Appointments already

[tilt53]

Our home service is the entire SF Bay Area. My husband sees the clients in the home, does the basic workup and sends the files to me in OR. He's in someone's home every 2 hours from 8 am to 10 pm 7 days a week from Jan. 15 to Apr. 9. I have 1 full time processor. We both work up the returns on the computer, I do all final reviews of his work. When completed they're mailed back to the client for review and signature on the 8879s. Once they return those, I'll actually file the returns. This system seems to work well for us.

Because the Bay Area is so large, I've broken it down into 27 different zones and use Thomas Guide to further break down map codes. So that way he's either working in an area or transitioning from one to another. That way he's not going from Oakland to Morgan Hill to Brentwood. We encourage our clients to share appt. times with family members. Some have tax parties and I block out extra slots. The largest party has 12 different returns being done.

We mostly do 1040s with lots of Cs and Es. Only have about 2 dozen Corps and Partnerships.

[BOB W]

Our home service is the entire SF Bay Area. My husband sees the clients in the home, does the basic workup and sends the files to me in OR. He's in someone's home every 2 hours from 8 am to 10 pm 7 days a week from Jan. 15 to Apr. 9. I have 1 full time processor. We both work up the returns on the computer, I do all final reviews of his work. When completed they're mailed back to the client for review and signature on the 8879s. Once they return those, I'll actually file the returns. This system seems to work well for us.

Because the Bay Area is so large, I've broken it down into 27 different zones and use Thomas Guide to further break down map codes. So that way he's either working in an area or transitioning from one to another. That way he's not going from Oakland to Morgan Hill to Brentwood. We encourage our clients to share appt. times with family members. Some have tax parties and I block out extra slots. The largest party has 12 different returns being done.

We mostly do 1040s with lots of Cs and Es. Only have about 2 dozen Corps and Partnerships.

OK! Cool! Now let me get a little more info about this. Does your husband just capture the info or does he give the client a refund/pay figure? Does he go in with a computer and enter data?

[BP.]

What a fascinating system you've built, tilt53. Interesting that there are just so many different approaches to this business. Forty-three years --- very impressive! Do you see hubby during tax time? Have wonderful season!

Barb

[Jesse]

tilt53,
Very interesting, thanks for sharing!

[tilt53]

Bob, he'll do a basic workup (on paper, he's a dinosaur) and will give an approximate refund/amount due. The client understands that the figures aren't final until they come from me. This gives him some leeway in not having to play around with captial gains rates, etc. If at the time of the call they don't have all of their info, he'll leave them with a "do list" of what is missing. We use duplicates for that so that when he sends the file I know what he left them. Then the can call, email, mail, or fax the missing info depending on what it is. For example, he'll work up the early returns from end of the year pay stubs, but I won't complete the return until I have a copy of the W-2 or 1099 in the office.

Barb, no I don't see him until he comes home in April. I always bring him home early enough to allow for last minute processing, and then we take 2 days before the 15th to go down and deliver the last returns that we can't trust to our wonderfully antiquated mail system.

Hope everyone has a prosperous season. I hear grumbles about Turbo Tax and Taxcut, but it seems that most folks with any smarts realize the value in having a professional get it right the first time around.

[BOB W]

Bob, he'll do a basic workup (on paper, he's a dinosaur) and will give an approximate refund/amount due. The client understands that the figures aren't final until they come from me. This gives him some leeway in not having to play around with captial gains rates, etc. If at the time of the call they don't have all of their info, he'll leave them with a "do list" of what is missing. We use duplicates for that so that when he sends the file I know what he left them. Then the can call, email, mail, or fax the missing info depending on what it is. For example, he'll work up the early returns from end of the year pay stubs, but I won't complete the return until I have a copy of the W-2 or 1099 in the office.

Barb, no I don't see him until he comes home in April. I always bring him home early enough to allow for last minute processing, and then we take 2 days before the 15th to go down and deliver the last returns that we can't trust to our wonderfully antiquated mail system.

Hope everyone has a prosperous season. I hear grumbles about Turbo Tax and Taxcut, but it seems that most folks with any smarts realize the value in having a professional get it right the first time around.

My hat is also off to your husband. Capturing info on paper and giving an approx refund/balance due is quite a task. I don't think I could do it, even after 35 years in this business.. Too many inter-related issues that effect the outcome of a return, some are a substancial difference. Maybe for a basic return I could. Computers and calculators have recked my use of my brain and writing hand (also handwriting). I can go through a whole tax season without knowing the $ value of a exemption, child credit or standard deduction. Why?, because it is generally a non-issue with computer programs. So I just focus on the important issues.

You must have a pre-made form that he fills out and sends to you. Something like an organizer but tailored to your needs.

[JCH]

so what do you charge in the S.F. Bay Area?

[Larmil]

Bob

My hat is also off to your husband also. Capturing info on paper and giving an approx refund/balance due is quite a task. I don't think I could do it, even after 35 years in this business.. Too many inter-related issues that effect the outcome of a return, some a substancial difference. Maybe for a basic return I could. Computers and calculators have recked my use of my brain and writing hand (also handwriting). I can go through a whole tax season without knowing the $ value of a exemption, dependent or standard deduction. Why?, because it is generally a non-issue. So I just focus on the important issues.

I am junior to both you and her husband, but when I took the SEE (1983) they did not allow calculators (much less computers). My mentor (happened to be named Bob) did as her husband does with remarkable accuracy. I could not do it.

[tilt53]

A basic return, 1040, A, 540 CA will start at $205. Each C or E adds another $125. We are form based. So there will be SE as well as 4562. If there's a B or D, or E2, etc. it will go up. It would be hard to give an exact amount. We "freeze" our forms prices for existing clients. New clients come in at the current rate and then freeze. Changes only occur when then add or don't use a form the next year. So if a client has been with us for several years, their charge for a 1040, A., etc. has already been determined.

Yes, we take a loss on some of the really older clients, but the referrals coming in at new rates always make up for the difference. We only take new clients from referrals. Our existing clients know to never tell what their current rates are when they refer someone to us. We are available year 'round so that again is a service that is non-existent with some providers.

We feel that our rates are fair to both the clients and ourselves. We have a good income. On occasion (as I'm sure most of you do) we will evaluate and reconsider fees for a client who is in a difficult situation. Loyalty and recommendations can mean a lot.

PS. My husband was deeply offended that I called him a dinosaur. LOL

[S T]

tilt53

Don't know if you were officially welcomed to TTB or not, but welcome! We have a lot of great posters and a lot of good information that is posted, and we are going to welcome your posts of questions and information.

Just to add to to your post, I had a similar operation in California in scheduling in home or in house business appointments and prescheduled most. As each year progresses, those clients became loyal clients, and referred more. Some that were transferred out of State or decided to move, I was very fortunate to retain those loyal clients due to my past service and creditability. So I have been preparing taxes in multi-states for over 15 years.

Since I have relocated for tax year 2007, I was VERY fortunate to retain most of that client base, and now building another. The difference being now for year 2008-2009
(2007 -2008 tax year) and moving forward, I don't have to worry about logistics on the Road Map and driving. I actually have become about a 90% virtual office, much the same as one or maybe several of our other posters on TTB.

I am really enjoying the "virtual office" now as opposed to being on the road from Jan 15 to March 31, when I finally did the cut off dates.

My hat is off to you as well, and I so can appreciate how you are operating your business. Been there and done it.

I look forward to your posts during the upcoming year.

Sandy

[powerage]

WOW! You must be a store front operation.

I guess you could say that. I'm in an insurance office. We are just trying to take business from the big chains by being far less expensive and offering better customer service.

[BOB W]

I am junior to both you and her husband, but when I took the SEE (1983) they did not allow calculators (much less computers). My mentor (happened to be named Bob) did as her husband does with remarkable accuracy. I could not do it.

I took my SEE in 1983 . Past in 2 sittings, 3 parts and 1 part later. Was issued my card in 1984.