Originally posted by oceanlovin'ea
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Seems that way, doesn't it? I've already heard lots of drama & even got some juicy gossip from a client about hooking up with another of my clients. . . not the first time that's happened either.
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BP - that's funny
When I was back at HRB many years ago, I had one of my clients come in and tell me they had gotten married the year before. I can't remember where they met. But when it came tax time, she wanted to keep using her tax preparer and he wanted to keep using his. They went back and forth and finally she asked him who is tax preparer was. It was me. She told him that I was hers too. So they both got their wishes. I thought that was so cute. I was pleased that they both liked and trusted me so much.
Linda, EAComment
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Adorable . . . but don't you hate losing a "client?" Two tax returns are now one.Originally posted by oceanlovin'ea View Post
Seems the tax preparer is a bargaining chip in lots of unions or dissolutions!
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There are two sides to every story....and then the truth!
Until you get to know this new woman client....I would be wary! I'm sure you've heard from others on this board about the people who will call and say "Do I need to report the cash my clients give me for cleaning their house or only the checks that I receive?....My hairdresser said I only need to report the checks because that is what she does."
Unless you know with certainty that is how the prior tax preparer handled her return, I would be hesistant. I agree with other posters about educating our clients. The time spent on the front end is worth more than the frustration on the back end.
I hope she works out to be a good client for you. As an aside, I would pick one of the categories she gave you dollars and cents for and ask her to provide the receipts for that category. If the receipts for one category don't jive.....the rest of the numbers might be suspect too.
I had a new client one year who had alot of "donations".....when I told her I needed to verify a few things....the value of the donations dropped down from 4 figures to low 3 figures.....if you get my drift. Good luck!Comment
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At least you have clients coming in. I have plenty to do but I am more caught up at this point than ever in the past.I'm wondering if things will pick up here or I should just go on vacation now.JGComment
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Still Slow
Not to worry JG - I am still slow and also caught up in the Past - Just finishing up my W2 and 1099 forms, and really hoping that not too many people will start calling me until next week. Has given me some time to manage to close out some Small Biz Accounting and input preliminary figures in the Computer
Seems like receipt of the mail out of documents (1099 INT-Mort Interest, etc) is a little slower this year. I just received some of ours this week, that I normally receive in a prior week.
SandyLast edited by S T; 01-27-2012, 03:32 AM.Comment
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Good to know that others think it is a little slow. Modern technology speeding up the distribution of forms I guess.Originally posted by S T View PostNot to worry JG - I am still slow and also caught up in the Past - Just finishing up my W2 and 1099 forms, and really hoping that not too many people will start calling me until next week. Has given me some time to manage to close out some Small Biz Accounting and input preliminary figures in the Computer
Seems like receipt of the mail out of documents (1099 INT-Mort Interest, etc) is a little slower this year. I just received some of ours this week, that I normally receive in a prior week.
SandyJGComment
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Another Gem of a Client
We interviewed a prospective new client. He had a scrap hauling business with 4 trucks running between scrap yards and a rail site. All the trucks were owned by an LLC which had never filed a return and was created merely to throw the IRS off when they tried to levy assets. He operated out of an S-Corp from which he took no wages and paid all personal living expenses for himself. All the drivers as well as his mechanic were paid as sub-contractors. He lived in a motor home on the property where his business was at. No allocation of personal expense, all utilities paid and deducted by the corp. I looked up the website of his current preparer and found them to be a CPA with a specialization as an “IRS Tax Resolution Expert”. Good thing, since I’m sure he has plenty of work.In other words, a democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.
Alexis de TocquevilleComment
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I vote for vacation
Wow, good thing I am NOT that busy:Originally posted by JG EA View Post
Client just drove to my office to ask why Box 1 of his 1099-Div was 20 cents less than the box for reinvested dividends. I said, "I don't know. You might ask the folks who prepared the form." Bet he spent five bucks in gasoline to ask me that.Last edited by RitaB; 01-27-2012, 02:07 PM.If you loan someone $20 and never see them again, it was probably worth it.Comment
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That does it
Two seconds after I post the above, another one wants me to figure out how he can fill out his W-4 so that he breaks even.
He got back 329 last year. 148 this year.If you loan someone $20 and never see them again, it was probably worth it.Comment
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Tell him you'll fill out the W-4 so that he has about a $500 refund, and the amount of the refund will happen to equal your fee for the W-4 work plus the return. That way you can guarantee that he breaks even every year."The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectful" - John Kenneth GalbraithComment
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today's weirdos
For today, so far, I have had:
1. A lady called saying she was doing her taxes on HRBlock online and she didn't think she did it right because her refund wasn't very big. She wanted me to provide free phone support to walk her through it and check her work. Yeah right.
2. A stranger off the street walked in, wanted me to figure his return multiple ways, didn't want it filed, and didn't want to pay for it. When we said we would charge for figuring each return, he said "I guess I'm wasting my time then" and walked out. Current clients sitting in the office were flabbergasted and couldn't believe he was so rude.
3. Another shopper just left, wanting to know how much it would cost to get his taxes done. When I told him a ball park figure (most of my clients fall in a $80-$130 range if they don't have a business, rentals, farms, or stock sales), he folded his w-2's up, put them in his pocket and said "I need to save some money up first." And left.....
T-minus 2 and a half hours left todayComment
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This is when you can say that after the return is filed, most any H&R Block office will review it for free. (The usual "I work for HRB" disclaimer applies.)Originally posted by dkss View PostComment
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Had a good laugh yesterday and it made me think of this thread:
Client: "John, does my granddaughter have to file?"
Me: "I don't know. How old is she, is she in school, and how much did she make?"
Client: "Shes 16 and she made $29.00. They took out $1.29 in taxes."
Me: "No, she doesn't need to file".
Client: "OK. That's what I thought. We'll just save the W-2."
Me: "Huh?"
Client: "Somebody told me to save all her W-2's until she's 18. Then we can file for all the years on one return to get her refunds combined."
Me: "Was that your hairstylist or your mechanic who told you that?"
Client" "Huh?"Last edited by JohnH; 01-31-2012, 01:23 PM."The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectful" - John Kenneth GalbraithComment
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good one, John.
But you've heard of having to capitalize certain items and using tax benefits in the future, right?
Like adding property taxes to investment property? Adding sales tax paid to cost of equipment? Why not income? (grinChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LAComment
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