Letting off Steam

[Skate1968]

I cant praise this Board enough. It is invaluable as a learning tool and people like you make it great.

I feel the exact same way. I wish that i knew about this board earlier. It would have enabled me to pursue potential clients with more confidence.

[Chief]

Letting off Steam

Thanks to all you who have responded to my posting. That client will be back but the fee for his return will increase. I dont know how much yet. Black Bart you hit the nail right on the head with you post.
ChEAr$ and Dave you are right on topic. I had both returns in front of me and had done the computations on both. Both years I should have charged him for the computation which he could have done.
I cant praise this Board enough. It is invaluable as a learning tool and people like you make it great.

[Davc]

I'm missing something here. Why 75% at .405 and 25 at .445?
Was this a 2005 return?

I was having the same thought.

[Black Bart]

It's your call.

.
What would you guys have charged for such a return? I think I am still too low.

Despite the fearless, look-'em-in-the-eye, stare-'em-down, give-no-quarter, double-their-fee responses you've gotten; I'll bet money that everybody here has at least one or two clients they literally cannot stand and can't get rid of for one reason or another.

Only a few things really make you feel better about such people (1) get enough money to soothe your injured ego (its not really enough, but it makes all that guff go down easier) (2) run them off (pricing him out of the office is easiest -- it doesn't require a lot of talk).

Rehearse your speech for next year (no doubt he'll be back -- he's probably been run off elsewhere). List your main points: "Don't bring in anything before Jan. 31st -- I can't do your taxes unless you bring it all at once -- then I'll sort it out. And, by the way, your fee will be $500 this time." If you just want him to go away, then practice saying straight to his face: "Look, your return takes a lot more time than I have to spare. To keep doing your taxes, I'll have to charge you (whatever you think it'll take to make him jump up out the chair and head for the door)." If it's steep enough he won't wait for your explanation.

It's hard to get shut of them, but you have to do it yourself (there's nobody else). I've got one now that I'd love to refer to Dr. Kevorkian; an arrogant blowhard and, unfortunately, something of a psycho. His fee's $625 and it's still not enough, so I'm rehearsing my "drop dead/straighten up/go away" speech right now (he'll be back Monday).

I know what you mean -- I hate to confront these jerks too, but it just finally gets unbearable and it's him or you.

[Skate1968]

Chief,
I would have given his information back and said, "no thank you."

[JG EA]

Trends

This is one of the trends I've been noticing. Client's don't want to let go of the papers. I feel I must play a slow boring game to get the information I need.

Well, I don't seem to have this 1099 yet.

Well I gave you everything I have. You have everything you need. Here is my financial planners number you can call her and see if you don't have everything.

Two days later. Oh here is that 1099 that you asked for.

Or
Everything is on my papers - do I need to bring you all my receipts, do you now need to verify everything I tell you? That's new.

A half hour later in the interview, after I've tried to sort through and figure everything out.

Oh, here are some more papers including the things you've been asking about.

Actually, I think it's the pressure of life, and no one is thinking as clearly as they once did. It's not just an aging client base either. Young people also need several gentle questions to let loose of the required information to get their returns done.

[S T]

Somewhat Low

I do first rental at $60, then subsequent rentals at $40, in addition to the base fee and othr charges.

Sandy

[Oxtrainer]

Letting off steam

5 rentals for 150 is about at least 150 low.

[jainen]

Block's price

>>in the $300 - $500 range<<

I have a friend who has been my client since I left Block in 1995. I have never raised her fee. She has 3 rentals and a Schedule C, and I charge $350 which was Block's price a decade ago.

[ChEAr$]

I have a client who can't be wrong. He brought me statements of detail of interests and bonds with 1099's missing. He did not have all of his 1099 Div and thought I did not need all that paper work. Further he didn't think I needed the 1099 for his son's education because he was on a prepaid tuition state plan. He had 5 rental properties and only gave me the annual mileage for each. I had to compute that expense 75% at .405 and 25% at .445. He was shocked at my bill of $150 for his return. He returned today because I listed bonds at the wrong amount altho they were at an even swap. The correct information was on the 1099 Div that he had not given me.
What would you guys have charged for such a return? I think I am still too low
I told him I would correct his return for efiling but then corrected the paper copy with pencil.

I am the kind of guy who does not believe in civil disobedience. The Same with my confrontation with Mr Always Right. He left feeling that he was right one more time. What tax preparers have to endure?

I'm missing something here. Why 75% at .405 and 25 at .445?
Was this a 2005 return?

[veritas]

your client

has his head in his pelvis

[Jiggers]

Wouldn't have done the return

I do not do returns without the 1099's: INT, DIV, B, S, R, whatever.

I have one client that brings in the 1099B, and the detail from his records and I have to force his records to match the 1099B. "I have never matched the 1099B before, why do I have to do it now." he said! Just lucky.

As far as the fee, you are way too low. My guess would be $250 - $400.

[GIMoe]

&quot;...shocked at my bill of $150...&quot;

I have a client who can't be wrong. He brought me statements of detail of interests and bonds with 1099's missing. He did not have all of his 1099 Div and thought I did not need all that paper work. Further he didn't think I needed the 1099 for his son's education because he was on a prepaid tuition state plan. He had 5 rental properties and only gave me the annual mileage for each. I had to compute that expense 75% at .405 and 25% at .445. He was shocked at my bill of $150 for his return. He returned today because I listed bonds at the wrong amount altho they were at an even swap. The correct information was on the 1099 Div that he had not given me.
What would you guys have charged for such a return? I think I am still too low
I told him I would correct his return for efiling but then corrected the paper copy with pencil.

I am the kind of guy who does not believe in civil disobedience. The Same with my confrontation with Mr Always Right. He left feeling that he was right one more time. What tax preparers have to endure?

He got off light. With 5 rentals, depreciation, vehicle expenses, interest income, dividend income, education, etc... That is easily a $400-$500 return.

[Ladynole97]

You were way undercharging.

We have added a status in our tax program for such people. PIA-DDC (ddc is PIA in spanish) clients have no clue what it means but we sure do! We make sure to give no breaks and to charge upfront.

May the IRS catch the PIAs so we can charge more fees.

[dsi]

$700 minimum