The last returns

[sea-tax]

The fact is as I see it that we deal with adults and I am not a babysitter. It is not my responsibity to make sure that every client accomplishes what they are required to do. I am simply a tool for helping them accomplish there responsiblities. If they get me the information in a timely fashion I agree to get them there info back to them timely to meet these responsilbilties. If they choose to procrastinate then they must suffer the consequences of those decisions. I personally am not going to let them cause me to strees over it.
I have too many clients as it is and frankly would prefer to help those that are on time and responsible first rater than those that are a PITA.

If I was just starting out and need every single client to make a living I guess my feelings would be different. But after many years of doing this I have realized that I am not going to change everyone, I can only control myself.

[geekgirldany]

I've cut my phone time considerably by emailing clients. I'll email a simple question to a client rather than pick up the phone & call them, simply in order to establish that as a preferred means of communication.

I have a handful of customers that I email. The rest are by phone. Maybe that should be part of my interview process next year.... "do you have an email address?". It is a much better form of communication and there is a trail if you ever need it.

You know I cared for a long time about people getting their taxes in on time. Even the late filers. I use to bend over backwards to get their returns in. I am not begging them to come in. They know when the taxes are due. I know people have alot going on in their lives but there are responsibilities to look after.

Alot of them are just putting it off and waiting. Not for a good reason, just to delay.

[JohnH]

Getting email addresses

I do everything possible to get them on email. I always ask for email addresses in the initial interview and to me it's as important as updating phone numbers for existing clients.

I also have a one-page generic reminder checklist (not really a full-blown organizer) that I mail to clients in January to assist them in getting their tax info together. I snail mail it to everyone, but I also email it to those for whom I have email addresses. They seem to appreciate the extra reminder and many of them bring or send in their info with the checklist printed from their email rather than the one I snail mailed to them. By doing this, I have enabled most of them to capture my email address in their address book so it's already at hand when they need to ask a question. I also ask any prospective client for their email address and just go ahead & email them the checklist as a courtesy.

And as I said before, if I have an email address on file for the client I'll send an email even for simple questions which may come up during the tax preparation just to help get them trained. (I don't do any returns with the client sitting in the office).

Another tactic when they call in with a question is to offer to email them some info. For example, "I have a page from the IRS publication that answers your question exactly - let me scan & email it to you and I'll include a little summary in the body of the email". Nine ttimes out of ten if they have a follow-up question they will respond by email rather than call you back.

[S T]

Email

I can't say enough "good" about emai to clients or receiving "email" from clients. I have about 30%-40% of my clients outside of Calif, so with time differences, it has been a God send.

I can email late at nite Calif time, and have a reply back early the next morning with a 3 hour time difference. And record keeping is a plus.

Some of my clients now are more sophisticated with their email and scanning abilities, that I can receive all documents PDF, so that has worked in well, with us trying to convert to paperless.

Times are changing! and Technology while has made our life more difficult in some respects it has opened new doors to us and made some things a lot easier.

Sandy

PS I have 19 form 1040's to go, and 5 partnerships. Just finished the couple of S corps last week.

[Gretel]

A lot of my clients in MT don't have e-mail. We are really behind technology and I don't have much incentive to push this. I can not make anyone get a computer. I was the strange kid on the block when I bought this office 6 years ago and pushed for e-filing all returns possible.

As for the late filers: I have set the deadline by the end of the month including some outstanding fees, which need to be paid first. So far promises only but that is not my problem. I will increase my fees for the clients, which require a lot of attention and repetition.

[bertrans]

How Many Calls

My friends in the IRS tell me pretty much the same story when it comes to delinquent returns, especially high income ones. We're talking about 3 to 6 years worth. When the agent asks the TP why he/she didn't file, the stock answer is [and I state this on my honour]: 'I forgot'.

[thomtax]

The sad thing is that my return will be about the last one filed. I find time for everyone else but procrastinate on my own.:-(

LT

[TaxBird]

The sad thing is that my return will be about the last one filed. I find time for everyone else but procrastinate on my own.:-(

LT

Thom, you are not alone. I am just getting through a couple of hairy issues, then I'm off to start mine.

[Black Bart]

Our esteemed "rocket scientist" is exactly right.

...the August logjam stress has become the October logjam stress. Same people, late every year. You can give them until December and it wouldn't make any difference. Their habits, and not the dates, are the real problem. Out of the extension crowd, very few of them have legitimate reasons for not filing on April 15th...

I sent out 15 of these September 10th:

Dear Client; The deadline for filing your 2006 income tax return is October 15, 2007. Please bring your papers to our office before October 1st or as soon as possible in order to allow us sufficient time to prepare them by the filing date. Our office hours are 9-5 Monday through Friday and 9-12 Saturday. There is an after-hours drop-box by our door. Yours truly, BBB.

As of this date I've had zero responses (gosh, what a surprise!) other than one client I ran across in Wal-Mart who said "I'm not going to mess with it anymore" (no, I don't know what that means either except he's 75, doesn't like "government," and makes enough to file but not owe). Anyway, nothing from the other 14.

I haven't found a cure for this and I usually end up doing several October rush jobs for preferred customrs. But one thing that does help when you later do those post-deadline returns is to leave penalties off the 1040 and let them get a separate bill from IRS. Then they hotfoot it to the office asking "What's this?" and I tell 'em it's "late charges." If it's a big enough bill, some of them get with the program the next year.

[Jiggers]

Procrastinators

I sent out 15 of these September 10th:

Dear Client; The deadline for filing your 2006 income tax return is October 15, 2007. Please bring your papers to our office before October 1st or as soon as possible in order to allow us sufficient time to prepare them by the filing date. Our office hours are 9-5 Monday through Friday and 9-12 Saturday. There is an after-hours drop-box by our door. Yours truly, BBB.

As of this date I've had zero responses (gosh, what a surprise!) other than one client I ran across in Wal-Mart who said "I'm not going to mess with it anymore" (no, I don't know what that means either except he's 75, doesn't like "government," and makes enough to file but not owe). Anyway, nothing from the other 14.

I haven't found a cure for this and I usually end up doing several October rush jobs for preferred customrs. But one thing that does help when you later do those post-deadline returns is to leave penalties off the 1040 and let them get a separate bill from IRS. Then they hotfoot it to the office asking "What's this?" and I tell 'em it's "late charges." If it's a big enough bill, some of them get with the program the next year.

The 75 year-old probably thinks he doesn't have to file. I get that question every year..."I am 75, do I still need to file? I thought the law said I was exempt...."

I sent out reminder letters and still waiting. I add $15 to my fee for sending that reminder. My Form 4868 fee for doing the extension and the return by June 30 is $40. Done in Jul/Aug, $50. Done in Sep/Oct or later, $60. Plus my regular tax return fee.

I work 4 10-hour days May 1 - Dec 31.

My cut-off for the 8 letters I sent out is Oct 4th.

I will be on Vacation from Oct 19 - Nov 2.

If they get mad, they get mad. Life is too short.

Same clients every year. Most will get a refund. Only one will owe.

[JohnH]

I'm with both of you

Same here. I haven't filed my return before October since the 1970's. Maybe that's why I can work with the procrastinators so well - I'm the president of the club. (Well, I was elected president several years ago but haven't yet gotten around to being sworn in.)

[thomtax]

Vote

(Well, I was elected president several years ago but haven't yet gotten around to being sworn in.)

You mean that you have actually gotten around to counting the votes to see that you were elected? :-)

[JohnH]

No!

Counting the votes was your job. You mean you aren't finished?

[geekgirldany]

Taking New Customers

Just wondering if any of you are taking new customers needing their taxes completed? I've had a fellow calling me and hanging up. He then decides to leave a message that is full of panic that he needs his 2006 return prepared. Haven't called him back yet. I have two that have not come by and one left to finish. Plus end of quarter is in October. Not really wanting to take on anyone new unless I charge ALOT more than my ususal fee.

[joanmcq]

I just accepted a new couple. will have to do it all by email and fax, but that's ok. They did contact me about a month ago, so its not completely out of the blue.