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"I see stupid people"

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    #1

    "I see stupid people"

    How do you deal with the phone calls like I got this morning...

    "I've been talking to a lot of military wives whose husbands make the same amount of money and have a child like me and they are getting back a lot more money than I am."

    After entertaining her for 5 minutes, going through the return, I could tell she didn't have any idea what I was talking about. So, I assured her the tax return was correct, and to simplify my explaination, I said......."

    "Maybe their husbands had some federal withholding on their W2. Your husband had very little."

    "WHAT'S THAT? WHAT'S WITHHOLDING?"

    Holy Mother of Gawd..... REALLY???

    justventing.....
    "I am proud to pay taxes in the United States. The only thing is I could be just as proud for half the money." Arthur Godfrey
    Tags: None
    #2
    I had one the other day:

    Caller: Uh, how much to have a tax return done?
    Me: It depends on how complex your return is.
    Caller: Really, I didn't know that.
    Me: I could not stay in business charging the same fee for all returns. You might have 10 rental properties and several businesses, so there would be lots more work involved than just a simple W2 only return.
    Caller: Oh, I guess so...thanks.

    I suppose they were off to call the next listing in the phone book and ask the same question.

    Comment

      #3
      And Possi is in a military (navy) town, so I just know there are many, many "holes in the wall" tax prep places where you can get a really large refund. YouknowwhatImean.
      ChEAr$,
      Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

      Comment

        #4
        Stupid People

        How would you like to have the 1st client of the season call you end of January where normally she comes in last week of March. Reason - needs FAFSA forms for her daughter by 2/4.
        Husband earns minimum wage - with virtually -0- withholding, Fed'l or State - she was out on disability for good part of year - so their income was greatly reduced - she's the breadwinner.
        After interview she calls to inform me that they bought a used car during year and paid sales tax. Fine- it didn't qualify for Cash for Clunkers and couldn't get above AGI deduction - but I figured it into the calculations if it was possible. and gave me an interest income amount from bank account.
        Work on return, get it done by deadline.
        When she walks in to pick up, tells me that the interest amount she gave me was for 1 month - all I needed to do was "change just one number". (It wasn't a material amount to be worth changing the return). Once I told her I'd have to recharge - she renegged.
        But here's the cute part.
        When I informed her of the refund amount it was greatly reduced from last year - she figured with 1/2 the income, her tax liability should be 1/2. No matter what I told her she wasn't satisfied - daughter turned 17, no longer eligible for Child Credit, husband's low withholding, extra standard deduction for real estate tax in leiu of itemizing.
        I had other appointments and wasn't going to waste more time on her and delay the other people.
        I KNOW she had in mind of going to someone else to check it out. Haven't been paid for it yet, and probably won't. After tax season - will have to take her to Justice Court to get paid.
        Uncle Sam, CPA, EA. ARA, NTPI Fellow

        Comment

          #5
          Not stupid people, but

          you DO wonder from time to time.

          My 1040 client also has an S corporation under my aegis, and also is member of an LLC which return is dont by CPA of the other member.

          So he needs 1040 done for daughter to apply for scholarship before end of this month. He gives me last figure I need for the 1120S and I get it done. But I still need the line 1 of the LLC K1 to do his return by 2/28. he checks with the other accountant (CPA) who answers his email with:

          "I don’t see me (sic!) getting it done by than. Have him put the same number as last year on his 2009 tax return so he can give them something to look at. He can file it with the final number when we complete the return."

          So I told my client that if I put any estimated number on a 1040, it will be on one without my name and number on it, but if the scholarship./student aid people will accept that, fine.
          ChEAr$,
          Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

          Comment

            #6
            Originally posted by KBTS View Post
            I had one the other day:

            Caller: Uh, how much to have a tax return done?
            Me: It depends on how complex your return is.
            Caller: Really, I didn't know that.
            Me: I could not stay in business charging the same fee for all returns. You might have 10 rental properties and several businesses, so there would be lots more work involved than just a simple W2 only return.
            Caller: Oh, I guess so...thanks.

            I suppose they were off to call the next listing in the phone book and ask the same question.
            You need to change the response to the initial question.
            Maybe this would work...

            Caller: Uh, how much to have a tax return done?
            You: I don't really charge for the return, I charge for answering questions. The first answer is free, then I charge for every question after that.
            Caller: How much do you charge for answering questions?
            You: $200 each. What's your second question?
            Caller: "Click"
            "The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectful" - John Kenneth Galbraith

            Comment

              #7
              Originally posted by Possi View Post
              "WHAT'S THAT? WHAT'S WITHHOLDING?"

              Holy Mother of Gawd..... REALLY???
              Guy comes in with a 1099-R (premature) after taxes are done.
              "I know I didn't need to claim this 'cause I already paid the taxes on it (10% withheld), but just tell me how much to send in to the local for it." (Not taxable for local.)
              "Yeah this goes on your return- you'll owe $750."
              "But I already paid the taxes on it."
              "You had 10% withheld, but you didn't really pay the taxes yet."
              "Yeah, I did, look."

              Comment

                #8
                That happens to me a lot

                Originally posted by BP. View Post
                Guy comes in with a 1099-R (premature) after taxes are done.
                "I know I didn't need to claim this 'cause I already paid the taxes on it (10% withheld), but just tell me how much to send in to the local for it." (Not taxable for local.)
                "Yeah this goes on your return- you'll owe $750."
                "But I already paid the taxes on it."
                "You had 10% withheld, but you didn't really pay the taxes yet."
                "Yeah, I did, look."
                I get that too, BP. Happens a lot with the early withdrawal people. They just don't get the whole retirement savings thing, which is probably why they are bailing out on the account and paying a penalty. (And they are shocked, shocked!)

                I was wondering if I used this strategy to explain: "Well, you had tax wittheld from your wages already, so let's just assume they got it exactly right and just leave that W-2 info off..."

                Speaking of "Holy Mother of Gawd" (that cracked me up, BTW) the pastor whose return I am working on gives me WAY too much info. Causes me so much extra work. He actually tries to figure his mortgage interest expense. (The 1098 is right there!) His figure is wrong, but he lists it on his notes. So, I call him to ask what's the second interest figure about.

                "What second interest figure?
                If you loan someone $20 and never see them again, it was probably worth it.

                Comment

                  #9
                  I animate the explaination...

                  Why such a small refund with so many different W2? It's simple...

                  Holding up each W2... "This W2 thinks this is the ONLY income you have in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD and it withholds very little." (Arms up and making big circles) I do that with each W2.

                  Then I say, with a grandious arm gesture, "When you come here, all these W2's marry up and *poof* you are in the 25% tax bracket, and your withholding is less than 10%. It's the perfect storm!" Of course, THIS year, that scenerio is even worse due to the GoBama withholding game. argggg

                  It's just exhausting to have to deal with no-brains. Of course, it's REAL SWEET when I go to the BANK! Especially when April 15 comes along and I'm on a boat, on a lake, or under the stars, sippin fine wine..... ahhhhhhhh Yeah, I'll take stupid for a few more weeks!
                  "I am proud to pay taxes in the United States. The only thing is I could be just as proud for half the money." Arthur Godfrey

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Sometimes I wonder how some people would get out of bed in the morning if they didn't have me. Well, it's kind of nice to be needed. And appreciated.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Possi View Post
                      Holding up each W2... "This W2 thinks this is the ONLY income you have in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD and it withholds very little." (Arms up and making big circles) I do that with each W2.

                      Then I say, with a grandious arm gesture, "When you come here, all these W2's marry up and *poof*
                      This is a fabulous tip, possi -- may I steal, please?

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Originally posted by BP. View Post
                        This is a fabulous tip, possi -- may I steal, please?
                        Or just tell me where your lake is, Possi. (grin
                        ChEAr$,
                        Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Thought this seemed in line with the topic...

                          Merely a question of attribution
                          Attached Files

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Omigod, that is great. Thanks for the link.

                            Maribeth

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Absolutely!

                              Originally posted by BP. View Post
                              This is a fabulous tip, possi -- may I steal, please?
                              Yes! It's an original, and I share it wholeheartedly! We must unite! hahaha
                              "I am proud to pay taxes in the United States. The only thing is I could be just as proud for half the money." Arthur Godfrey

                              Comment

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