Do you meet clients in your home?

[jimmcg]

Exactly how often do you ask your clients to disrobe, lie down on the table or examine their body during a tax appointment?

Part of the due diligence protocol.

[Y2KEA]

I've only seen that during an IRS exam which a client attended. The examiner was studying to be a proctologist.

[Uncle Sam]

Meeting With Clients

I guess a few of you don't really comprehend the message I was attempting to convey.
The mere nature of tax preparation is confidential, and therefore should be conducted
in a private setting and not within earshot of others - or have financial records exchanged

The fact that it's common to be done that way - doesn't mean that it's acceptable in this
occupation.

[FEDUKE404]

Back to that doctor exam thing

I guess a few of you don't really comprehend the message I was attempting to convey. The mere nature of tax preparation is confidential, and therefore should be conducted in a private setting and not within earshot of others - or have financial records exchanged
The fact that it's common to be done that way - doesn't mean that it's acceptable in this occupation.

Everyone has an.....opinion.

FWIW: I guarantee you I could carry on a comprehensive client interview at a table near to yours and neither you nor anyone else would have any idea as to the type of discussion that was being held.

Now, if I took my laptop, and a pile of reference books (to include TTB) and starting working through a pile of documents, or starting calling some investment firms using a cell phone....that might gather some unneeded attention. But that will not happen to me. An interview, and brief overview of any supporting documents or even a completed tax return, can easily be done across a table. The REAL work occurs in my home office.

As for a "private setting" issue --- that requirement could really wreak havoc with many tax firms which do not have the luxury of providing a private office for each preparer!!

FE

[ATSMAN]

Bingo! The HRB shop I worked the partitions were paper thin and sometimes we would had to tell our neighbor to keep it down!

I just bring a yellow legal pad, a pocket calculator and my business cards. No TTB or laptop on a restaurant table. If the discussion is going to lead in that direction that it is required, then an office appointment will be made at my place or the clients office/business.

[Roberts]

Everyone has an.....opinion.

As for a "private setting" issue --- that requirement could really wreak havoc with many tax firms which do not have the luxury of providing a private office for each preparer!!

FE

Obviously if you haven't installed a "cone of silence" (like Get Smart had) in every office at your firm, you may not be fully protecting your clients.



I'm wondering if those who meet in a home office in front of a dog or cat are aware of the liability they have taken upon themselves. My dog is a real gossiper.