Free advice.

[Bees Knees]

If you haven't heard this song, well, it might make you smile - maybe even guffaw, who knows?

I often give free advice to friends and neighbors, and assure them it's worth every penny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TkuZ5oI9uY

To my cat:

If you jump on my desk and knock all papers off it…

I’m billing time…

[Lion]

Strengths

And, Black Bart and Old Jack don't have any weaknesses. I meant that a stranger wouldn't know their STRENGTHS, of course!

[Lion]

Difference

There's a difference between asking and answering questions among those in the same boat and a neophyte asking a question to a board of professionals. Actually, there are several differences. As has been written, when I ask it's because it came up in real life and probably will again and probably will for others and maybe we can all learn something. When I answer, it's to help a colleague. We have only 3 1/2 months (more like 2 this year, with Congress's new laws!) to earn the bulk of our living. If I can save someone a few minutes or gain a few minutes myself, I'm less cranky and can help my clients and maybe help more colleagues on this board. What goes around comes around. When someone comes on once with a question and never returns or has the knowledge to ever offer an answer, it breaks the chain. But, I think what bothers me the most is that a do-it-yourselfer coming on this board has no idea who knows what about what; so is he just looking for confirmation of what his barber already told him? He hasn't been around for months to know what I know or where my weaknesses lie or those of Black Bart or Old Jack or... So, when he gets three different opinions, how could he possibly know if it's because his tax question was that complex or that poorly described or just that two of the three responders aren't very expert on that topic? It's totally different when we're face-to-face with someone at church or at a PTA meeting or...and they already know we helped their friend and we already know their mother lives with them or son's in college or other background. I'd never ask strangers on a car care board why my car makes that funny noise, because I wouldn't know which responders are the noise experts. Enought of a rant, I'm tired and behind. Glad all you folks are here for me.

[Jesse]

Oh Dear Abby, that is too good - great way to end my night!!

[SueBaby]

If you haven't heard this song, well, it might make you smile - maybe even guffaw, who knows?

I often give free advice to friends and neighbors, and assure them it's worth every penny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TkuZ5oI9uY

So cute-- had to laugh out loud.

[BP.]

Love it . . . thank you, Abby!

[thomtax]

I have used a variation of this for a good while.

"I'm going to give you some free advice, and it is worth what it is going to cost you."

[JohnH]

Now you've gone & done it!
I've been humming it for the past hour & can't get it out of my mind.

[Acownt4it]

That is great. I may have to pipe that through the speakers in my office. Thanks for sharing.

[abby]

If you haven't heard this song...

If you haven't heard this song, well, it might make you smile - maybe even guffaw, who knows?

I often give free advice to friends and neighbors, and assure them it's worth every penny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TkuZ5oI9uY

[gman]

free advice

I recieve a lot of calls and probably give much more free advice than I should. I believe we should limit our board to tax professionals. We spend a lot of money on continuing ed, licensing fees and software to just give so much knoweldge away for free.....

[JohnH]

No apology needed

Bart:
Thanks for the apology, but none needed or expected.
Don't be embarrassed about being rough on me - I'm pretty thick-skinned.
If I ever take offense to anything I'll tell you straight up.

Besides, it's better that all of us vent on this forum than in front of our clients - venting here won't cost us any business (unless our clients get access to the forum. Uh-oh, maybe my attitude about non-pros on the forum is about to change!)

[Black Bart]

Touche!

John / Your response was so graceful that I'm embarrassed about bein' so rough on your post. You make several good points and please accept my apologies for goin' overboard with you about my demand that the dirty, rotten, low-down, inexcrupulous rats be (pick one) tarred and feathered/ drawn and quartered/ banished.

JohnH /
Bart: I lifted some parts of your post for response - I don't think I altered your meaning...I understand your frustration, but my experience is slightly different. I've gotten lots of business...by answering questions gratis...more than I've given...sometimes the answer is "yes, you can file it that way/ I'll look that up & get back to you/Your situation is too complicated for an off-the-cuff answer. We would need to make an appointment and I'll have to charge you for the time." It's a matter of choosing when, where, and to what extent to give answers. I think the same principles apply on this forum.

Those are all good reactions to varying situations, John, and actually, I am frustrated about the situation 'cause shortly before I did my original post a guy walks in, I'm standing by the front door distracted by something else going on, and he waves a schedule D under my nose with that "one quick question" routine. I shoot him an answer and first thing you know we're knee-deep in a ten-minute capital gains discussion. He gets it through his head and walks out while I'm (as usual) feeling used, but consoling myself with "Oh well, he looked like a poor boy." Glancing out the window, I see him cruise off astride a $17K Harley-Davidson.

>>...I feel that responding to these brazen requests in terms of "have a little fun with them" is mischaracterizing the situation, rationalizing it, and, in the end, an excuse to make it palatable. These people aren't joking with you; they're quite cynically serious about getting good and free tax advice. <<<

I thought one of the most humorous & entertaining responses to a non-pro question was one you posted in the past couple of days and I had a good laugh reading it. You made several valid points, but surely you were trying to be humorous in the process, weren't you?

Yes, yes, I was indeed trying to "have a little fun with them" in that post, but I had forgotten all about it and you have now skewered me with my own sword (I guess it's one of those things that I sometimes think other people should not do, but are just fine if I do).

>>> As for harm done, each one we assist probably tells several others to get answers here for which they'd normally have to pay their local tax preparer (maybe one of us). By going along quietly, we are to some extent enabling these moochers to take money out of the pockets of our colleagues. <<<
...the responses...will bring out the fact that the poster's situation is...complex...and we strongly advise that they see a local tax pro. If they do, we have helped them and a colleague. If they don't, then they and our colleagues are in no better or worse situation than if they had never posted.

I don't agree on this one. I think they'll do it themselves no matter what we say and if our tax advice keeps them from making mistakes on a complex return, then they'll be encouraged and probably never go to a professional in the following years.

>>>...what should we do about freeloaders? <<<<

In my opinion, nothing should be done about freeloaders. They should be allowed to post and we should govern our responses based on our reactions to their post. I'm not a big fan of censorship, except when people are being uncivil & violating the rules of the forum.

After reading all the posts on Bees' "sticky" thread, I'm unsure of what to think. The "read-only" option for non-subscribers sounded good, but at the same time, it would probably have a chilling effect on spontaneous board discussions (some of those dopey questions turn into "good for everybody" mini-seminars). On the one hand I'd like the freebie-seekers stopped, but if volume drops, then subscriptions probably follow and, as Brad said, this board is a business and a business has to make money if we are to continue enjoying this forum. So...I don't know which way to vote. I guess it's just gonna have to be up to TMI and I'm going along whichever/whatever they decide.

[Bees Knees]

I just want to know one thing though. If I had three letters after my name, would it make a difference to you about the following question:

"I have a 1099Q form for a QTP disbursement. Can I offset the earnings by a fee charged for reducing the refund because so-and-so dropped the class after the 100% refund deadline and only received 75% of the tuition cost as a refund? I have no 1098T ."

Also, would it make a difference if I said I had a client's 1099Q, or if I had said I have my wife's 1099Q?

Yes because my perception of the situation would be that me spending 15 minutes to look up the answer may in turn be reciprocated by you doing the same for someone else, who in turn does the same for someone else, and so on, and so on, until something eventually comes back to helping me.

If you choose to pretend, I have no way of knowing, unless your ignorance of tax law reveals your true identity.

I’m not looking for an even playing field. But I would like someone to at least know how to bunt when the third base coach gives the sign.

In any event, Nashville makes a good point in that you sortof are already in the business. Stick around and help us with sales tax issues for our clients. We’ll give you all kinds of free tax advice in exchange.

[fitzpats]

Is there anything we can do to get you to hire the services of a tax professional? If not, what is our incentive in helping you?

We ask questions and give answers amongst ourselves to make our job easier. I don’t do taxes as a public service. I do taxes to earn a living. If you think taxes are too difficult to figure out for yourself, either hire the services of a professional, or vote for politicians who are in favor of tax simplification.

Would you sacrifice some of your working hours educating people on income and sales tax auditor issues as a public service? For free? Or do you want to get a paycheck for the job you do?

Why should we be any different?

If things get too difficult for me, I either research my answer or I would hire a tax professional. I would rather have something hanging on someone else's head than on mine. However, you're posting items to a public forum. One where you know it's public, and you read the public forum to answer questions. Whether this is for another professional or for a non-professional does not matter. If you want to keep answers from someone who is doing research, use the PM function. If you want to help, which is what you're doing, post in forum.

I just want to know one thing though. If I had three letters after my name, would it make a difference to you about the following question:

"I have a 1099Q form for a QTP disbursement. Can I offset the earnings by a fee charged for reducing the refund because so-and-so dropped the class after the 100% refund deadline and only received 75% of the tuition cost as a refund? I have no 1098T ."

Also, would it make a difference if I said I had a client's 1099Q, or if I had said I have my wife's 1099Q?