Discussion:Why are the clients crawling out of the woodwork?

Client: I did the dumbest thing last year?

Me: What did you do?

C: I put $40k into an annuity.

M: OK

C: It's lost $2k already and if I try to take it out I'll lose another $3k in surrender charges.

M: What would you like me to do? Everybody is losing money in the market. And if I remember correctly, I advised you not to put the money into an annuity, but into savings bonds.

C: I know, I should have listened.

M: Can we discuss this further after April 15.

C: (begrudingly) OK

Are you kidding me? You're calling me on April 10 to tell me that your annuity has lost money. I don't care. Leave me alone. Thanks for letting me vent my frustrations. Anyone else getting absolutely useless phone calls lately?

what i love is when someone "has" to see me.......or "has" to talk to me

then they will say........."i know you must be terribly busy, probably exhuasted aint ya?"

then they proceed to give me their stuff and want to know if i can have it done before the deadline because they really need it lol

Her cell phone battery ran out before I got all of the questions answered, so now I have to call back again. I'm thinking of just putting her on the extension-to-be-filed list and saving my precious time for the next few days for people a little more focused on the topic at hand.

Also have had about 20 (so far) people just dropping by this week and expecting an appointment this late. To sit down, go over their information, chat, and they say they're sorry it's so late, and how I must be busy, but do I think I will get to them by Saturday morning, because they are leaving to go out of town?

well....guess what.....let them!

Me: Okay , what's the problem?

Her: I just don't think it right what you're doing to me and probably others as well with the bill you sent me.

Me: What, like making a living?

Her: No, taking advantage of me when my situation is down. You know, I don't even need to file, but I thought I let you do it because you said you would be giving me a break.

Me: Well, I haven't raised you fee for four years, yes you do need to file.

Her: They're all telling me over at the senior center that they'll do it for free.

Me: Look, I'm not going to change your mind. It's your choice where you go next year, send me what you think it worth and we'll part friends. Nothing else here to argue about.

Her: I just think you're wrong and I'm very dissapointed in you.

Me: Okay.

Her: Click

Work done. 1040, B, D, PA Sp, PA Prop Tax rebate. Fee $75.

One PITA off my list = Priceless ;)

4 Days to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No expense schedule, no 401k contribution, nothing else.

Quote

"I'll try to get these to you by tomorrow"

RSVP that you can't attend bc you are swamped...maybe they'll get the hint. Then again, if they're like mine, they won't.

Just got in a big envelope from a long time client I got an OIC for who moved, didn't contact me before Oct 15 (I even left a message with mutual friends that if they saw her at Burning Man, to tell her she HAD to call me, even if I was in Europe). Finally got a call back after doing a web search, getting a new phone number after getting the letter that the offer was going to default. I told her she HAD to pay something with the extension...and just a big pile of docs. Sch C lawyer with reciepts and checkbook register.

I work under a cpa. His words: "We will get these done for you and e-filed by Tuesday"

.........

Tax return had a $ 5,000 IRA deduction, maximum education credits (twins), S Corp health insurance deduction for AGI. I've previously (just yesterday) explained to her that at this moment cannot put any more tax deferrals away because 1) Her S Corp doesn't have a pension plan set up yet (she's the only employee), 2)It's not going to save her any more tax money, 3) Paperwork has to be completed to set up a corporation pension plan (401(k), SIMPLE etc) 4)If doing a deferral - has to be part of the W-2 process. Don't you think she calls me 5:00 PM on 4/11 to ask again if there's anything she can do to put more money away into a pension type plan?

Then - wants to know if we can increase her W-2 for 2007 so she can increase earnings for Social Security. She is presently 59.

It's beautiful when these clients come up with this stuff AFTER you've busted your hump to get the returns done. Getting 100% of her withholding back isn't enough.

More importantly, do you send them a 1099 after the deed is done? What would you call this? Bad debt expense?

I love LA.

Tom

By the way, I checked your profile before this post because I wanted to be able to spell your name correctly and I proof read my post three times before hitting (not hinting) the "save" button.

Have a great evening.

Than the lady that questioned her price of her return - had to go through my speech of the plumber gets 95.00 per hour, so my 125.00 per hour does not seem that unreasonable blahaha

4 days left

Me: %@&$@!&^#&^@*&%#$&* Are you kidding me??? You are already getting a bargain!! (Not really...)

E-mail to client. You moved from California to Texas, so I needed to prepare a California part year resident return. Your income is not earned ratably so I must prepare a schedule of income for the dates you are in each state. This requires additional time to prepare your returns. In addition, because Texas has no income tax, I need to determine whether the sales tax deduction is more beneficial to you than the state income tax deduction. Plus, I need to research whether or not any local sales taxes are charged where you live in Texas.

Client: Thank you. I will send your check tomorrow.

Me: People pay decorators $50 to $75 per hour. There is something wrong with this picture.

On a good note - I took a five hour nap from 3.30 to 8.30 today. I feel like a new person. I'm winding down and everything is on track. All of my straglers are picking up returns on Saturday. I have a client referral coming in tommorow and should have that done on Monday. I had to file one extension and that should be finished in late April.

Only one person keeps hounding me for her return - my wife! "Honey, are our taxes done yet? They are due on the 15th".

Like I don't know that.

Sunny, you need to check with Roy. He might be able to help you with that keyboard of yours.

Nancy, it sounds like someone forgot to order the sunshine. Sit back, close your eyes, and enjoy.

Gee, that smiley looks familiar!

Tom

Message today on phone: "Can you give me a call and tell me how to take the home office deduction in Turbotax?"

Unbelievable

Nancy, I start watching the 15 day outlook on April 1st for my wish of 60s, 70s sunny forecast for the 16th. I always tell my clients to blame me if its cold, rainy, or otherwise dreary the first two weeks of April.

I'm ready to blow. Just got rid of the second client today that has problems with their property tax statement ("My realtor must not have filed for homestead status" -AND- "Was I supposed to notify the county of property ownership changes?"). I tell them the M1PR isn't due til August anyway, but they still want to sit and discuss this TODAY. Like I'd be able to fix it for them right now on the spot. And frankly my dear, I don't give a rip at this point anyway! Somebody make them go away!!!!

Loved the client that stopped by last week with a 1040X in her hand. We were going to do her dtrs return but she decided to do it herself. No problem, dtrs return will not make or break my business. Well she forgot to put the withholding from dtrs social secutiry on return and efiled it. Called IRS they told her to file 1040X. Could I just help her out it would only take me a second. My response was "No, it will take me more then a second and between now and the 15th I don't have a spare second". If you want me to do the 1040X, I'll have to charge you and I'll need a copy of the return you did but won't be able to get to it until sometime in May. Or you can call the IRS back and perhaps they can assist you. (Ya gets what ya pay for)

For the most part, my clients are really great. But there are a couple that I think need to go. They suck the life right out of me and I'm at a point where I can pick and choose my clients.