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You have to decide that for yourself. Write-offs,

Posted By: time flexibility, being own boss,what is worth? on 2008-02-24
In Reply to: Is it worth being an IC at 7.8 cpl? - NM

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write offs/deductions for IC's??

Just wanting some ideas on what everyone uses as deductions.  Im going to get hit hard this year and just seeing what everyone else does.


TIA,


I don't pay more taxes. I have write-offs.

After I do my write-offs it's more like 10% - I think 30% is on the "conservative" side of
you don't owe. They have practice sheets you can do that will help you figure it out. Do a dry run using those and that will give you a better idea.
Write offs make a big difference. nt

x


But you get tons of deductions and write-offs.
x
write offs when working out of the home

As an independent contractor, where can I go to get a list of what I can write off legally when working from home?


TIA.


KSM


How do I find the things that could count as write-offs? nm
x
Buy if from your husband. Have him write you a receipt. Write it off completely or
depreciate it over a few years.
lay offs .. yep .. me too.

I was greeted at the door this morning and walked to the office. Received my sererance package and then was allowed to clean out my desk.


When one door closes, another door opens. I kinda felt like I would be in this cut, hoping I wouldn't, but felt like it.

Good thing DH tuns 65 in July. Guess I'll have to start checking out medical insurance now. 


Soooo if it's alright with you guys, I'll just hang out with you for a while.


Lay Offs

Boy this must be the week.  I myself was also told on Monday that I was laid off from my hospital job I just started 5 months ago.  I think they just used me to clean up their mess of backlog.  I was very sad the first day, but then realized they did me a favor. No more working 10-6:30 shift and on Sundays, which I hated. My husband was happy. I am going to get unemployment so I can enjoy the summer months for the first time in about 10 years. It is going to be great. 
As they say everything is for a reason. We may not see it now but we will later down the road.  I think this is a blessing for me.  They were always hounding me to get my line count.  I never had acute care experience and only did clinic notes for 5 years but they hired me and I was always short 50-100 a day.  I feel a huge pressure off my back.  I felt like I worked in a factory.  I never took a lunch and I feared if my doorbell rang or phone because I did not have a minute to spare or my line count would suffer.  No one should have to work like this and I will never.  My next transcription job is going to be like before on a 24 hour turnaround.  I am not working set hours ever again.


Keep the faith- God always closes a door but opens a window and I have always believed this.


HUGS and love!!


 


Lay-offs

My job ended the end of December as a receptionist in a doctors, which lead me to going to MT school that starts the end of this month. And now you all are talking about getting layed-off from your mt jobs. scary, what is up ? 


Lay-offs
Not what I wanted to hear, but thanks for the info.
DirecWay Drop-offs
Thanks for the tip. It looks like Direcway has a new upgrade from the 6000 model...more money of course. I will need to do something, as 3 days at half-production is just too miserable.
Direcway satellite drop-offs all day...
Is anyone else having problems with their satellite connection this week?  After 6 months of no problems I am now getting constant drop-offs until 5 p.m.  I am on the west coast and no weather problems.  I have called "customer service," but that was beyond frustrating.  Dial-up is excruciating to work with after being used to the high-speed.  Thanks in advance for any info.
Sounds like any old pair of cut offs would be acceptable....

The description reminds me of my MUCH older brother's wedding circa 1973.... She was barefoot, he was in ripped jean cut off shorts, the preacher looked like something that crawled out from under a rock, and when he asked my brother if he had anything to say, he "grunted."  Gawd, it was awful.  I'm sure this wedding you're going to won't be that bad, but if the bride is barefoot and the groom is in khakis, then any decide informal summery outfit would probably be A-ok.


Speaking of rip-offs, anyone have any advise on how to get back money paid for a product you never
received?  I needed a Dictaphone C-phone for my job (was using a loaner) and put a note on the equipment board pertaining to this back in May.  A woman contacted me stating she had one for $100 (I only needed the phone, power supply and phone cord).  She said she was going away for 3 weeks and to Western Union the money to her that night and she'd send it out the next day.  I did not like the high pressure and was still shopping around anyway so I told her I'd wait the 3 weeks and contact her then.  About a week later she emailed me stating she cut her trip short but was going away again that Friday (It was Tuesday), I had by this time decided to buy her phone.  I mailed out that day via Priority mail a M.O. for $100.  She was very anxious for the money, and thought I'd sent it Express Mail, which I of course informed her I did not.  She stated that it should be there by Friday and if she did not see her mail that day that she'd have her mom check the mail and then mail the C-phone to me.  After 2 weeks I emailed her as I had no phone as yet, no response.  A week later still no phone, emailed again, no response. Then I called her (looked it up) and she claimed her email was "broken" and she had not received my emails but would email me back as she was on her way out the door to a baseball game.  I asked her how can she email me back if it was broken??? So then she backpedaled and said she'd call me.... I held my breath at that point.  So the next day by some miracle I get an email from her stating her mother had mailed it regular mail, no way to track it, etc.  So supposedly it is lost.  I emailed her back which it appeared she did not get as she did not respond to my questions but she did email me again saying she'd return my money.....again I am holding my breath.  That was 8 days ago.  She is in OK, I am in VA.  If she sent me a refund promptly it would have been here by now.  Now when I call her, she does not pick up, and no answering machine either.  I am planning now to mail her a copy of her email and my response to getting my money back.  I am assuming at this point that I was taken for a sucker and was obviously too trusting.  Right now I don't have $100 to burn (who does?) with my drives to the hospital (60 miles round trip) for my daughter's chemo, doctor visits, etc, on top of only making about 1/2 what I used to make due to the changes in my life right now.  In the meantime I got kicked off the account for which I needed the C-phone for (add insult to injury here) due to problems at the company I was working for, so that does not sweeten my disposition any.  So does anyone have any idea how I can squeeze her and get my money back?  Contact the police there for fraud? Small claims court in OK?  I am a persistent pain in the butt and will keep at her until I get my money back, if it is fraud then she picked the wrong person to screw with, if it is on the up and up then it is unfortunate but she should have insured it to cover her own (and mine) butt, and sent in with a delivery confirmation too....but you know what they say about hindsight.  Any ideas???
How do you decide which is better?

National SE/employee  versus  small MTSO IC


I have my opinions based on my experiences, but I'd like to hear your opinions.  I wish I could have a hybrid of the two.  Steady workload, but a flexible schedule as long as xx number of lines was done per day.  Mostly the same dictators over and over, but still available to help out if another account needs it.  Is there such a creature out there?  Or am I dreaming the impossible dream?  I'd make a list of all my wishes, but I fear I'd be laughed off the boards.  LOL 


Still trying 2 decide...
where to spend my cent. So many choices!
But when did he decide to be gay?

DECIDE to be gay???

nm


Can anyone help me decide which job to keep?

I worked as a hospital employee, then IC for quite a few years. Everytime I asked about employee openings, there were none. I would always be out of work for 2-3 months in the beginning of the year.  I finally quit and got a job with a national. The hospital couldn't keep up on the work and asked me to come back and work weekends and days I did not have anything else to do (that's a joke!).


Now I understand they are going to hire another FT MT. I want to apply mainly because of the health benefits, as I am paying $600 a month now.


 I love working for the national but now my problem...I still feel loyalty to the hospital. I don't know what they are paying yet or what the hours would be and don't even know if she would hire me full time.


I know I should take into consideration the benefits, etc. and compare it with the national, but the work at the national company is so much nicer with regards to the doctors and program they use. The hospital has a lot more ESLs to contend with. The only problem with the national is that I have a hard time getting my production and a lot of days, I get really stressed out.


What is the going rate of a in house MT in PA?  I have 10 years acute care experience. What could I expect to be offered?  Thanks in advance for your help.


Yes, this is what I'm trying to decide

She would not hire me before because I worked 7 days a week plus holidays. This will probably be the sticking point even now. Plus there is a new CEO there that tries to tow (sic) the line on hiring.


My husband has a heart problem and we really need the insurance (he's self-employed). He is working but I don't know how long, until he drops dead, he says. I don't want to see that happen. Been with him 40 years, but we can't afford to get his heart fixed right now. (Does that give you an idea of our ages). Aw heck, he probably wouldn't do it even if he could, so who is he fooling? He's a workaholic like me. I made a lot of money through them as IC, but really need to get away from that status. We were paying through the --- to the IRS and we're tired of it. I know if I was hired, she wouldn't need the 6 per diems she has now plus the mandatory OT.


Another thing...the hospital is only 37.5 work week. I would probably say yes to any OT or extra time because that's the way I am, but I'm in a hole now $$ wise.


I really would prefer the hospital but I don't want to be suckered into working for less than I'm worth just because I have no idea what they pay. If I get my speed up with the national, and I'm sure I will soon, I should be able to make more, but I don't know the first thing about nationals either as it was my first job with one. All I know is I'm doing as well as expected.


 I thank you for your input. 


 


 


Well...what did you decide?
nm
When you do decide to get out - sm

be it weeks, months or years, drop me a line, that is if you don't already have someone in mind to take over your accounts, unless you are just planning to give them notice and let them fend for themselves.  Obviously if you are doing tapes this would not work unless we are near each other which I doubt (I am near Richmond, VA), but digital would work just fine and that is how I work now.  I am always looking to add on and looking to one day have a few people working for me.  So if you have the inclination e-mail me, and I will email back with my information. 


Thank you! I have been trying to decide
if I wanted to try the Gevalia or not, and when I read this I got on the site and signed up for it. Thanks for helping me make up my mind!
Can't decide
I would choose family, being home with kids over a job. Jobs come and go, but time spent with your children can't ever be re-paid.
Here's how I decide (sm)
1. If account specifies, follow the specs.

2. If no specifics and paid for spaces, by all means, 2 spaces after the period. Helps the line count a little bit at least. (I type all my accounts this way.) It's easier to read, especially in the lab data section.

3. If no specifics and not paid for spaces, they get 1 space after sentences.
Only you can decide!

Both IC and employee have their advantages and disadvantages. Do you need insurance or not? Based on what some people are saying the health insurance offered by a company is not always the best offer out there. Do you prefer flexibility or do you want to work a set schedule?


To receive full benefits you might have to achieve certain line requirements. I just switched from employee to IC. My employer did not offer much regarding benefits and did not always offer enough work so that I could achieve the line requirements. They only offered paid vacation. Now I have the flexibility and am making the same amount per line after tax deductions as previously before tax deductions.


Not every employee position offers full benefits. Also, depending on what type of work you do, the quality of the dictators and your QA team, you could make more money as an IC.


Maybe not the question IC or employee is as important as finding the job that suits you best.


trying to decide
how difficult is this medical transcription to do? I am going to take a medical terminology class at community college and take word 2007 before I start either M-Tec or somewhere maybe in December.
only you can decide what's best!
you are the one that will be typing on it! I don't know what brands you tried or I might give you my opinion, but can only tell you what I like about mine you know? I actually bought this cheap little Belkin kind, split keyboard and when you type the keys they are loud, which is one thing that i like for some reason... Also I have to have the "insert, home, page up/page down, delete and end" button certain ways... two rows three across. You know, certain things for certain people! Good luck!!
It's up to you to decide...
if you think 26k is fair.  I am assuming you mean you make 26k as an MT with 5 years' experience?  I think that sounds about right.  There are some MTs with 5 years' experience who make more than that, some who make less.  I make far more because I have far more years of experience than you.  You have an associate's degree, but it is in a different field, right?  That is not going to make a difference as far as MT pay is concerned.  As I said, I went to school for 4 months to become an MT (an on-site, full-time school), plus I worked in-house for a long time with a mentor before I began working from home.  Like you, I also have education in a different field.  At this point, I can make more money as an MT, which seems fair to me.
I can't decide if I should be job searching or not.
I like many aspects of my job, but I dislike certain aspects about it, too.  The thing is that this has been my best MT job ever.  That's not something you just throw away.  I know there's no perfect job out there, but I wonder if I could make more money with a better platform and an unlimited workload.
I'm an SE. I decide my schedule.
That is my current contract with my employer.

I don't even have to ask to work past my schedule. I don't have ask off. All I have to do is say I'm not working my planned schedule. That's all. However, I don't do business that way.

I keep my schedule and then I am usually asked to work more so I do.

I've worked at this place for years and I have never been limited on how much work I do. That will change shortly but after several conversations with upper management, there will be opportunity for overtime.

If you are an employee, not statuatory or IC, then you are more restricted in what you do. That is very true.

It's just not what I have been working as all this time for this particular employer.
RadGuy??? What did you decide????

Okay, we helped, so now ya gotta spill it.......what did you decide to buy your sisters for Xmas????  :)


Happy Holidays, btw.


the easiest way to decide (sm)
Is to ask yourself how you would feel if the tables were turned... then you will have your answer. And also, the best piece of advice I ever got was "if you have to ask, you already know the answer".
That's how I would decide also. Treat others the way you
would want to be treated.
Please, help a sista decide what
The   company I work for is changing to more  cumbersome and slow platform and pays 7.5 cpl.  I know that is low but the Director of Operations is VERY good to me otherwise and it is on a platform that iis very user friendly and I have almost total control of document handling, which I am whittling down to a fine, fast art.  I just talked to a hospital about IC at 10-11 cpl but would have to "rent" software at $20 per month. (Was told this was for IRS reasons, which I don't know that I believe, but whatever, it is how they do it.)  I am trying to decide which would be the better deal.  10-11 cpl and pay "rent" or 7.5 and no rent.  7.5 cpl job is fairly flexible, accts I have there are easy for me to do, and staff is great.  The new job sounds like an "MT friendly" kinda place with no ESLs.  What to do, what to do???
If you decide you need a change, sm
I agree with fuzz regarding Webmedx.  It's a good company.  They have clinic, as well as acute care work.  You would have to contact them to see if they are hiring for clinic at the present time.  They have good benefits, including a 401(K) plan.  A really decent company. 
Can you not read it and decide it does not
They are communicating with everyone, giving you ideas on what to look out for, etc.

Geesh, people complain because of lack of communication then because they get communication.

Never satisfied, are you?

How silly is it to let something that does not describe what you are doing offend you like that, whether an employee, supervisor, MTSO, etc.

It's just an e-mail, right? If it were personally addressed to you and you alone, that might be different.
My opinion-let her decide sm
I was forced to go to my grandmother's funeral and services when I was 10. I am now 45. The grandkids were placed directly in front of the casket, front and center, with our parents off to the side. I became hysterical and cried and cried til I threw up. I had to be bodily carried out. It was an awful experience. I cried for days and I wasn't even that close to my grandmother. She lived far away and we only saw her twice a year. I never attended another funeral until my mother died when I was 33 and my father died when I was 36. I had enough Valium in me to put a horse out for those two services. I was obligated to attend two more close friends funerals a year after dad died but none since. I have never forced my kids to go to funerals. Believe it or not, I jsut cannot attend another funeral. I will go to wakes, stay 5 minutes and leave. I was that traumatized. I still remember how awful it was for me. I just cannot find it in me to attend them. Please, don't force her to go. She will go when she is ready. My children didn't attend funerals until they were 19.  They did fine.
let her decide. she already has a grip on
the passing away part but that doesn't mean she is ready for the open casket and long viewing hours at the funeral home.  this way she can still picture grandma how she was and not in the casket which can be a little unsettling for adults sometime.  if she wants you guys to take her to the grave site sometime to say her goodbyes then take her.  i remember writing a so called goodbye letter to my grandfather when i was a kid telling him about all of the things i'll always remember and loved about him. that way i was able to get out my feelings and i still have something to look back and read so i'll never lose my (all of it anyway) memory of him.
For children, it's best to let them decide.
It can be healing or traumatic. I do think I'd have her go to the funeral home once, set it up so she only has to be there a short time, help her understand it's time to say goodbye and let go (whether close or not). I've been through a Catholic funeral and don't think I'd force a child to be there. It's good that neither you or DH are forcing one way or the other. Talk with your daughter and help her decide what's really best. Just don't let her hide from the fact that she needs to say goodbye to grandma, close or not.
Help me decide which Ipod

Today's my birthday and my husband is taking me out tonight to pick out an Ipod. I've been wanting one for awhile. You wouldn't think I'd want something to keep me in headphones even more than I already am, but....


Anyway, I can't decide being getting a Nano or Video Ipod. If anyone has either and has an opinion on it, I'd sure appreciate the advice.  I'd either get the 4 gig Nano or the 30 gig Video Ipod. I know it's a big leap in storage size, but I wonder if the flash memory in the 4 gig Nano would be more reliable than the hard drive in the 30 gig?  Any opinions would be appreciated.


$50 for their service, if you decide to use them.
x
That's up to you and the client to decide.
If you're concerned about whether or not to count the content of the header or footer, that is something that should be decided by your and the client, not the people on this board.
Dont want anyone to decide for me, just need
afd
After two years of trying to decide

which keyboard to try I came across the AlphaGrip, which I have had for about three months now and I love it.  There definitely is a learning curve involved, but that is what I understand about the "tent style" ergonomic keyboards also.  AG refers to their key layout as an "enhanced QWERTY" because for most of the keys the same finger is used for the same letter on the AG as on a regular keyboard.  I am not as fast as I would like yet, but I had quite a number of extreme situations going on over the same time period and have not been able to spend the time needed.  I consistently type about 40 wpm accurately on the AG, and have hit up to 61 wpm.  There are many tasks I prefer using the AG for due to the ease of mousing with having it "right at the tip of my thumbs".  That totally rocks!


They make no claims about ergonomic benefits, but I can tell you that when I am able to use the AG more and the keyboard less I am in less pain, and when I use only the AG I have no arm/wrist pain.  Because I am able to sit in a recliner and type now, my back pain is greatly reduced (I need a new mattress).


Check it out! 


I would think you would decide that in your contract with
your individual clients. They probably have some say in how you count their lines, either they agree with the way you do it or make a counter offer.
magicJack - something that may help you decide - sm

I just purchased magicJack.  I like it so far.  One thing that I didn't know that I wish I had is that there is no local number available in my area code.  I had to choose one from a neighboring state.  Therefore, any incoming calls will be long distance for those calling me if they do not have an unlimited long distance plan.  The link below will let you find out what area codes are availble.  Many are pending and are supposed to be available very soon.  Other than this, I really like it.


http://www.magicjack.com/site/areacodes.html


Try being IC, try being employee. Then decide
x
Even so, not MT place to decide what is in Dr
If something is so off base best to flag it. Let the Dr decide what he meant and how he is treating a pt.