Discussion:I now officially and fundamentally hate people!

just had a client ask me what day is better to stop by today or tomorrow.

I've got a couple that keep calling to find out when they can pick up their return, and I keep telling them "as soon as you give me the rest of the information I asked for".

Back to waiting. Lunch I guess.

A young client picked up her copy two days ago, signed the Form 8879, and paid me the fee with a check. She said she didn't want me to efile her returns yet, because she wanted to have her mom look at the returns. She owes a total of $403 to the IRS and State. I just called her, and she said she found more deductions (relating to her hair stylist self-employment, which had two entries on Sch C...income and the cost of products) and will be filing her own returns later today. She took offense that I asked her if her check was gonna be good and said she probably wouldn't be back because of that. I didn't mention to her that I might consider taking taxea's advice if her $100 check bounces. I've never turned in any clients, but there's always a first time. Right, taxea?

Still waiting for one amount for the last return to do, and then I'll be done (unless more returns are dropped off tomorrow).

I've been running the checks down to their banks same day if possible. Gonna convert to e-checks or ACH soon. My dad did the same thing when he was a free lance electrician in his youth. He's always telling me this story were he beat his client to the bank in the morning to cash the check before a 'stop payment' could be issued. The PITA is worth it the saved aggravation. However, the $1900 of bad checks I'm sitting on is turning me Gullom like.

If a client doesn't like the results on the refund/pay line and refuses to pay I send them a letter saying that if payment for my work is not received within 15 days of the letter "they leave me no choice but to start a civil action against them." This brings the money in. And those that want their docs back so they can go elsewhere are advised that they owe me for the time spent on their return. I have been very successful using these policies. I suggest the "civil action" letter if she doesn't pay you. She is small potatoes for the IRS but the satisfaction is all yours. taxea

Bilbo

You should find Pandora online for background while you work. Sinatra has the power to sooth the savage beast.

Bilbo

Else we'd kill 'em. After they paid.

The morbid thought strikes me that you could pass away and no one would know until perhaps about April 14th when they beat down the doors to get their returns.

Another bozo emailed to say we'd omitted his prized five sheets of detail about clothing given to Goodwill AND the lists of security sales given by Merrill Lynch. An hour later he apologized and said "I was reviewing my copy; I guess you don't waste the copy paper by recopying things I already have in my possession."

And I count 32 people yet to send their 8879.....of course, who could get thru on the fax when one bright star sent her extension information 3 times, 9 pages of it, because she wasn't sure it went through. I told her I filed three extensions for her.

I've often wished I could do tax returns just using the drop box on my front porch, but I know that, in order to do the best job possible and to have a lot more clients, I need to see them in person. People like and want to see their tax preparer. I have only a handful of clients who email me with questions or send their info as attachments, but the majority want to meet with me when I prepare their returns while they wait (in Jan and Feb) or when they drop off their docs (in Mar and Apr). Many of them drop off their envelopes and 8879s in the drop box on the porch, many of them send me their stuff from Florida or other states, but the majority of my clients want to bring their stuff into my office and hand it to me, ask questions, etc. It also would be nice to never have to answer the phone, but I figure that's part of my job (I'm the only one here and do it all), and if I didn't answer the phone when people call with questions, etc, I'd have a lot less clients.

As far as threatening clients with a civil action if they don't pay, I'm thinking that if I did threaten such a thing, I'd feel like I should follow through with it. I really don't think it would be worth my time to file civil actions, since the most I'm stiffed each year is about $100-$300. I had one client in mid-January, a young kid who was unemployed and was dissatisfied with the amount of his refunds (about $500 federal). I prepared the return while he waited and only charged him $70 (one W-2 and nothing else), instead of $80. He signed the 8879 and said he would stop in on Friday to pay me. I made the mistake of letting him take his copy. He never showed up, and in early Feb, I checked the refund status sites for the Fed and State, and he had received the same amounts that I figured (and I never efiled his returns). He won't be receiving my December letter later this year.

So, for this tax season, I've only been stiffed for $70. Everyone else paid, including one long-time client who moved to West Virginia several years ago, who never sent me a check last year. Around April 7th, I received their package with a check for last year, a signed blank check for this year, and a letter apologizing up and down for not sending me the check last year. They didn't want me to efile their returns last year, so I sent their originals. (I efiled their returns this year, and she never said anything about it.) Turns out they should have claimed their three grandkids last year, so she's sending me another check for $150 to amend the 2007. (I have to do the WV return manually, so I quoted a higher amount.) I'll be waiting to make sure the first two checks clear the bank before I amend last year's return. The weird thing is, included in her docs, was a carbonless copy of a check made out to me and dated for April 15, 2008.

Regarding the client I talked about earlier in this discussion, if her check bounces, I'll only be out $100 (for two W-2s and a Sch C with two entries--about 10 minutes of my time), and I've already decided I'm not gonna worry about it. She was a new client this year, and I'm not sure who referred her to me. If I'm nasty to her, I could lose other clients. I do a lot of returns, and many of my clients are related or friends with one another. I realize it's important to be friendly with everyone, even when they don't deserve it or when they become tax cheaters because they're dissatisfied with the results. Out of curiosity, I'll be checking her refund status in a couple of weeks, but I have no plans to turn her in to the IRS, if her check bounces. I don't think it'll bounce, but I won't be surprised if it does. She also will not be receiving my December letter later this year.

When you say, "only the good die young," how young are you talking? If I'll be 57 next month, will I make it to 80?  :)

I closed my office at 6:20 pm on Tuesday, went to the bank, and then headed straight for the casino to play Keno machines. It turned out to be a 22-hour session, and I came home with a lot more than I took, including three W-2G forms (which is unusual for that particular casino). For some reason, I usually have the best luck on the night of April 15th every year, but my best day at the casino ever was yesterday. I keep a log of my trips to the casino, with dates, the actual amount I lost or was ahead, and a year-to-date total. This year, it was nice to be all caught up on April 14th and be able to be closed all day on April 15th. Usually, on April 15th, I'm all caught up and just sitting there waiting for the last few clients to pick up their copies.

I probably only see 1/4 to 1/3 of my clients each year; most of them mail or e-mail their info, or drop it off in the mail slot on my front door.

There are only two clients whose returns I do while they sit there; both are very simple, and they pay in cash. Everyone else waits.

I ask that they pay within 30 days; right now, I have only ONE client whose payment is outstanding ($160 -- not much more than my minimum) and I e-mailed her the other day and asked that she pay by the end of this month.

A lovely EA person who I would walk across hot coals for refers clients who live generally pretty far away. I will do the first meeting, get everything signed that I need, and then email the PDF of their return and the e-file authorization forms for them to fax to me. I then mail the returns to them once wrapped up.

I get paid up front or they don't get work done. If they happen to not have a checkbook with them, I tell them "okay, mail me a check and as soon as I get it I will get started". Your mechanic expects payment up front as does your doctor. I am no different. If someone bawks, they are either planning to stiff me or are refund shoppers who are planning on not paying unless I 'beat' their other guy.

Michael

One never returned my emails or calls at all...on the 15th. So I just extended him.

The other kept forgeting to write her PIN in the 8879. So I was just about to fill in the first five digits of her birthday (since she had checked the authorization and signed it) when she called.

I guess I just operate in a different manner. I consider it rude if I know people are waiting on me to HELP ME and I delay....or if I know something will keep me from answering I will tell them how long I will be tied up. ARRRRGGGHHHH!

Michael

I try to remember that I am in a service industry and why I started my own business. I try not to be jaded and at times that is a challenge as there are a number of my clients that really feel they are my only clients. So there have been times that I do have to set limits.

This year I had a business client that I was helping set up Quickbooks, we started last year. She is the poster child for disorganization and drama. She is the daughter of a very good friend. Several times I made appointments to meet with her and we were not able to finish as some kind of drama was going on in her life. Long story short I was mad and was done, no more appointments were available she missed the boat. So she was supposed to get me her QB on pin drive so I could look at it. On April 10th she shows up after repeated calls and wants to know if it will be done by the 15th as she needs the return for blah blah. Nope, you're going on extension and I'm not even looking at returns again till sometime in May as I'm taking a month off.

I don't have that many, but for the clients that push the envelope I invoke the PIA fee and upcharge their bill. Surprisingly, I have never lost a client for upcharging their bill, they keep coming back - go figure.

As far as them writing their own PIN numbers, I stopped that nonsense years ago. Our town has two zip codes and that's what I use. If they are married husband get zip ending in 87 and wife gets zip ending in 88. If their single or HOH the get zip ending in 87. I tell them, this is your PIN number. This was they don't forget and I don't ever have to worry about them not writing in on the 8879.

Your clients have NO idea how lucky they are to have you!

If there is an accounting heaven, I am certain you will be there, I'm on the border line but trying.

Best Wishes and thank you for the help on the Michigan return!

Matt

Jesus, the odds are horrible. So, it was indeed your lucky day, I shudder to think what you could have won if you were really stacking the odds more in your favor.

Of course, what they call a casino today, and what is a casino in my mind are two different things. I'll never forget my trip up to Cherokee, N.C. to check out their "casino"....give me a break, there was not a live dealer in the house. All machines: plucking machines.

P.S. No matter if I make it to 80 or not, I'm sure I'll be working to the bitter end. I'll have to!

I know that I sound short on my posts but I give my clients royal treatment. Whether it is by email or phone (if necessary) I explain in laymans terms things that they don't understand and I also let them know that my #1 priority is to get them every penny they are entitled to. Honestly, it's worth a try to get them to fill out your worksheets so you don't have to go through scores of receipts and other docs. Then they drop it all off in a mailslot and if I need anything I call or email and ask that they fax or drop it off. I have to tell you I have a very easy season this year. You make up so much time by not answering the phone and not setting up appointments but rather, just concentrating on the return prep.

I do have a couple of elderly couples that I go to and spend an hour or so just "talking story" and picking up their docs. All the returns I do include small businesses, rentals, some multiple. No simple returns other than clients high school or college kids. Refuse to do RAL's and won't take a client that doesn't want their return ELF'd. You may find this hard to believe but my clients love me. I even tell them "I don't stress, that's your job."