Rant thread

[origun]

The ultimate!

Former client came in with a simple return but with children so EIC, Child Tax Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit. I did the return, told her the amount of refunds and she said..."That's what I got using TurboTax. Why should I pay you $300 (or whatever)? I just wanted to see if I was correct." And out she goes with her W-2s!

[BHoffman]

Former client came in with a simple return but with children so EIC, Child Tax Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit. I did the return, told her the amount of refunds and she said..."That's what I got using TurboTax. Why should I pay you $300 (or whatever)? I just wanted to see if I was correct." And out she goes with her W-2s!

WOW!!!! Now, that is a LOTTA nerve!!

[ChEAr$]

Former client came in with a simple return but with children so EIC, Child Tax Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit. I did the return, told her the amount of refunds and she said..."That's what I got using TurboTax. Why should I pay you $300 (or whatever)? I just wanted to see if I was correct." And out she goes with her W-2s!

See quote below:

[RitaB]

I let some clients go

In August I sent a nice letter out to several PITA clients saying I would not be able to prepare their returns in the future because I wanted to cut back on my work load. Been great working for you, best wishes, blah, blah, blah.

One gal had an easy return, but called about EVERYTHING, required so much hand holding it was incredible, so I sent her one of the letters.

So guess what? SHE CALLS THIS MORNING WONDERING IF I CAN RECOMMEND A DIY PROGRAM SO SHE CAN DO HER OWN RETURN. Talked for 15 minutes. AAUGH!

Edit: She just called AGAIN to ask how long she should keep her old returns, bank statements, credit card statements. Now I am thinking: Well, I am still talking to her, only now I'm not getting the tax prep fee. Hmmm...

[BP.]

I sent a nice letter out to several PITA clients saying I would not be able to prepare their returns in the future

Sometimes I try weeding out some of the PITA's by pricing them away. When it works it's fine, and when it doesn't work -well, hey, that's OK too!

One know-it-all complainer called to say how tight $$ is. (They make it, but they spend it.) In a rash moment, I decided to just go ahead and increase her fee 33%. She wound up delighted, refund over 4x's what she had "rough figured."

She brought me home made muffins, gave me a follow up thank you call, and passed some of my cards out to co-workers.

[geekgirldany]

Former client came in with a simple return but with children so EIC, Child Tax Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit. I did the return, told her the amount of refunds and she said..."That's what I got using TurboTax. Why should I pay you $300 (or whatever)? I just wanted to see if I was correct." And out she goes with her W-2s!

Ouch! I had that happen to me a few times when I first started. New clients that just walked in. I quit doing that. Most were getting "estimates" of what their refund would or would not be.

Speaking of the Cat Chair.... you would think people would know (in my case) not to sit in the cat's chair... since it has hair all over it. A white cat no less. My cat has laid in this chair so long that the chair is growing hair. I try to keep it cover with a towel but someone always sits in it before I can stop them.

One day this PITA sit in it. Glad he did. Didn't do his return but he left with white cat hair all over his black pants. Ha!

[powerage]

today...

Long, boring day today, only 2 returns all day.

But I had a client who I will never forget. A true gentleman in his early 80's, and he has been a client for 10 years. It was my pleasure to meet him and to prepare his return.

[Possi]

Distractions

Do you have any clients who just have a cloud over their heads, and no matter how careful you are with their return, you are going to make a mistake?

I have one like that. The wife is so distracting... I can handle talking through the appointment, but she constantly tosses stuff at me while asking questions that require more than a nod or a smile. I mean, she drives me to drink...

She has child dependent care benefits on her W2 and it's difficult to walk through, in my program. They also live in one state and work in another, making the state division difficult.

After the 3rd year, and the 2nd mistake, I told her that she could not stay for the appointment anymore. Now she sends her husband and she stays home.

[FEDUKE404]

Some payment solace

"Child Distraction" fee....

I now have a new item for invoicing, thanks!

While working with a chain...thankfully in the past...I would add $10 to the bill for any cell phone use by the client. It would not show up as a line item invoice addition.

Office manager later noted increases.....asked why.....explanation given.....OM smiled and said "Good idea!"

FE

[JohnH]

I say send the husband home, too.

I get their info and then send them on their way (assuming they make it into my office to begin with since I try to get them to mail, email, or drop their info in my mail slot). Each of us is different, but there's no way I can concentrate with someone sitting there with me. Except for quick estimates, I never try to work up the return with the client in the office - their mere presence is too much of a distraction.

The more you migrate your clients away from expecting you to prepare the return while they wait, the more relaxed your pace will become. Plus you'll have time to reflect and actually think through anything unusual. It isn't just a matter of avoiding mistakes, it's also a matter of reducing your stress. Doing everything possible to keep your clients out of your office is an important step in the direction of efficiency & sanity.

[RitaB]

Me too, John

I can't imagine doing returns while the client waits. I think I'd lose it! I can't count the number of times I have thought of something I forgot to ask the client, called them the next day, and all was well. For the past week, I have had about 10 - 14 drop offs a day, and I manage to get 2 or 3 done. I am working on returns brought in 2/02.

I need to work on keeping them out of the office, like you do, John. By the time 14 people yak for 30 minutes each, the day is gone. So, I come in on Saturday, lock the door, rip out the phone, hammer down. I am really getting tired of that, too. I close on Wednesdays after tax season to recover my Saturdays, but still...

[MAJ]

Write offs......

I'm self employed for Tax Preparation.. Most of my clients do not bring the kids but a few do. My office is detached from my house and I have a couch and TV for them to sit and watch. Sometimes the game system is hooked up too.. Keeps them occupied while we chat.

As for people asking questions - Happens sometimes -- I usually come right out and ask "Why don't I prepare your taxes?" Stops them dead in the tracks.. From what I've seen over the years most people are extremely dedicated to their tax preparers. Not sure why that is. But if you think about it - that's a good thing. Hopefully ours are just as dedicated.

If someone is rude and talking or texting - STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING. If they look at you in a strange way - Just say - I'll wait - I don't want to distract you or be distracted - I wouldn't want to make a mistake on your return, right? - They'll get the picture real quick..

[taxea]

I have a nurse practitioner client who is constantly talking or texting on his cell phone while I am asking him questions. I have thought about visiting him in his office with my phone to my ear just so I could give him the same courtesy.

suggestions:
1. put a sign on your desk or wall behind it that says please turn off your cel phone
2. ask the client to please turn off the cel as it is causing too many distractions
3. if the client persists....say, we are going to have to schedule another appointment when they will not be so busy with their cel.

This interrupts your ability to get your work done and is very rude on the part of the client. This is yet another reason why I don't do appointments (work while the client is sitting there.)

[geekgirldany]

My Rant, QBs/Old Accountants

My rant for this week is a new client that had a local CPA do their return last year. Same CPA did two other clients that I acquired last year. All three have the same thing going on. QuickBooks doesn't match tax return and Loan To Shareholder account has large amount.

What I mean on the QBs side is that the tax return was prepared but no adjusting entries were made to match QBs to the tax return. Now I know QBs is a pain no doubt about it but why an accountant would not enter the adjusting entries I have no idea. How do they know from one year to the next what is going on?

I asked all three if the accountant told them that adjusting entries needed to be made and/or discussed certain aspects of the return with them. All three said no and said that was the reason they looked for another accountant.

So here I am again with another CPAs former client. Four years of returns prepared and I can't tell where some numbers are coming from. Then others are either more or less than what is being shown on the tax return.

Another big thing this accountant did is Loans To Shareholder. Now I use this too when distributions go over AAA. But I have never let it get over $10,000. These clients had Loans To Shareholder accounts that showed from $50,000 to over $100,000. No interest, no note.... it is just so aggravating.

[powerage]

I had a self-employed client today. Client had good records of deposits and expenses for 2009 and part of 2008 for the business. Also has EIN. Had 2008 return done at the other major tax chain I don't work for. Preparer told him he could not deduct his business expenses because he started the business in 2008. Huh??...("Fine, I won't report my business income.") I told him they better give him a free amended return. Also, not even basic advice about SE tax and estimated taxes were discussed. Most of the BD is SS taxes. He had no clue about that.

That said, I am by no means a tax adviser, but hopefully when the client leaves they have a little bit more of tax knowledge than when they came in. Nothing heavy, just the basics.