If my Organizer was an SAT Test

[veritas]

The median score would be in the 200 range.

[erchess]

If any clients can accurately

provide all the answers wanted by the TTB organizer, I don't see why they can't fill out their own tax return. I also know that if a preparer gave me an organizer I would not write on it anything that could be gleaned from the other papers I was giving him such as Forms W-2 and 1099, brokerage statements, last year's return, and so on.

[veritas]

My organizer

asks in the instruction letter to bring final closing doc for real estate sales-half don't bring it and the other half give me the estimated one.

The next page I ask them to sign the engagement letter. 25% don't sign

I ask them to check address and contact numbers. I love it when they move and don't give me their new phone numbers. I have had to send letters to them to get them to call.

Then I have 3 pages of yes/no questions which take less than 5 minutes to answer. The results are, don't answer the questions, do the first page and forget the other two. Question marks or my favorite, answer the same question yes and no.

Or come in and tell me they threw it away.

Next year I am sending them via the internet.

[S T]

Email is

Wonderful, I sent a lot of worksheets, or itemized lists out this year via email. Seems like the clients pay more attention, than the ones that are sent in the mail. And what is nice is I can send anothe email back asking for more info or clarification and I have a record.

I am having the 8879 forms, mileage records "signed" of course, sent via email. Also fax copies, so seems to be working as I am transitioning

Of course not all clients have email and not all clients have fax machines.

Sandy

[JohnH]

Organizers are nice

Organizers are really nice, but I agree that many clients who fill them out religiously can eventually figure out how to prepare their own return. And some organizers look more like the GRE than the SAT.

I think an incomplete organizer has the potential to be worse than a poorly prepared one, because it might cause the preparer to miss something important if he makes the mistake of relying upon it. When the blame game starts over something that was omitted, it might help avoid paying a client's penalties but ipassing the buck over an incomplete organizer won't retain the client. I give my clients a simple one-page checklist to remind them what I need. I want to see the documents for the most part, and i don't expect them to fill in the numbers

I totally agree with using email. Not all clients use it, but for those who do you can cut your phone time to almost nothing with them. I also email them my newsletter and the checklist in early Jan just to get things under way. It's also very handy whenver a prospective new client calls to get their email address. Emailing them the checklist is a good way to get them started and it establishes that email is the primary means of communication.

[sea-tax]

If client come in with the orginizor unfilled I simply pull apart the questions and name address info and tell them to please fill it out while I get started entering the easy stuff. Most will comply and once we do this in the office they tend to at least fill out that part the next year.

[JohnH]

Glad it works for you

I'm not questioning how you deal with your clients and I'm glad it works for you. But if I were your client and you did that, you wouldn't need to expect me to have it filled out next year because I wouldn't be back.

Obvoiusly that isn't a problem with you or you wouldn't have the client base you have. It's interesting to see how differently some of us operate our practices and what methods/techniques succeed..

[myerstaxes]

I use a checksheet

After having complaints and having the organizers come back empty...I changed to a check sheet...It lists the types of documents to bring to the appointment, and asks questions that are pertinent to the preparation...The checksheet goes to everyone, and the business clients get a schedule C organizer with last years data, as well as my folks who always sell stocks, the get the Schedule D...Those with rentals get the checksheet and the Schedule E with last years data...The response so far is that they love it...They got confused with the full blown organizer...In my pre-season letter, I tell them if they want a full organizer, just let me know and I will send it to them...
Sure cuts down on paper and confusion...And I agree, some will figure that if they can do the organizer, maybe they can venture out and buy software and self-prepare (I heard one client say so)...

[sea-tax]

I'm not questioning how you deal with your clients and I'm glad it works for you. But if I were your client and you did that, you wouldn't need to expect me to have it filled out next year because I wouldn't be back.

Obvoiusly that isn't a problem with you or you wouldn't have the client base you have. It's interesting to see how differently some of us operate our practices and what methods/techniques succeed..

Asking a client to please update there address and phone numbers, email addresses and dependant info and answering 25-30 yes or no questions is hardly putting someone out. If they can't do this then Yes I don't want them as a client. This is called good tax prep, making sure that I am aware of all issues, I don't ask them question like " is your favorite color blue" I ask "have you taken an IRA,401k or other retirement distribution this year- yes or no?"

It is simple and is an important thing to know before you start to just fill out forms. I try to not only prepare there return but be a financial doctor of sorts to my clients and yes they like it. I have increased my revenue every year I have been in business ,so yeah it works for me!