April 5 !!!!!

[Lion]

Because of the way school vacations fall around here, I started getting calls yesterday that people want to pick up, sign, complete their returns, etc., by Saturday 5 April. They then work for about four days and leave that Thursday after school/work on their vacations and won't return until the 15th or later. They're telling me this now?! I've started calling to put people on extension, and they're saying not only do they absolutely NOT want to file extensions, but they want to pick up before they leave for vacation. How do I diffuse these situations to make them less mad at me? I know that their lack of planning is not my crisis, but they're paying me so are not likely to take the blame back on themselves. Most of these I do NOT want to lose or have end the season on a sour note with them. I want them to walk away with their taxes done and feeling happy with me. Not rushed. Not with tax prep hanging over their heads during vacation. But, there's no way I can complete all that have dropped off by 15 April, let alone 5 April. I need some soothing words to say to calm them.

And, the huge resistance to extensions this year? Help.

[Jesse]

No one wants extensions this year mainly because of the rebates. I'm really sorry and I'll do my best to finish your returns is the best I can think of.

I run into the end rush and certain people seem irritated that I didn't meet their time expectations but most have come back the next year seemingly forgetting they were upset the previous year because in their mind I took too long to process their return. I am however expecting the worst this year the minute sunrises on April fools day.

[Lion]

We give up Easter...

Missed everything this Holy Week so far since I do have people that want to pick up while they have a three day weekend. And, I'd probably even work through church on Easter morning, except I have a client, mother of a client, who I've never met who will be there with her son and anxious to meet me. But, I'll be red-eyed and barely coherent. Hope she'll still trust me with her taxes!

Thank you, Jesse, for helping me put things in perspective.

Most of my clients make way too much to qualify for the rebates, and most of them even know that. So, I'm not sure why the big resistance to extensions.

Just hope my house doesn't flood again on 14 April like last year!

[JohnH]

Both sides of the fence

I continue to sit on both sides of the fence on the extension issue.

I like extensions because they enable me to prepare more returns than I would otherwise be able to do. Therefore I tend to steer clients toward extensions, even to the point that I set a cutoff date (usually around Mar 20, but this year I made it Mar 12). Anything coming in after that date automatically gets an extension, with the understanding that I'll finish it by Apr 15 if I can, but no guarantees. Some clients grumble, but I try to tactfully explain that this convesation would not have been necessary if they had gotten their info to me before Mar 12.

On the other hand, I recognize that every time we do't do exactly what the client wants, we run the risk of losing their business. But we often must do that anyhow, such as when we tell them they can't deduct their security cat that guards their Mary Kay inventory, or when we tell them we undestand they paid out a lot for medical expenses but it still isn't deductible because of the 7.5% limitations.

In the final analysis, I take the view that steering them toward the extension as being not much different that other types of advice that they may not like, but must accept if they want me to do their work. One thing I frequently tell them is that their situation is sufficiently complicated that they don't want me preparing their return when I'm tired and under deadline pressure. (That argument actually gets more agreement than anything else I say to them, especially if I look & sound tired when I say it)

I don't see that the rebate makes that much difference when one takes a practical look at the timeline. If they had filed their return back in Feb and had a refund, they would have their regular refund now and would get the rebate in May-June. By filing now, they have already voluntarily delayed receipt of their regular refund, so why get all worked up over the timing of the rebate? Maybe it's because they view the rebate as being somehow different (more or less like free money), but there again it's up to us to change their perspective if we can.

All I can say is that I'm not going to do much different this year. I may work a little longer to get a few more out the door before Apr 15, but by and large it's still business as usual as far as extensions are concerned. I guess I'll know next year whether or not this was a bad move, depending upon how many of them don't come back in 2009.

Don't know how any of this relates to your situation since we each have vastly different ways of operating, but maybe there's something in there that may strike a chord.

[Gretel]

Because of the way school vacations fall around here, I started getting calls yesterday that people want to pick up, sign, complete their returns, etc., by Saturday 5 April. They then work for about four days and leave that Thursday after school/work on their vacations and won't return until the 15th or later. They're telling me this now?! I've started calling to put people on extension, and they're saying not only do they absolutely NOT want to file extensions, but they want to pick up before they leave for vacation. How do I diffuse these situations to make them less mad at me? I know that their lack of planning is not my crisis, but they're paying me so are not likely to take the blame back on themselves. Most of these I do NOT want to lose or have end the season on a sour note with them. I want them to walk away with their taxes done and feeling happy with me. Not rushed. Not with tax prep hanging over their heads during vacation. But, there's no way I can complete all that have dropped off by 15 April, let alone 5 April. I need some soothing words to say to calm them.

And, the huge resistance to extensions this year? Help.

Hi Lion, I would like to say some words to sooth you and encourage you to take off Easter Sunday completely and any Sunday for that matter. I know how hard it is to let go of the fear of loosing clients and therefor loosing money. I, myself, still "need" every dollar I can get. But not at the cost of my sanity, which is most important along with peace.

Since you obviously provide excellent service and already do more than your best I also would like to encourage you to trust that you will have enough clients if you ALSO take care of yourself and do, whatever it takes, to keep your sanity. I used to drive myself nuts (and everyone around me). Now, almost every morning I spend half an hour in silence and prayer and try to remember throughout the day. It's a constant challenge but I would not be able to accomplish anything without HIM. I keep forgetting but at least I try.

[BHoffman]

".....they can't deduct their security cat that guards their Mary Kay inventory"

LOL!!!!!!

[Lion]

Thank you, all

Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to help me out. You all helped me calm down and understand ways to calm my clients, too. Happy Easter!