Getting Payment from Client

[Uncle Sam]

Getting Payment

I would insist on getting paid part of the $ 750 before releasing the return.
You stuck your neck out in cooperating with them to satisfy their need - a little courtesy is due you.
Get paid SOMETHING up front.

Years ago, I had a real cutie who would come in to my office real late in the filing season - like 1st week of April - come in with incomplete information - and ask me when I'd have the return ready and how much of a refund she was due. The first season she waited until she got her refunds.
From then on, I'd always ask for a minimum advance fee when she came in for the "first" visit - knowing that she would never come in with all her stuff the first time.

[Jiggers]

Getting Payment

I have helped out a neighbor over the last couple of years doing assorted bookkeeping, and tax work. I have just finished preparing their 2005 return. The IRS is holding their 2004, and 2006 refunds pending the filing of their 2005 return (also a refund).

They now owe me about $750 for my work and I'd like to get paid (they are aware they owe me the money but are so in debt I've never been a priority). The client wants to pick up their 05 return on Sunday and I said I need some payment even if a postdated check. She said they don't have a checking account (believable as they've written a lot of bad checks in the last year or so). She offered to bring me a couple of hundred dollars next Friday but wants to pick up the return Sunday.

I'd like to get paid for this. What is my best bet at this point? I'm thinking I should not release this 05 return until I get something...I'm quite willing to wait until they have their refund in hand but how can I ensure I get my part and unfortunately to get the refund they need this return? Should I ask that she open a bank account, write me a check and put direct deposit requests on these refunds so I can be sure the account gets funded and therefore I get payment?

Any creative payment ideas out there? I once had a client sign a promissory note after they were slow to pay the first year...but for this client I'd think that would be worthless - I believe they owe a lot of people money.

Is there anything else I can do?

Your client made their problem your problem. You are not a priority because you haven't made yourself a priority.

The quickest way is to insist on full payment before releasing anything else. The returns are already late so if they don't mail it Sunday/Monday, it won't make that much difference, especially if they have a refund coming that the IRS may or may not hold.

I know I hate to be hardnosed about issues like this, but I have been stiffed too many times many years ago and I won't let it happen again. I have to eat too.

[taxmandan]

Don't give them the return until paid in cash in full. Let the pressure from the IRS force them to pay up. Your in business, get paid for your efforts, you'll never see them again anyway, so who cares what they think. They can borrow it from a relative if it's that important to them to get those refunds. And I wouldn't meet them on a non-business day like a Sunday unless they pay up.

[equinecpa]

I have helped out a neighbor over the last couple of years doing assorted bookkeeping, and tax work. I have just finished preparing their 2005 return. The IRS is holding their 2004, and 2006 refunds pending the filing of their 2005 return (also a refund).

They now owe me about $750 for my work and I'd like to get paid (they are aware they owe me the money but are so in debt I've never been a priority). The client wants to pick up their 05 return on Sunday and I said I need some payment even if a postdated check. She said they don't have a checking account (believable as they've written a lot of bad checks in the last year or so). She offered to bring me a couple of hundred dollars next Friday but wants to pick up the return Sunday.

I'd like to get paid for this. What is my best bet at this point? I'm thinking I should not release this 05 return until I get something...I'm quite willing to wait until they have their refund in hand but how can I ensure I get my part and unfortunately to get the refund they need this return? Should I ask that she open a bank account, write me a check and put direct deposit requests on these refunds so I can be sure the account gets funded and therefore I get payment?

Any creative payment ideas out there? I once had a client sign a promissory note after they were slow to pay the first year...but for this client I'd think that would be worthless - I believe they owe a lot of people money.

Is there anything else I can do?