Venting again.

[erchess]

It is Evidence

Well say that your evidence is you have a coworker who will vouch that you drove what you said you drove.

Not written. It is evidence, sort of?

but I would urge the client to get it written and signed asap because you would be in a world of hurt if this co worker died or otherwise became unable to testify without leaving you a written or recorded record.

[AZ-Tax]

I know I gave it to you, postively, absolutely, without a doubt I gave it to you...

Ever have that happen to you?

I am curious, how do you handle it?

[Acownt4it]

My son is the only one that has said it to me. I answered: You are right, I prepare 350 tax returns a year, handle thousands of pieces of paper, and your 1099-R is the only one I lost.
If this had been one of my "real" clients, I would have replied in much the same way except without as much sarcasm. I am not saying that I don't misplace or couldn't loose a piece of paper, but it eventually turns up and usually before their return is completed.

I would ask them when they gave it to me and they usually realize they didn't give it to me yet, but were planning on it.

[JohnH]

Answer

Right now, my answer would be something along the line of I'm not going to question whether or not you gave it to me, but I don't have it.

So we're going to hav eto file an extension until either:

1) I find it

2) You find it

or

3) We obtain a duplicate copy from the issuer

[veritas]

Typical

Have heard this many times.

If they push the point I invite them to come back and look at their paperwork and find it themselves.

We have to realize that there is a percentage of people who are lazy, inconsiderate and self-centered. I call them the 30 percenters. This is the usual number of people who wait to the last minute, don't answer phone calls, lose important documents and shift blame to someone else.

Many were trained this way, coming up in a education system that does not teach responsiblity along with irresponsible parenting.

[JohnH]

Nevertheless

Having said all that, I still love to see the expressions on their faces when I start to sort through their stuff and begin cramming the empty envelopes, boilerplate sheets in the brokerage statements, and other useless paper into the shredder. Mine is a heavy-duty type that makes lots of griding noises as it shreads away - you have to sort of talk over it while it works.

I suppose someday someone is going to ask if possibly I stuck the 1099-R in the shredder by mistake, but on balance I think it's worth the entertainment value.

[veritas]

Cathartic grinding

I like it.