I may be losing my help..........

[Elrod]

Receptionist is getting tired of hearing.....

 

 

...............How much do you charge.?........

[Jack from Ohio]

Does everyone understand that we can now charge for preparation on a contingency basis?  Tax court ruled that preparing a return is not practicing before the IRS.  Have the receptionist say: "35% of your refund, $200 minimum for 1040, additional forms extra."

[Elrod]

It's not so much the amount, Jack....It's the number of calls.

I realize it's a fair question, but some days she simply falls off her chair, when it's an all day thing.

[Catherine]

Do you have caller ID?  She could answer any unknown callers by saying, "Gould's Morgue; you stab 'em we slab 'em!"

 

Or she could just think of doing that.. sometimes it's almost as much fun without the possibility of saying that to an IRS agent.  

[Catherine]

What IS it today with people with Indian subcontinent accents calling and looking for walk-in tax prep for FAFSA forms done immediately?  Only today!?!?

[ILLMAS]

I have received 3 calls this year asking for prices, but so far I have told them lets make an appointment to discuss the fees and I am still waiting for them to call me back

[RitaB]

I had new couple come in today, six W-2s with four states. Seemed shocked (shocked) when I told them it would be 10 - 14 days.

"Wow, we really need the refunds."

Yeah, I guess that's why you waited five weeks after getting your W-2s to find a preparer. Also shocked that I charge per state. Really?? You know, I am less and less surprised at the stupid people say.

[Lion EA]

With six W-2s and four states, they are going to be underwithheld, especially in the states, and not get refunds.

[mcb39]

I have a client with six states.  WI gives a credit for the tax paid to other states.  Form WI OS.  He gets refunds from most of them and usually has to pay a little on WI. 

[jasdlm]

Do you have caller ID?  She could answer any unknown callers by saying, "Gould's Morgue; you stab 'em we slab 'em!"  Some go to Heaven, some go to Hell-O!

 

Or she could just think of doing that.. sometimes it's almost as much fun without the possibility of saying that to an IRS agent.  

[RitaB]

With six W-2s and four states, they are going to be underwithheld, especially in the states, and not get refunds.

Did not turn out that way last year (they brought copies), but we shall see. In 10 -14 days.

Edited March 19, 2015 by RitaB

[FreedomTaxed]

Alas, my biggest problem with pricing is getting employees to understand. One preparer when challenged about how he priced a client, called our pricing policies "guidelines". 

 

Several employees even after being trained, still had significant trouble pricing a return. We made a custom copy of the ATX "Billing" form and all it takes is a few clicks of the mouse to price the client correctly. Somehow this is too difficult. Granted, the pricing policy and billing form were designed by a couple of OCD guys (including myself), but they are no more complicated than several tax forms are already. I wish I knew why tax preparers tend to be in such a tearing hurry to get through these forms; they miss things all the time.

 

When I get a client or prospect on the phone, I can give them a good idea of exactly what they'll be paying for their appointment. But I just can't take every such call.

[Richcpaman]

Elrod:

 

If your receptionist is getting those calls, that has to be a GOOD thing, right?

 

I love those calls.  I can have some fun with them, but, it can be a real source of new clients, right? 

 

I don't get that many, because folks think I will charge too much, but, by extension, clients leave, so we gotta replace them...

 

My conversion rate on those calls in the past used to be 80-90% became clients.  Now they are not concerned about what they pay.  (Some are, but they have left, so we are cool...)

 

Rich

[Elrod]

Thanks, Rich....I agree with Ya....It was just a day when one county apparently woke up and decided to check tax prep fees...