Stimulus phone number/website?

[taxea]

Not at all, John H. I train my clients well. For the most part they understand that the tax season is a very busy time for me and if I have to do their work for them it will only delay the completion of their return. The sooner they provide items on my checklist the sooner their return gets filed. All very simple...taxea

[JohnH]

Brad: How about this?

Line Item # 1: Fee for looking up Rebate (22 sec @ $120.hr)... $ .66
Line Item # 2: Fee for knowing where to look...........................$ 24.34

Sub-total............................................. .............................$25.00

[Brad Imsdahl]

22 seconds is less time than what it would take for me to explain to my client what I need for them to do. Its not worth making any kind of issue over this.

[Lion]

a small charge

I have no trouble including a small charge for the additional complexity on 2007 and 2008 returns due to this issue -- a bit like John says. I've had to understand the law and its application in a variety of situations and be able to explain it to lay people. It's buried in my base charge as are most tax law updates that would take me longer to explain the extra line item charge than it's worth. I'll graciously look up for each client to CYA, my own, that is, and let them know the thorough service I'm providing them!

[David1980]

I agree that it would take less time to just look up the number than it would be to explain what number you're looking for. However, have nothing against high fees.

I think fees serve two purposes. One is to pay for your time. The other is to discourage doing some kinds of work. For example there are jobs I would absolutely hate to do. If I had to put a price on them the price would be sky high, even though you could find someone else to do it for much less.

In this case, I think taxea simply doesn't want to lookup the information on the internet and has an exhorbitantly high price on it so that his customers provide the info without him having to.

I do wonder what happens when the client does not have the information and does not want to pay the price though. Do you send them home and schedule a second appointment taxea?

[taxea]

Dave 1980
I have trained my clients so well that here is my policy:

I work out of my home. My clients don't come to me, I go to them. One reason is that they usually forget to bring certain documents and if they are in their home they can easily get them.

I meet with a first time client so that they can get to know me and get comfortable with me. During that interview I try to answer or explain as much as I can about their individual situation, as it applies to their return. i.e. What I need and why I need it. Also what I don't want in the way of paperwork.

I explain that near the end of January they will receive, in the mail from me,
1. a general questionaire to go through and check off the items to apply to them.
2. worksheets that apply specifically to their circumstances i.e. Sch A, B, C. E etc.
3. a checklist of documents to put together so I can prepare their returns.
4. I provide an email address and phone number where they can ask any questions they may have.
The mailing includes instructions on which and how to complete the worksheets as well as how to get their completed documents to me.

Once they mail or drop off their documents I start their return.

If I have any further questions or need more info...I email or call them.

Clients love this because we all have busy lives. I tell them that I try to make everything as convenient as for them as possible.

When I complete their return I sent the client copy with my bill via USPS priority mail.
An addressed envelope is included with instructions to sign the 8879 and send it with their payment of my bill.
Once these are received their return is efiled.

They all know not to expect me to answer the phone so they must leave a detailed message with their question or the information I have requested. I get so few interruptions that I can concentrate on getting the returns done. Most have found that if they have email they will get a quicker response from me. Their phone calls are returned by my assistant.

You would be amazed at how well this system works. taxea

[equinecpa]

Is the Stimulus Site Working??

I tried the site yesterday and it didn't work - I can't remember what it said but I know I had no luck. Is it up and running?

[S T]

Thursday 1-08-09

Just tried the site and it is working.

http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=185471,00.html

Sandy

[ecb34691]

It's working REAL well, used it many times this week. Takes about 20 seconds, since I have it bookmarked and keep multiple tabs open in IE7 at all times it's a snap.

[John Valko]

Phone Number to check on Payment

The IRS site is no longer working. There is a phone number that your clients can call to check on their stimulus payment though. The number is 1-866-234-2942.

[Gene V]

The IRS site is no longer working. There is a phone number that your clients can call to check on their stimulus payment though. The number is 1-866-234-2942.

I just try this web site--its working OK

https://sa1.www4.irs.gov/irfof/IRServlet?app=IRACTC&selectLanguage=en

[Black Bart]

Refunds delayed?

Does anyone know what will happen to an E-filed return that has the wrong stimulus payment amount listed? Will it matter whether the return gives a figure that is more or less than the IRS Figure? Also does anyone have any idea what percentage of the time the IRS Figure will actually be incorrect? (I realize that if money was taken out of the check for some reason then the client will wrongly perceive that the IRS figure is incorrect but that is not what I am talking about.)

I also wondered if a wrong stim amount would be considered a math error and delay refunds, but more likely they'd CP-something you later. But anyway, to avoid that possibility and the torturous hassle of extracting correct info from the taxpayer, I'm taking Bees Knees' method of clicking on the IRS site and not mentioning it to clients (maybe make a few exceptions for a few large rebate amount clients to double check). I'm guessing 95% of IRS computer amounts will be right and that's good enough for me -- heaven only knows what percentage of client-furnished amounts would be accurate.

I would be particularly interested in whether there has been IRS guidance as to what constitutes due diligence with respect to a client's stimulus amount...

If you take IRS' word for it (use their site), then the DD problem's solved, isn't it?

[Mike Mac]

Takes me a bit longer

I decided to check the IRS site for each of my clients and plug it in to the appropriate line on the Proseries Info Worksheet at the same time. I have both the tax software and website opened at the same time and both visible on the computer screen (just reduced their size). It has been taking me about one minute per client to pull up their file from homebase, jump to the website & put in the 3 pieces of data, jump back to Proseries, fill in the blank and then repeat tje process for the next client. The biggest problem is the boredom while doing it.

[thomtax]

Link built in

Drake had built a link right into the software. When you pull up the page where you will enter the rebate received, there is a link where you can click on and it takes you right to the IRS site.

LT