Jail

[SueBaby]

I am in the middle of a client's amended 2004 return and found out he is in jail now for drugs. What do I do with this mess?
Any suggestions would help, cause this has never happened before to me. I really don't need this before I open my office next week for the year.

[BOB W]

If it .........

......... just a signature, family should be able to get him to sign.

[SueBaby]

......... just a signature, family should be able to get him to sign.

Didn't think of that. Thanks!

[TMI Moderator]

......... just a signature, family should be able to get him to sign.

Uh oh. I feel an ethics discussion coming on again.

[Snaggletooth]

No Ethics

No Ethics but to relate one of my most prodigious customers was the fall guy for a drug raid. In the midst of several court hearings, I came to his garage to do his taxes.

I drove up and noticed I was flanked by a pickup truck. "Bubba" came out of the garage to meet me and two guys got out of the truck and started shouting at him. Warned him he would be torn limb from limb if he squealed. By now I was out of the car with my briefcase.

"Who's this guy?" one of the visitors asked.

Bubba responded, "IRS. I'm having an income tax audit."

I haven't seen the truck or the guys since.

[veritas]

Snag

You been holding this one back. I recomend this for our new book which we can all contribute to.

Let's call it, "Clients say the darndest things".

[veritas]

I am in the middle of a client's amended 2004 return and found out he is in jail now for drugs. What do I do with this mess?
Any suggestions would help, cause this has never happened before to me. I really don't need this before I open my office next week for the year.

Are you amending to include the drug income?

[SueBaby]

Are you amending to include the drug income?

You guys are tooooo funny!!! But this is NOT. I finished and called his sister (only relative). She does not want to sign anything with his name on it said he may be there for 3 YEARS!! So what now????

Please don't tell me to go to jail, it gives me the heebie jeebies. Plus the bad part I'm not getting paid for it. So what is the 2nd option to do, without burning the thing and play like I didn't see it?

[BOB W]

What I meant.....

.... was for a family or friend, during a visitation, have the t/p sign it and return it to you.

[Joe Btfsplk]

Send it by mail

Send him a letter. Send it by mail. Send it in care of the Birmingham Jail.

[Brad Imsdahl]

Plus the bad part I'm not getting paid for it. So what is the 2nd option to do, without burning the thing and play like I didn't see it?

If you are not getting paid for it, why are you doing it? Are you amending something because of your own error on the original return? Or is it the taxpayer's error that you are amending for?

Either way, I would simply finish the amended return, package it up, send it via certified mail to the prison along with your bill, if there is one, and wash your hands of it and stop worrying about it.

[SueBaby]

If you are not getting paid for it, why are you doing it? Are you amending something because of your own error on the original return? Or is it the taxpayer's error that you are amending for?

Either way, I would simply finish the amended return, package it up, send it via certified mail to the prison along with your bill, if there is one, and wash your hands of it and stop worrying about it.

This guy is not even my client. He saw my sign and ask could I help him, because of his error of leaving a W2 off of 2004 return. He owns the IRS over 3 grand if this isn't amended. The simple yes has turned into a nightmare.

His sister has nothing to do with him and I don't even want to know his friends. So, I guess I will mail him the return and everything---tell him where to sign----where to mail it --- and kiss my money good bye.

Oh I want forget to tell him HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

[jainen]

kiss my money

>>kiss my money good bye<<

Your client (and he is indeed your client) has some major league problems. Why do you expect that he will kiss off the professionals who are helping him solve those problems?

Three years is a stiff gig for drug use--he must be a dealer. That means the IRS is going to come calling some day. Ask the jail or the sister who his attorney is, and get yourself positioned for more work in the future. Don't forget to send the lawyer a copy of your invoice. You never know.

Of course you are shy about putting any more money into this project, but I recommend you affix proper postage to his mailing envelopes. Also, your package will be inspected at the dungeon gate. Don't include any threatening or otherwise personal notes, and don't include any metal objects like staples, paperclips, or hacksaws.

[SueBaby]

>>kiss my money good bye<<

Your client (and he is indeed your client) has some major league problems. Why do you expect that he will kiss off the professionals who are helping him solve those problems?

Three years is a stiff gig for drug use--he must be a dealer. That means the IRS is going to come calling some day. Ask the jail or the sister who his attorney is, and get yourself positioned for more work in the future. Don't forget to send the lawyer a copy of your invoice. You never know.

Of course you are shy about putting any more money into this project, but I recommend you affix proper postage to his mailing envelopes. Also, your package will be inspected at the dungeon gate. Don't include any threatening or otherwise personal notes, and don't include any metal objects like staples, paperclips, or hacksaws.

Hacksaws--I had to laugh at. There goes all my paperclips and staples I had.
Does people in jail have money? But you are right. I will contact his lawyer and go that route and just see what happens.
Thank you very much.

[Black Bart]

Jailed client

If' it's his error and not yours, then I'd just mail a letter, an invoice, and a return envelope to him at the jail. Tell him his stuff's ready and as soon as you receive his check, you'll mail the return to him with instructions for signing, mailing, and payment. There's no reason you shouldn't get paid, but it's "iffy" when you send the goods before getting your payment.

I've got one of these -- he's been in and out for the last five or six years. I've made quite a bit just filing original returns ('99 and forward) for him in the past two years. But If your guy becomes a regular client, get a hundred or so on account every now and then and keep in mind you can't let him get to owing you too much (they're usually desperate and can't pay large accumulated tax prep fees).