Babe

I have been accountant of record for a 501(c)(7) for the past fourteen years. There are five members on the Board of Directors with two seats elected one year and three the next. The current President has been on the Board for ten. He is certified, but I don't think he worked for a CPA much longer than to meet his intern requirements many years ago, and has forgotten a lot. ("Non-profits don't pay sales tax" for instance.)

The corporation occasionally hires an independent contractor for various things the members cannot do--grading the property, providing a band, catering, etc. Last year a gentleman came in from Ireland to put on a clinic. The corporation collected $250 from each participant and paid the instructor $150 for each. When I tried to get the information required to report his payment to IRS and Ireland he had a tantrum and the president had a member pony up for the payment, keeping it off the books. While the US has a treaty with Ireland, the payment was still reportable. He was probably over here on a visitor visa and wasn't supposed to be making money. IDK.

The corporation just had a fundraiser, catered. The caterer wanted $650 up front. I asked for a W-9. She refused.

There were approximately 70 participants, so obviously she needs a 1099-Misc.

The Board is balking at the 1099 reporting issue. President and Treasurer are both saying 'Just let it go. She doesn't make a profit'. At $30 per person, I am pretty sure she did.

How would you handle this? Suggestions?

A Toyota Corolla and driver weighing 3000 pounds total stopped dead in lane three of a flat dry cement 'freeway' in clear daylight. All lanes stopped and creeping. Driver turned on indicator and checked the right side mirror and windows and watched for a gap in cars in next lane, wanting to head for the exit.

As the vehicle slid from left to right side of the lane at a whole three mph, a Honda and rider weighing 650 pounds split the lanes to cut through the snarl.

The bike left handlebar clipped the vehicle outside mirror, slammed the bike into the right front car wheel, ripped off the cars fender, front bumper, spoiler, and headlight. Two deep gouges in the aluminum alloy wheel. Upon dismantle, the lower control arm and strut were found to be bent and had to be replaced as well as the outer parts.

The Honda was pretty much totaled, but the biker walked away with only bruised knuckles. He was wearing a helmet...

How fast was the biker going to cause the damage to the car?

In California, who should be considered at fault for insurance purposes? Explain.

A large city near us has numerous stop signals with cameras rigged to catch drivers who fail to stop at a red light or don't come to a full stop at a red light before making a right turn.

My daughter was approaching one such signal at 50 mph when the light turned yellow. In her logic it was safer to accelerate and blow through the intersection than it would have been to attempt to stop safely.

It is a three-second yellow.

The camera caught her crossing the intersection on the red light at 70 mph.

My question is, what is the distance and time required to accelerate from 50 to 70 on dry flat pavement. Including her weight, the car weights approximately 3700 pounds.

She would have been in fifth gear when she drove down the street, but would have kicked it down to fourth or third when she began to accelerate. Don't know if that relates, but dropping the gear does give the car a kick.

If it takes 500+ feet to come to a safe stop at 50mph, and she didn't feel she had enough room to get stopped, did she have enough room to accelerate in three seconds from 50 to 70?

No, I am not making this up. California is vicious on red lights. This is a $500 fine...

If you can provide a formula or the actual numbers I would appreciate it.

Babe

Just taking the numbers off the trial balance and putting them onto the right lines and making everything balance? This is for fiscal 08/09 so the deadline is 11/15/09. We are looking for an EA or CPA. Probably should mention the cost for the state return too.

Could someone give me a guesstimate please? Ballpark is fine.

Is the IRS estimate of 15 hours to prepare and assemble a reasonable time frame? (Seems pretty long to me.)