1040-ES Vouchers

[Jiggers]

IRS savings on sending ES vouchers

The IRS tries to save money by not sending out ES vouchers, yet with those that they do send out, they send a useless envelope to mail the return in.

None of my returns will go in those envelopes.

[fliszt]

Thank you Peachie

I really appreciate your post. It's so very difficult to know what's right or wrong when one works out of a home office and has no contact with others OTHER than this board. I used to bounce things off Birdlegs. I appreciate everyone on this board.

[Roberts]

I always did the ESs. I just paper clip them together and give them to the client, they can provide the envelope and stamp since most don't do all 4 anyway.

I noticed this year that ATX estimated tax vouchers have been wrong. I've had to recheck each of them as it is ignoring the fact they pay taxes on their W-2's for some reason. It didn't do it on all of them but most of them it did.

[Peachie]

Larry-we charge the same price

I charge $22 for the 1040-ES (all 4) plus I make the envelopes and stamp them. For the state I charge $14 for the same service.
Looks like I'm overcharging a bit compared to your billing.

Obviously, your customer (s) think the price is right or they would complain. Actually, I think it's a fair price. I factor in my time because everything else I do is electronic.

Peachie

[fliszt]

Jiggers,

I charge $22 for the 1040-ES (all 4) plus I make the envelopes and stamp them. For the state I charge $14 for the same service.
Looks like I'm overcharging a bit compared to your billing.

[Jiggers]

Providing ES Vouchers

If the client didn't receive any ES vouchers from theIRS, my software prints a schedule plus 4 vouchers. Each voucher is on one full sheet and has to be cut off. I give the full sheet to the client because it has the address and other information regarding the voucher.

I do not provide envelopes.

I charge $13.00 for providing these vouchers and schedule.

If the client has his vouchers, I charge $8.00 for preparing a schedule.

I have a few "elderly" clients that need reminders. I charge them $5.00 plus $13 for each reminder that I sent out. They gladly pay it to avoid the 2210 penalty!

[S T]

Good point

JG,

Labels are a good idea, I had not thought of that, I have always taken the time to print the labels, affix them to the envelope, and provide an envelope along with the voucher form for each quarter payment, and in some cases x 2 because of State.

I can cut my costs and now not buy the envelopes, and it will save me approximately 2 minutes per client that I feel like I have to provide ES supplies to.

Thanks,

Sandy

[JG EA]

I print labels and give them four (taped on the back) on the sheet they record their payments. If they didn't use the envelopes it would upset me too much. I also think they'll think how nice it is to have the labels each time whereas they wouldn't even notice the envelopes.

[Safire]

I'm with Nashillve on this one...

I agree Nashville. I have encouraged my clients for years to use the ES forms prepared and sent to them by the IRS. This is just one more burden placed on the tax preparer to do the job of the IRS. They want us to police EIC and now be their off site printing supplier, for free.

I, like Nash will have to add this to my cost and pass it along to the customer. I'm tired and grouchy. Grrrrrrr.

[Chief]

1040 Es

Right on, Lion.

[Lion]

Want to provide full service

I buy the cheapest, on sale, bill paying envelopes, the ones with the privacy lining, and run a sheet of labels with the address for ES payments, another for balance due, etc. When I'm on hold I can stick labels on envelopes. I'd run the numbers in my software anyway, so that next year the proposed ES payments would populate the return. I haven't been cutting out the vouchers. If a client wants to mail one sitting here, I hand her the scissors while I do something else, probably assembling her return. So, it's a minimal investment in time and supplies to make sure the client thinks of me as the source of all her tax needs. I don't want her to think she can get free forms from the IRS; next thing I know she'll realize she can file on line!

[ecb34691]

Trouble is

since Jan we've been telling our customers that made 2007 ES, don't worry about your 2008 ES vouchers, they aren't mailed by IRS until the March timeframe. Now guess what after Monday's notice, we now have to tell them come back in and we will print you vouchers. Have already started doing some but it's going to be a "PITA" to try and find all the clients that should have had them printed in Jan, Feb and Mar. Thank heavens some have now realized that they haven't come and are calling.

[veritas]

We buy window envelopes

and our software provides the slip sheets to insert..

As far as cutting the paper I would recomend a small paper cutter. You can get it at an office supply store and they are inexpensive.

The same enevelopes work for 1040-V.

[fliszt]

Thanks

for the post. It's nice to know it's official. I too always prepare vouchers and printed envelopes. I also always stamp the envelopes except for the clients that come back "next year" and did not make the Q payments. As a previous post said, I think that helps build business. I always remembered back in 65 or 66 I took my papers to a preparer and he always put a stamp on the envelpe. I was really impressed. And I never forgot it.
But also, I don't have 200, 300 or 400 clients. If I did, maybe I'd try to find ways to speed up the process by cutting this or that. But I'll never know.
Thanks again
Larry

[S T]

Always

I have always provided the ES Vouchers for the next tax year to my clients along with envelopes, no postage.

This year due to the move and me doing everything in the office, I gave up using the scissors and cutting the coupons. I figure the client can at least do that.

So I am glad that IRS finally recognized not to send "their" voucher forms, which then I would receive a "panic" phone call from the client, and I in turn would advise the client simply to shred them, and use what our office had provided. Besides, the IRS vouchers are received with "no amount", so to rely on the client filling that it is too much.

So my clients just have to scissor cut and write the check, and affix a postage stamp. Besides, my computer 1040ES are nicer looking than the IRS vouchers.

Sandy