RitaB

43 minutes ago, Richcpaman said:

I have to ask... what was in your office before you moved into it?  That sign reminds me of someplace else...

 

I bought the building in 2004.  It was a day spa then.  Before that, a hot tub business.   No, you can't make this up.

Just now, Gail in Virginia said:

If I am ever driving through Tennessee and see your sign, I am going to definitely stop in. 

I would love that so much, Gail!  All of you are welcome, even if we're fried good and proper.

I have a sign in front of the building, and try to keep a friendly or funny message up.  I currently have "Walk-Ins Welcome - Surprise Me" on it.  I really feel like that sign was responsible for 15 new clients this year.  People are not afraid to come in.  I have heard, "Surprise!" about 100 times since January.  (That's gettin old and tired, not gonna lie.)

Below is a picture of what I had on there previously.  My kids' friends got a kick out of it, but it caused some confusion, especially with one fella who was worried about me and my family issues.  You win some, you learn some.

32 minutes ago, Abby Normal said:

I just checked and we now spend only 25% of what we did only 4 years ago on office supplies, due to gradually going paperless a little bit more each year.

I just can't do it.   I am a paper and manila folder nerd.  There's something comforting to me, knowing I can pull out the file and hold in my hand.   With the wine per diem in the other hand. 

1 hour ago, Richcpaman said:

What I found unusual, is that he put it on his public webpage, where his clients could read it. Its one thing to sit around here on our barstools and grouse about things, but quite another to put it on your public wall.

Clients always ask me about tax season.  I simply tell them that it is the BEST time of the year for me. 

I was struck by that one, too.  I know I whine to you all, but I try to keep my complaints amongst us veterans in the trenches.  Clients and friends really cannot relate to us at all anyway.  I decided this poor guy really is fried good and proper and needs some of his clients to know.  Not me, I'm just over here "let me plaster this smile on my face while I plow through this one more time with you..."

47 minutes ago, BLACK BART said:

Were you fried rare, medium, or well-done?

Yes. 

"Because as it now stands, this past tax season fried me good and proper."

19 hours ago, BulldogTom said:

It is the insurance company that is taking on the risk of the person who goes without insurance until they get the sickness that requires big health care layouts, then they sign up and go to the doctor.  Once they are well, they drop out again.

I made this point on a Facebook post last year and you would think I killed a puppy and his unicorn best friend.  I compared it to buying homeowners' insurance after your house burns down or asking your neighbors who have paid insurance premiums for 30 years to build you a new house.  It seems completely logical to me for people who get more health care to pay more than those who get less.  If you get three gallons of milk at the store, you should pay more than someone who gets one gallon of milk.  Safety nets yes.  Hammocks no.

3 hours ago, ILLMAS said:

+1 I also had a person bickering about how much taxes they had to pay and this is BS and they are an employee and so on, I said fine, I'll prepare a special form to let the IRS know what's going and you might lose your job.....  The person had no problem paying the tax.

 

Same people will complain about not being able to live on Social Security benefits.  Oh, is that the Karma Bus coming down the You-Did-It-To-Yourself Road?

14 minutes ago, FDNY said:

You know where these people are coming from.   And you like to tell them where to go to.  I hope I used the prepositions in the right context, I want to be correct knowing the people I'm here with.

Crying. 

5 minutes ago, JohnH said:

This business of ending a sentence with a preposition is an error up with which we should not put.

Don't be out calling me.

1 hour ago, Pacun said:

I love when my clients tell me "the amount is very small". To me, 10 cents is a very small amount, but for you it might be a few thousand of dollars. I always tell my clients, give me the amount and you save the adjectives.

Well, Terry is the one saying it's very small, but yeah, everybody that tells me, "I really didn't make anything on that," really made something on that.  Same as "but they held out the tax already".  Uh, they held out SOME tax, not THE tax.

1 hour ago, ILLMAS said:

... they asked if I prepared their 2016 and if I can give them a depreciation report so they can use it for future years, I responded by saying if you are just looking for someone to explain depreciation and give the tools to prepared it yourself next year then I will not be interested in preparing your tax return.  They said that was not their intentions but then there is the gut feeling.

I certainly understand your response, and it is not wrong.  You have the right to run your business any way you see fit.  I can see a time coming when I might do the same thing you did.  I might also do it now if the person seemed unsavory, for lack of a better word.  None of us were there.  You did fine.

8 minutes ago, rfassett said:

I would have taken the client. I give all of my clients with depreciation a depreciation report with the return.

Me too, but I give them the Tax Classification Report which shows 2016 depreciation, and even assets which have been disposed of.  (Sorry I ended a sentence with a preposition, need more coffee.)  I would charge extra for Detail Report that shows 2017 depreciation since I know he's not coming back unless he gets called out on his errors, which is unlikely, let's be honest here.  I'm not sure if ATX prints 2018 and subsequent years.  If I had to do it manually, it would be worth an awful lot more.

On ‎4‎/‎24‎/‎2017 at 3:48 PM, RitaB said:

I am thinking of a client I have who's in this shape, too.  I'm pretty sure he's having some dementia issues.  It's sad - he has been such great client, and I'd be happy to sort thru his stuff if he'd just bring it.

This little gentleman's brother from Florida (whose return I also do) brought him in today to pick up 2017 1040-ES forms.  Brother said, "I received my forms that you mailed me, thank you, but Frank didn't get his," and he winked at me.  I printed Mr. Frank some more forms and I'm hoping we talked enough about what I need to prepare the 2015 return that brother will get the ball rolling.  It's sad, and I really feel for the ones with no family to help.

19 minutes ago, BHoffman said:

I read the article. It was like watching someone trying to chew the cap off a child proof bottle.  I don't think the media is going to be able to write correctly informative articles without having at least a basic understanding of how the current tax code works.  And, they don't.  So, we should be prepared for a lot of amusement and amazement.  

Just like when media people assumed that a candidate did not pay any taxes of any kind for 20 years because of a loss on one return. 

This is my face when anybody, any profession besides this one, either party, tries to explain taxes.  They can't.  They don't know. 

12 hours ago, ILLMAS said:

Would you suggest this to another tax preparer?  TP received an incorrect amount 1099, the issuer requested I speak to his accountant, which I did, the accountant suggested I prepare the return with the corrected amount and to write-in a note to the IRS to clear up the discrepancies. 

If I prepared an incorrect 1099, I would correct it.  I'm not sure if the issuer prepared the 1099, or his accountant prepared it.  Since issuer is having you call me, the accountant, I'd fix the thing.  No way would I suggest a work around if I have been asked to fix something.  I can't get over the aversion some people have to correcting things.  If my client told me wrong, I'd charge an appropriate fee.  If my client prepared the 1099 himself, I'd charge a really appropriate fee.

If I'm handed an incorrect form and it's time to fish or cut bait, I use DANRVAN's option #3.  Cause people are lazy, apparently, and I don't have time to dink around with begging for forms to be corrected.  If my client has not been able to get that done before he gets here, let's move on.

6 hours ago, ILLMAS said:

There are a ton of how to fire client video on YouTube, I was just watching a video and the presenter encourages accountants to bill for the 5 min call why:

You can't do other work because your attention is on them

Billing them will probably reduce calls from demanding clients

@SaraEA don't stress yourself out

I wouldn't fire this lady yet.  I'd be doing what Sara is doing:  trying to figure out a way to help her.  I am thinking of a client I have who's in this shape, too.  I'm pretty sure he's having some dementia issues.  It's sad - he has been such great client, and I'd be happy to sort thru his stuff if he'd just bring it.

1 hour ago, Catherine said:

Want to give us the link?  Sometimes I think we're just all too nice and don't get rid of problem clients fast enough.  

I am trying to keep it shorter, because I think they lose all letters over three or four sentences.

Dear (Ex) Client: 

      It's me, not you.  (It's you.)  I am writing to inform you that my business is going in a new direction (away from you), and I be unable to provide services to you in the future.  Good luck (with the next poor fool you make miserable)!

8 minutes ago, RitaB said:

Yes, that IS a good point.  But she'll take Door #2. 

I'm not advocating skipping out on your obligations, and I realize Jack's client has a special case. 

My daughter is in grad school, I am paying for it, along with the Nashville rent.  She has classmates who owe 2 1/2 times what tuition and rent have cost me.  They are paying living expenses and maybe living it up expenses with loans.  My daughter says they should be whipped.  She's a hugger too.

4 hours ago, Richcpaman said:

 If not, she just exchanged student loan debt for a tax debt

2 hours ago, DANRVAN said:

Good point.

Yes, that IS a good point.  But she'll take Door #2. 

1 hour ago, Richcpaman said:

Some folks, no matter what, do NOT want to admit that they may be messed up...  I offered to come by the house and help sort stuff, or even one of my lower cost staff members.  No. 

There are appropriate ways to bring in support.   But you can lead a horse to water...

Yeah, if Sara's lady doesn't want to part with a 2012 1040-ES voucher, well, in the words of a country song, "You can push me in, but you cain't hold me under." 

22 minutes ago, Medlin Software said:

If needed, I take a vacation anytime.  Could be 10 minutes, a day, whatever. 

Exactly what I was doing thru the school zone. 

Yesterday was just brutal.  It's like a huge crash this year.

I had seven sales tax returns to do and the great State of TN has revamped their site and made it far more difficult and illogical than ever.  Put out a few other fires.  Went to dentist, where a very pretty and annoying young lady walked in like she owned the place, wanted them to fit her in even though she was supposed to be in the office of another dentist named Darryl in another town.  All I could think was:  "This is our April clients.  They are everywhere."

Then I went home, driving thru one red light, then a school zone where the friendly cop had his hand up waving at me and even blew his whistle.  So sweet. 

Agree with everybody else.  I would not comment one way or the other about 2013 refund being gone. 

I will add that I had the pleasure of telling a person who comes here from another country, makes more than I make, kids on state health coverage, whining about taxes:  I bet you like roads, schools, health care, stamps, and bombs.  This is the greatest country in the world.  You need to help me pay for that stuff. Pay your taxes.  I believe I was doing God's work there.