Venting

[oceanlovin'ea]

I can't believe how much work I have yet to do. I have never filed extensions before except for people who hadn't come in yet. Well, maybe 2 or 3 that I just didn't get finished.

I have returns all over the place that I don't have finished. Most are waiting for something or for clients to call me back.
I have 5 s corps I haven't finished yet. I found out yesterday that the "piece" of equipment they sold was actually 5 pieces of equipment. Back to bookkeeping and redoing tax return.
One is bugging me because he was always a schedule C and I did his return mostly while he was in the office. Last year he set up LLC taxed as s corp. Then ended up closing business last year too. They are driving me nuts because they want to know how much they are going to owe. I have other returns that I haven't done yet that were in before theirs. I feel guilty doing his first. Another one needs return for FAFSA. He has businss income, farm income, etc. and wants it done yesterday.

I know what you are all going to say. You stop taking clients in March. Well, I have never had to do that before. I have always been able to get everything done. But people are waiting till last minute to call this year. Guess everyone is stressed out.

Thanks for letting me vent. Now back to work and be grateful that I have work to do. I don't need to sleep till the weekend anyway. But I felt so bad ....my little granddaughter called tonight and she was crying and wanted to spend the night with Nana because she hasn't got to do that in sooooooo long. I had to tell her not tonight...broke my heart.

Linda

[AZ-Tax]

Do you think Rodney was a tax preparer at one time...NO respect

About 3 yrs ago a hispanic man comes in during the summer with a letter from the IRS owning $22K that I another tax preparer prepared. I told him to go back to the tax preparer that prepared his return but he replied "I dont trust him". Make a long story short I got his tax problem down to $12K and he reacted to me as his hero and I was his tax preparer for life. When he calls me late with his taxes this year and I told him I need to file an extension for which he was ok with. I prepare one of his kids taxes and his kid tells me today her dad had his taxes down some other place. I tell you NO respect, very little loyalty etc.

[Possi]

I'm feeling it too

I have never ever had so many clients waiting until the last minute! And so many new clients, too! Next year, I'm changing my protocol. I was going to post after the 15th and ask how you handle it. My goal was 400, but I didn't want 50 of them in the last 2 weeks of tax season!

And I swear to my mother, if one more VITA Cheapskate comes in here with tax returns so FUBAR it looks like a kindergartner did it, I will absolutely flip. Why do educated and well paid people with rental property and self employment let VITA people do their taxes? They will pay me three times over to do their taxes three times over again!

I haven't answered my own phone for a week. My sister is getting it. And still, they are dumping tax returns in my front door and LEAVING! It's like having a convertible opened in a Florida parking lot and finding 50 pounds of ZUCCINI dumped in there!

ok
ifeelbetter
just a little stressed....

Oh, and did I tell you my BOYFRIEND was here from CT this weekend to WORK? AND THAT IS ALL WE DID?????

ok that was clearly too much information.
i'll shaddup now..
just a little tense.... sorry...

[JohnH]

It's a little late to be posting this, but I had a brainstorm over the weekend and sent emails to several of my regular procrastinators. Told them I'm busier than usual and if they'll just email me their W-2 info I'll file their extension without their having to drop it off. By 10AM today I had responses from all but one of them and their extensions are out the door.

I'm still "busier than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs", but every time I'm tempted to complain I start thinking of all those returns I prepared with Unemployment Compensation this year and I decide instead to give thanks to God for the headaches He's sending my way.

[Possi]

Great idea!

It's a little late to be posting this, but I had a brainstorm over the weekend and sent emails to several of my regular procrastinators. Told them I'm busier than usual and if they'll just email me their W-2 info I'll file their extension without their having to drop it off. By 10AM today I had responses from all but one of them and their extensions are out the door.

I'm still "busier than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs", but every time I'm tempted to complain I start thinking of all those returns I prepared with Unemployment Compensation this year and I decide instead to give thanks to God for the headaches he's sending my way.

I should have done that. I knew 2 weeks ago the ones who were procrastinating!

And thanks for helping me count my blessings...

[geekgirldany]

My Rant

Yes thank God I have the business... but boy am I wore out. I have around 6 S-Corps to do. Two partnerships (s-corps) where there is some feuding going on. If interested I posted on one a week or so ago. Got a nasty email from one of them. Rared me out and then at the end of email said "Sincerely". Ya sincerely.
I won't go into details (would like too) but lawyers will be getting involved.... so that means I am not getting involved. This again reminds me to NEVER do S-Corps/Partnerships with two or more shareholders related or unrelated because sooner or later it goes to the dogs.

My phone is ringing off the hook. I don't have anyone to answer it so I return calls around 4pm. People call not once but three times. One called four times today and finally just came to the office. He told me "your not answering your phone"... I was like "geez I wonder why"... with three people waiting on the front porch to pickup returns.

Lots of late people. I mean more than usual. My extension list is also longer than it has ever been. I am so tired. Today I had to reprint a client's return two times. Once because of wrong address the other because I entered unemployment wrong.

Where is my Five Hour Energy drink

Calgon take me away!

[BHoffman]

Extension Phobia

Lots of latecomers here too. I used to suffer from Extension Phobia, but I am miraculously cured.

[equinecpa]

I sent out an email last weekend and must have lit a fire under many of my clients butts. I said I needed their information for their extensions so I could get them filed before the 15th and not have to worry about the 15th as a deadline. I explained last year I had a power outage on the 15th ( I really did) and do not want to live through such a harrowing experience again. Most of them promptly sent me their w-2's and didn't even ask if I'd have time to prepare their returns before the 15th.

That really has taken a bunch of stress off of me this year. Yes I still have plenty to do but not nearly the stress factor of prior years. I will make the April 01st extension email a habit. I run about 3 weeks behind so am usually only able to complete returns for those who have information to me by the 1st anyhow.

Carolyn

[oceanlovin'ea]

Misery loves company

I'm glad we are all in the same boat. I am thankful that I have work and that my clients have referred around 30 new people to me this year. I've got a few that didn't come back. Not sure why...they were good returns.

Anyway, I must go. I have to do an NOL carryback before I can go to bed. They are coming to pick up return tomorrow. I've put this off for 3 weeks. No time to do it tomorrow. I have 8 appointments.

BTW, anyone watch Dancing with the stars tonight. The judges were really mean tonight. I think Kate actually looked like she enjoyed the last 30 seconds of her dance.

Linda

[geekgirldany]

Anyway, I must go. I have to do an NOL carryback before I can go to bed. They are coming to pick up return tomorrow. I've put this off for 3 weeks. No time to do it tomorrow. I have 8 appointments.

I've got one that had a NOL in 2009. So I needed to carryback to 2006. Never brought that years return. Told him of the situation and statue of limitations, told me to do an extension for 09, nothing about the other year (shrug)

[WhiteOleander]

I've got one that had a NOL in 2009. So I needed to carryback to 2006. Never brought that years return. Told him of the situation and statue of limitations, told me to do an extension for 09, nothing about the other year (shrug)

Don't worry. The SOL doesn't count if you are doing a NOL carryback. IRS has to give any refund arising from the NOL.

[BP.]

Lots of latecomers here too. I used to suffer from Extension Phobia, but I am miraculously cured.

Same here. Sent out a bunch more emails last night to say "you'll be going on extension." So much less stress for me. Anybody calling the last several days, it's "drop-off, book appt if you want, (for post 15 Apr) and I'll file an extension for you." If I say it with a kind, soothing tone of voice like I'm doing THEM a huge favor, they are grateful rather than disappointed. Still loads to do though. I'm feeling joyful & grateful.

[DonPriebe]

And I swear to my mother, if one more VITA Cheapskate comes in here with tax returns so FUBAR it looks like a kindergartner did it, I will absolutely flip. Why do educated and well paid people with rental property and self employment let VITA people do their taxes? They will pay me three times over to do their taxes three times over again!

Let me rant from the other side of the fence. The VITA/TCE volunteers don't take their training seriously. We do a "scope of service" training module every year. The IRS textbook explicitly prohibits preparing a Schedule C or any Schedule E activity that involves expenses or depreciation. We explain to the volunteers that they are NOT covered by the "Good Samaritan" law when they act outside the scope of the training and duties. They may be personally liable for their mistakes. But out of a desire to help (or pure arrogance) they do them anyway.

We get requests for 1041's on a regular basis, and I did turn away a TCE client who wanted us to do a 990 this year.

Don (TCE volunteer and instructor in the morning, paid preparer in the afternoon)

[JohnH]

One thing I'd suggest adding to the conversation when discussing extensions. I tell the client that filing the extension doesn't mean we have to wait until Oct to file the return. It simply takes Apr 15 off the table & makes it just another work day for all of us (the client and myself). As a matter of fact, I generally finish up 1/3 of the extended returns by mid-May anyhow (right after I get the 1st quarter payroll reports out the door.).That seems to soothe clients who jump to the wrong conclusions when they hear the word "extension".

Of course, the regular procrastinators just assume it means Oct, so it doesn't bother them at all.

[Jiggers]

It's a shame.......

.......that we have to work so hard January thru April 15 so that we make enough to help carry us through December!

I still do monthly write-up work, but that just covers our health insurance and some overheard.

I also have fiscal year ending 1120's, quarterly payroll reports, and State franchise returns in upcoming months which also help in the later months.

I rasied my fees this year to provide me with enough extra income to carry me into January 2011.

And clients don't think we do anything after we finish their return, do they?