My turn to vent

[Lion]

And...

Obviously the dog ate them.
Next question is why can't he deduct vet bills for the dog? - it is medical expense, you know.

And, tax related, since the dog might've gotten sick from your client's 1040-ES forms.

[Jesse]

It seems too many people just look at the bottom line. The other frustrating client is the "that's all" mentality. Taxpayer had a kid in college in 08 - hope credit, nice refund; two kids in college in 09 - one in disaster declared area - nice refund. 2010 THREE kids in college two on fully funded state and federal grants, third had a nice summer job so did not receive but a mere $2,000 for a $7,000 tuition bill.

Since this year they have three kids in college I get a "that's all" as they are expecting a HUGE refund - at least $2,500 per student. I try to explain "but you didn't acctually pay anything out of pocket for two of the kids - this is free money you don't have to pay back, unlike a student loan - so except for one of the kids you didn't have the tuition and book costs.

They think the are getting so totally ripped off. I don't understand!!!!!

[ChEAr$]

What did he do with the 1040-ES and envelope that you surely gave him last year along with his tax return?

You give him envelopes?

[Possi]

They Owe They Owe...

... I have had a few high income doctors who once benefitted from their Rental properties, and now their incomes are too high to benefit in the present year. They owe big time. One got out of the military and her income ZOOMED to the top. I have to tell her today that she owes a lot of money.

But the ones who pay nothing and get free money, and then ask "Is that all I'm getting?" are the ones I just HAVE to get rid of. I am so excited about 99% of my tax returns, that the 1% sometimes just sink my ship. I see each one as a short story and I'm so anxious to see how it ends... always hoping for the very best ending... (I'd say "happy ending" but that has an all new conotation these days... )

[JG EA]

Now I feel better - it is a "thing". It seems to happen to many others on this board. Imagine how it will be if many breaks disappear. I do plan to suggest to the long time client to get a second opinion on his overall tax situation. If he pays someone thousands of dollars, they may be able to work out some tax savings schemes, maybe even some of the ones I suggested BUT HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO (nope not over it yet).

[Jiggers]

What 1099DIV?

Anyone else having trouble getting 1099DIV's from clients who swear that they never received one?

From Exxon, Verizon, AT&T, etc.?

They are attached to the last dividend check issued in 2010. Be that be October, November, or December.

Why is that permitted?

[veritas]

Having trouble this year

with mortgage interest statements.

Also the IRS should require that all mortgage 1098 statements provide mortgage balance information.

[S T]

Agree on stmts

All stmts should have beginning and ending balances, there are several I track every year due to overlimit, and multiple tracing rules.

BofA is the worst, as they print the property taxes paid on the Reverse side, and I almost always have to ask for that, if the stmt has been emailed or faxed to me.

Verizon is one the worst - I am actually signed into a clients online account to retrieve year end stmts - as he swears he doesn't receive them, and I track from year to year. He is in his 70's so that is a God Send for me in completing his return.

Honestly, though I just don't think the T/p-Client is aware of what the document is. They usually look for it in January- February each year in the mail with that special envelope that is printed on the outside "Important Tax Information"

I can whine more, but don't have time right now - have to get back to emailing, phoning or faxing the list of the missing items and questions to get these returns completed.

We should all start a new thread on this after 4/18/11.

Sandy

[tpnl]

Have them call their representative.

I did not read all through everyones posts, so I apologize if someelse already said it.

We have clients every year that complain about the same exact things you said. After I explain why the tax is different and they still complain, I give them the telephone number of their federal house and senate member and tell them if they want the law changed, call them.

[JohnH]

I'd urge them to run for office so they could try to change things, but I don't want to lose their business. If they got elected, I'd have to fire them because some people are so dishonest it isn't worth having them as a client. Once they became a politician, they'd automatically fall into that category.

[Black Bart]

Customer Relations And Problems

...Every year in late March the owing starts. And every year I feel the need to complain....they may be able to work out some tax savings schemes, maybe even some of the ones I suggested BUT HE DIDN'T WANT TO DO

...It seems too many people just look at the bottom line...They think the are getting so totally ripped off. I don't understand!!!!!

...Anyone else having trouble getting 1099DIV's...

...the 1% sometimes just sink my ship...

...the IRS should require that all mortgage 1098 statements provide mortgage balance information...

...(nope not over it yet).

...Slapping my head...UGH, is the tax season over yet???

...What did he do with the 1040-ES and envelope...

You give him envelopes?

...Obviously the dog ate them...

...All stmts should have beginning and ending balances...I can whine more, but don't have time right now - have to get back to...

Well-said, group! Well-said. Apparently we're all fed up with this lousy treatment of our profession.

Since we're all mad as hell and aren't gonna take it anymore, I suggest we organize an emailin' campaign (don't have time/numbers for a Million Man March on Washington) and demand Congress enact a tax preparer relief bill (perhaps titled Customer Relations And Problems -- or CRAP for short) immediately mandating:

(1) Uniformly printed W-2s/1099s
(2) Full information 1098s
(3) Prompt delivery - all documents
(4) Re Customers: (a) $100 fine for each complaint (b) Minimum IQ levels (c) Mandatory courtesy (d) $500 Minimum Fee (e) A complete and total ban of the phrase - "Is that all?" - and all known permutations.
(5) World Peace

[bgiez]

Since we're all mad as hell and aren't gonna take it anymore, I suggest we organize an emailin' campaign (don't have time/numbers for a Million Man March on Washington) and demand Congress enact a tax preparer relief bill (perhaps titled Customer Relations And Problems -- or CRAP for short) immediately mandating:

(1) Uniformly printed W-2s/1099s
(2) Full information 1098s
(3) Prompt delivery - all documents
(4) Re Customers: (a) $100 fine for each complaint (b) Minimum IQ levels (c) Mandatory courtesy (d) $500 Minimum Fee (e) A complete and total ban of the phrase - "Is that all?" - and all known permutations.
(5) World Peace

I think we'll see world peace before we see items 1-4, unfortunately

[JohnH]

My list is a little shorter.
Right now I'll settle for a ban on phone calls asking "How's my return coming along?"

That is, unless it's OK for me to reply, "Gee, yours was the second one from the top, but every time somebody calls I pull it out to take a look and then wind up putting back at the bottom of the stack."

[Possi]

Comic relief

OMGosh! We all really DO work in the same "office!" I'm FOTFL!!

[Jiggers]

Call asking if return is ready

When a client calls asking if his return is ready, don't you REALLY want to say "yes, it has been ready for two days, but I didn't want to call you!"

Or "Do you think I am NOT going to call you when the return is ready?"