keep deleting, then you don't have a leg to stand on
As far as the ridiculous corrections like a instead of an, that may be ridiculous, but one way is correct and one isn't. I am a QA and my reports get reviewed by the client. If I let one of the ridiculous corrections go through, then you better believe that they point it out. I mean I agree that they aren't the really important errors, but if the client cares, I care. If the client is going to jump on me for it, then I have to correct the MT. So, don't look at as the QA nit picking you...she is just doing what the client wants.
On the other front, save your emails or you don't have a leg to stand on.
I am unhappy about it, but those are the rules
No young lady here is happy about it. I'm tired of being called a lier. This was in place for years. My 40-year-old friend had to get one as she never had a license until now. I'm not crazy. I do not need help and I'm sick of being called a lier here. No, this was not in place when I was 16 and getting a perment to drive. As for my daughter being sexually active, she is focused on school and works from home typing phone notes for doctors along side me-- her choice. She will be starting a new job in the summer. She doesn't date and rarely goes out. So no, she has better things to do than screw around wth the opposite sex at this point in her life. Not all teenagers are bed jumpers. I'm not blind. I know some girls are, but she is not. I know her friends, they spend a lot of time together. Sex isn't an issue right now.
Block her E-mail, return mail unopened
On AOL I can determine who I want to receive mail from and block those I do not -- and if they are blocked they get their E-mail back as being "undeliverable". If she sends things out -- send back --unaccepted. But to be simple just E-mail her back or call the recuriter if you don't want to deal with her directly and state -- leave me alone. If she is in another state you should not be scared of her but you may simply have to put it out there in no uncertain terms.
MDI and Transcend both use basically the BOS rules
unless client requests something else. Sounds more like one of Futurenet's nightmare accounts.
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