When Do You Start Sending Out Tax Organizers

[ETax847]

Just wondering when you send out your tax organizers to clients, and if your clients actually filled them out and signed the engagement letter?

[Lynn EA USTCP in Louisiana]

I try to send them about the time they will start receiving their official tax documents.  For the late filers whose 'current year' info is received by the time the tax organizer is available it is printed and given to them in a separate envelope along with their current year tax return.

 

Some complete it, others do not.  But they all sign the engagement letter - if it is not signed and dated when I receive their materials it is scanned and sent to them.  No work is done until the signed and dated engagement letter is received back in my office.  I use the tax organizer as a worksheet, no matter what the client uses it for.

[Catherine]

I send out my letters the 2nd week of January, with a document checklist.  I don't use organizers; I want to see the originals.  Nor do I want to pay to print and mail out 8 or 16 pages to every client, to get most of it back blank and annotated "see attached" with the original documents appended.

[Lynn EA USTCP in Louisiana]

Catherine, is your document checklist customized for each client? Or generic for use with all clients? would you share your letter and checklist? I am looking for other ways to gather client data, instead of sending the organizer.

Thanks, Lynn

[jshtax]

We only send out the organizer at the request of the client.

[Catherine]

Here is the checklist -- NOT yet edited for ACA requirements or 2014 tax year.

 

Uploading as a word document; edit it as you will; cut, paste, amend, draw smiley faces -- just remember to put in your own contact info!

2013 Checklist - short organizer.doc

[Lion EA]

Thank you for sharing, Catherine.

[ETax847]

Rather than mail mine out, I'll upload them to our portal for the clients to print at their discretion.  That way there is no cost to me.

[Lynn EA USTCP in Louisiana]

Catherine, do you send the engagement letter with your 'checklist'? 

[Catherine]

Catherine, do you send the engagement letter with your 'checklist'? 

 

Yes; I have a "welcome to tax season" letter that mentions anything new -- such as, a couple years ago, the new foreign holdings reporting forms.  This year will talk about the new office location and ACA issues.  The engagement letter - straight from Drake, for each client - goes out in that same mailing as well.  So it's still a pretty full envelope but it's 4 pieces of paper not 16.  Welcome letter, engagement letter, document checklist.  In the mail second week of January.

[BulldogTom]

I only have two clients who want organizers, and I mail them to them in January.

 

Tom

Hollister (soon to be Newark) CA

[kcjenkins]

I've had clients tell me that "nothing spoils the Christmas spirit like getting reminded about taxes in Dec."

[mcb39]

I've had clients tell me that "nothing spoils the Christmas spirit like getting reminded about taxes in Dec."

 

I'll drink to that.  The last few years we have been receiving our property tax bills two or three days before Christmas.