Discussion:Things you've heard from new clients
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Discussion Forum Index --> Tax Questions --> Things you've heard from new clients
| 17 April 2007 | |
| #//(Current Accountant for corporation) If you switch accountants for your books its an automatic AUDIT!!! | |
| 17 April 2007 | |
| To which the response is obvious: "To not switch from that accountant means an automatic audit. I hear all of their clients are getting audited becasue of a 'problem preparer' investigation."
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| 17 April 2007 | |
| We got a higher refund last year from our former tax preparer. | |
| 17 April 2007 | |
| " I don't want an extension, won't that effect my credit score?" | |
| 17 April 2007 | |
| My former preparer did my returns without my ever having to give him the stuff you're asking for. | |
| 17 April 2007 | |
| Isn't there a stardard deduction for that expense without having receipts? I didn't think I needed them.
Another good one: I have more expenses than income, I don't have to file do I? I wonder if these types of people are eligible for the "Darwin Awards"? Dar | |
| 17 April 2007 | |
| "I used turbotax, and it says I owe a lot of money to the IRS. If I come to you, can you reduce my tax liability?" | |
| 17 April 2007 | |
| Did you make any charitable contributions last year?
"Oh yes, put me down for the maximum amount" For clients that always need an extension: "Do i have to come in and sign something?" | |
| 17 April 2007 | |
| 8 pm April 16th, picking up corporate and personal returns, for which he faxed me hand-scrawled notes bc he's been on a project out of town every week:
Did it look like I missed anything? To which I wanted to reply: this is a helluva time to think about that. | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 17 April 2007 |
| For once the truth emerges from an email from my every year final client: "Are you as tired of all this as we are? I think you must be."
These people get their extensions and payment vouchers for the City of Philadelphia from me late on the final day and walk them to the main post office at 30th Street in Philadelphia every year. A tradition, you might say. | |
| 17 April 2007 | |
| An employee from Microsoft (W-2 income of over $300K) - "I just heard from my colleague that stock options are not taxable any more. Are you sure you're doing my taxes right?" | |
| 18 April 2007 | |
| Said by clients with foreign source income and under-the-table income (i.e., no 1099s, W2s, etc., so the IRS doesn't "know" about it):
"So what would happen if I just didn't report the income? How would they ever know?" - love it. | |
| 19 April 2007 | |
| "I only want to send the extension to file...NOT THE EXTENSION TO PAY! | |
| 19 April 2007 | |
| Telephone call at 10 PM, PDT, April 16: "I bought Turbotax and can't figure out how to enter something. Can you help me?" My reply, "NO!" | |
| 19 April 2007 | |
| "We haven't had to pay in a long time. Our previous preparer wrote everything off. We are both self-employed, we never made payments, but always got money back." | |
| 19 April 2007 | |
| Client calls & asks BEFORE he sends me any paperswork, "Do you think I'll get any back this year?" | |
| 19 April 2007 | |
| "You can't complete my return until I get a canine."
(he mean't K-1) | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 19 April 2007 |
| "My income is way up! Can I income average?"
This means this client has to be at least 45 years old. Funny thing was back then they did not understand why Schedule G wasn't the first thing you did when you started the return. "Aren't you going to income average me?" | |
| 19 April 2007 | |
| I don’t care what you’re saying, I’ll sign it, but I’m not going to attach any check to my return.
What is the maximum amount on 1099-misc? Why do all the people get money back, and I always have to pay!” “Because they paid during the year too much, and you paid too little.” “I pay every week! I never heart that people pay twice a week.” A client that received refund: Give me all your business cards! I’ll distribute them to all my friends and neighbors! I’ll tell everybody where to find the money! My accountant promised me $5000 return, but made only $2000. I’ve already made plans for this money. You have to help me out! | |
Cpaprincess (talk|edits) said: | 19 April 2007 |
| A note in a client's tax organizer, who has a Schedule C, said, "I didn't receive a 1099 this year, but I want to file my taxes anyways." Got a good chuckle out of that one. | |
| 19 April 2007 | |
| "we always got money back"...but did you OVERPAY taxes whether or not you got a refund?
"will amended returns send up a red flag?" They were SELF prepared in prior years.... OMG they never end!! | |
| 19 April 2007 | |
| April 14th - My husband's friend :"I have a quick question"
Me: OK Him: "Can I bring my Turbo Tax return over to you to review...For Free?" Me: "NO!!!" | |
| 19 April 2007 | |
| What do you mean I have to pay capital gains on the sale of my house, I thought I had two year to reinvest the money? (California Real Estate)
Are you sure I owe? My previous preparer said that I could do income averaging this year?!? What do you mean I have to pay tax on the $150K retirement I pulled out, they told me I would not have to pay taxes on it, that's why there is no withholding. (Code 7 - no prepayment penalty but . . put him in the 33% tax braket) I did not pay withholding on the building I sold, why would I do that? No, I'm sure, I paid sales tax. ($33K withholding paid to California, client thought it was sales tax) | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 19 April 2007 |
| "I only have a quick question!"
"But today I only have slow answers." | |
| April 19, 2007 | |
| OMG, these are great. I am laughing all the way through this. All the references to 'my prior preparer said'...why do these people switch? 9 times out of 10, these guys are gonna be prior clients next year. Better not discount their fees one bit. Full price all the way.
"My business coach said I would save taxes switching to an LLC." "I just want to report this $____." "I guess I won't be able to deduct my cash contributions next year." | |
Bottom Line (talk|edits) said: | 20 April 2007 |
| My realtor said I would save money on taxes by buying a house (purchased mid December).
The (quasi) medical supply guy said I could write this off on my taxes. The charity said that this deduction would lower my taxes (doesn't own a house so way short of itemizing). I'm only paying $X since I don't want my tax dollars going to support X. Make the numbers equal that. But doesn't filing an extension mean I'll get audited? | |
| April 20, 2007 | |
| "What did I claim last year?" I love responding to this one with, "Last year, you said to claim the same as the last year." | |
Bottom Line (talk|edits) said: | 20 April 2007 |
| Why can't I write off the new roof on my personal residence? My next door neighbor said he wrote his off.
Ask him what he would like you to bring him when you go visit him in jail. That's not fair. Call your congressman. | |
Death&Taxes (talk|edits) said: | 20 April 2007 |
| The best defense hands down is to divide the tax deficit by the bracket: client owes 3,000 and is at 25%, so when he asks if there is anything missing, respond with "Oh, did we miss a $12,000 deduction?" Puts it in perspective. | |
Actionbsns (talk|edits) said: | 20 April 2007 |
| The one that gets me is "Nobody else ever asked me this many questions!" And I'm always worried that I don't ask enough. My newest, last minute client however really takes the cake. Rental income - "Yeah but, it's just a little bit of money and I just spend it, you mean I have to pay tax on it?" Answer, yes, and BTW did you pay Hawaii GE Taxes? "You mean like I do with my corporation?, I'm supposed to pay GE tax? Nobody ever told me that. Do I need to get a GE Tax number? Can't I just use the corporation?" And I won't even go into the cost basis issues - she tossed out all the purchase documents when she re-financed. | |
Bottom Line (talk|edits) said: | 20 April 2007 |
| They always throw out "all that garbage" | |
| 21 April 2007 | |
| This is from an current client -- I just sold my rental property today, is there anyway that I can claim the taxable income over the course of several years....no, I didn't have an installment sale, they gave me cash and I took it straight to the bank.
Another client...sold another rental and the client's sister told the client to not worry about reporting the sale of the rental...same client still doesn't understand why his sister doesn't have to file a return and he does (he 60 works full time for a company and makes around 50 to 60 grand a year). | |
