NT / So, would it kill you to pick up a phone?

[RitaB]

Today has been one thing after the other. I have not accomplished a thing.

One lady DROPS IN to ask about 2011 withholding. Yaks for 30 minutes about family problems. (And, they are MANY. Wow.)

Another guy DROPPED IN to say he wanted to close his non-profit. Brought his wife and two kids because apparently, I need to see them, and the kids needed to see every square inch of my office.

Lady DROPPED IN to say her husband started "drawin", what should we do about taxes?

Just now, another lady DROPPED IN to see if she could get a copy of her 30 year-old son's 2005 return. Well, no, you can't. Have him call me.

Do people really have time to go to offices when a phone call would suffice?

[AZ-Tax]

Have home office but now rethinking getting store front office..

I discourage drop ins and I think it helps that I have a home office but on the flip side I may be losing business by not having store front office.

[Nashville]

Appointment Only

Can you enforce an "appointment only" modus operandi??

[Jiggers]

I would bet that all of these have had their returns completed, and think that you have nothing else to do.

All my clients think that way.

[RitaB]

Wow, I used "Multi-quote"

Can you enforce an "appointment only" modus operandi??

Apparently not.

I would bet that all of these have had their returns completed, and think that you have nothing else to do.

All my clients think that way.

As a matter of fact, that is exactly right.

Seriously, I really like being available to people, approachable, and all that, but really, people don't consider how busy we are, do they? Also, none of these people are self-employed, so they don't know (or care, I guess) that time is money.

On a happier note, a sweet little widow DROPPED IN to bring me some apple butter because I gave her a projection for next year's return. Sa-weet!

[oceanlovin'ea]

annuity lady

I feel your pain Rita. Some days you can't get anything done. I have my grandson all day today and my granddaughter after school so I am not trying to work on taxes. I am cleaning house.......and they are messing up the house. I just can't win.

The thread I did on the annuity to see if there was a way for it not to be taxable. She has called me every day and more than once a day. She called at 9 pm Wednesday night. I did NOT answer the phone. She called several times Thursday and Friday, but not on the weekend. Today she called to say just put it on there it was probably taxable. How much were they going to owe? The other lady that had done their return and efiled it and then agreed to amend because of the farm rental stuff has already done an amendment for them but they were mad and didn't want to go get it from her. She says they owe around $2150. What did I come up with? I think it came up to a little over a little over $2200. So they will just send in hers it is lower amount. But they will pay me for what I did. YOU BET THEY WILL!!!! She has been such a pain!!!!

It is a good thing we have some really sweet clients that make up for these pains.

Yum, yum. I love apple butter.

Linda, EA

[RitaB]

A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

Caller: Do you know why I haven't received my refund?

I go through all the everything, check online, got accepted March 2, blah, blah, call the 800 number.

Caller (45 minutes later): Well, I called and they said I owed $900 to somebody and they were reducing the refund.

Me: Who did you owe?

Caller: I don't know.

Me: IRS didn't know? Or, give you a number to call?

Caller: Yeah, they gave me a number to call. Thought I would check with you first.


I give up.

[JohnH]

Tell him you'll be glad to check it out for him, but your charge for your time will be $900. Then let him decide how badly he wants to know.

[Burke]

Mondays are the worst. It is why I no longer schedule appts on Mondays. Have had at least 5 people come in to pick up (yeaaa... ) and two to drop stuff off they forgot. And yes I have to do the family news bit too. And then there are the phone calls from the completed ones about the corrected 1099 they just got, or the K-1. What's that for? Ahhh, Saturdays and Sundays. Love to be here then. I am just hoping I make it through tax season unscathed physically. Fell at the recyclers -- stepped in a hole -- and banged myself up on the boxcar. Then two weeks ago, I thought I was in the middle, but I was on the edge, rolled over -- and fell out of bed. Sheeessshhh.

[Jesse]

I don't make appointments on Monday's either, way to hectic and I also cherish my weekends with my door locked and ringer off. People don't understand why, if I'm so busy I don't work weekends - yeah okay, I won't even try to explain.

I 'm sorry your pain and suffering put a smile on my face - but the falling out of bed cracked me up. Hope you heal well!

[Burke]

Yeah, and it was a Monday, too! Only 4 more to go.

[FEDUKE404]

Well, actually.....

Yeah, and it was a Monday, too! Only 4 more to go.

Make that three for me.

No way I will be in business on 04/18 - probably will head out of town (beach? mountains?) NLT 04/15.

I will leave some soothing violin music on my answering machine for anyone who calls that Friday and beyond......

FE

[Burke]

Yeah, maybe that's the best idea. Most don't realize it's actually the 18th this year anyway. Glad I gave you a chuckle. I guess the visual image of my body flailing through the air was funny. (Didn't particularly think so at the time.) A re-read of the incident reminds me of a country song....."I was in the middle, but thought I was on the edge....." Maybe if I called Trace, or Tim, or Garth.....you think there is another career on the horizon for me? On second thought, maybe it's a Loretta thing.

[JG EA]

This discussion reminds me of the time a client dropped by the office. He sat down at my desk (I've solved that problem anyway) and said "My wife is at an appointment and I have an hour to kill." I thought "kill, interesting word"..