RitaB Posted April 4, 2014 Report Posted April 4, 2014 "You went up $5 on my return." Crickets. 2 Quote
Lion EA Posted April 4, 2014 Report Posted April 4, 2014 I can make that $10. When we'd offer our daughter a couple of cookies and she countered with four, we'd go to one. Or read for 30 minutes and she countered with 15, we'd go to 45. 3 Quote
neilbrink Posted April 4, 2014 Report Posted April 4, 2014 I probably should have gone to 10, but wanted to keep my clients happy. 1 Quote
RitaB Posted April 4, 2014 Author Report Posted April 4, 2014 And the first one that picked up today. Owed because of taking an early retirement withdrawal. Client: "But they were supposed to hold out the tax." Me: "Yes, like I said when I called you February 28, they held out 18.91%. The penalty you owe is 10%, and the tax on this is 25%." Client: "Well, they were supposed to hold out 20%." Crickets again. I'm not even trying with these people. 4 Quote
jklcpa Posted April 4, 2014 Report Posted April 4, 2014 First call of the day - TP exercised a stock option that added $107K to his W-2 and has AGI of about $430K. This couple owes $13K with the return and he can't understand it or that the company only withheld 25%. He's in the 33% bracket, hitting the AMT, exemptions completely phased out, Sch A deductions are limited.... He's going to dig through his pay stubs this weekend to figure out what went wrong. 4 Quote
MsTabbyKats Posted April 4, 2014 Report Posted April 4, 2014 My super is my client. I try to keep him happy because he can turn off the heat. But, how many pairs of work boots can he claim? And does he wear the same ones on his schedule A jobs as on his Schedule C jobs? Oh vey...but at least he knows that it isn't my fault that he owes $10K. 1 Quote
pikester1967 Posted April 4, 2014 Report Posted April 4, 2014 "You went up $5 on my return." Crickets. Crickets........................................ After last Saturdays calls, and work.............. Yep it's absolutely ..................... Crickets.............. On a much happier side note, I just snatched up a new partnership with 2 individual returns today! Cha Ching! From the guy whom trained me back in 1988. Double Cha Ching! 4 Quote
schirallicpa Posted April 4, 2014 Report Posted April 4, 2014 The closer we get to April 15th, the stiffer the billing becomes. I charge a full bill on most clients - for each and every form or schedule we work on. Then give a "courtesy discount" on most. Those discounts go away after April 1st. I raised my basic rate 15 this year after 10 years. My secretary is great at pointing out that its been 10 years........ 3 Quote
michaelmars Posted April 4, 2014 Report Posted April 4, 2014 I charge per staple that I have to remove....I copy everything and that a client gives me. when it takes 20 minutes to remove all the staples on 1099's k-1's etc I add a frustration fee. 3 Quote
kcjenkins Posted April 4, 2014 Report Posted April 4, 2014 That's one of the problems with not adjusting your fees at least a little every year, is that they come to think of it as a 'fixed' amount. In 10 years, almost everything has gone up, including many of our costs, like software, ink, utilities, etc. Now, if you had raised his bill $20 then given him a $10 Discount, not only would he probably be happier, you'd have $5 more. Quote
Crank Posted April 5, 2014 Report Posted April 5, 2014 I had a new client call today wanting to know if I could file his 1120S before the deadline. At least it didn't create any additional stress for me as I reeeeally hate the first 15 days of April. Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted April 5, 2014 Report Posted April 5, 2014 How about this client.... Phone call: Them: "I have a couple of questions about my tax return I just received in the mail" Me: "OK, go ahead..." (As I am opening the return in my computer and get ready to answer) Them: "Did you add all my medical expenses?" "How about all the mileage for my business?" "Why is my refund smaller?" Me; " What numbers on the Sched. C do you think are not correct? How much should your medical expenses be? Did you see that your employer withheld $500 less this year?" Them: "Oh I don't have my tax return here. I am driving to meet some friends and thought I would ask...." 5 Quote
RitaB Posted April 5, 2014 Author Report Posted April 5, 2014 How about this client.... Phone call: Them: "I have a couple of questions about my tax return I just received in the mail" Me: "OK, go ahead..." (As I am opening the return in my computer and get ready to answer) Them: "Did you add all my medical expenses?" "How about all the mileage for my business?" "Why is my refund smaller?" Me; " What numbers on the Sched. C do you think are not correct? How much should your medical expenses be? Did you see that your employer withheld $500 less this year?" Them: "Oh I don't have my tax return here. I am driving to meet some friends and thought I would ask...." It's ok to kill that guy. 10.4 2 Quote
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