End of the Season

[Christian]

A guy had called me earlier in the season who has been doing his own returns stating he had two W-2's and owned two home rentals inquiring about pricing and advised he might call back. Today he called. I advised him we would set an appointment and look at his info asking for him to bring in his 2015 returns so I could match info. He hesitated a minute or two and then said he would be bringing in 127 PAGES !!!!!!!!!!!! I grew sorta weak and somehow feel I will let this one pass.

[rfassett]

Don't become too discouraged too quick.  I have seen some of those do-it-yourself printouts and some folks think they need to print out a page or schedule for every block on the return. Two W-2s and two rentals just can not generate that much paper. I will be interested in hearing "the rest of the story".

Good luck!

[jklcpa]

Yes, I took one on that the guy told me on the phone was easy. It's the one I posted about in my rant topic. I finally got LY's return (electronically, thank goodness!) prepared by another local CPA firm and it was 89 pages, and none of it was extraneous fluff either like the home ver of TT would print. 

[Richcpaman]

OMG.

I may have posted about this...  140 pages out of TT for a client with 1 w-2, Schedule A and 2106.   I think that TT also owns a paper company.  Client did give me a PDF of it, though.

Rich

 

[jasdlm]

6 minutes ago, Richcpaman said:

OMG.

I may have posted about this...  140 pages out of TT for a client with 1 w-2, Schedule A and 2106.   I think that TT also owns a paper company.  Client did give me a PDF of it, though.

Rich

 

But when you DO want something, like a depreciation schedule, for example, it is NOWHERE!

[jklcpa]

My 89-pager new client that I met with on Tues & sent LY's return yesterday afternoon just emailed me asking when they'd be hearing about their tax fate.  Grrrrrrrr!

[rfassett]

9 hours ago, jklcpa said:

My 89-pager new client that I met with on Tues & sent LY's return yesterday afternoon just emailed me asking when they'd be hearing about their tax fate.  Grrrrrrrr!

These calls and/or emails always represent teaching moments for me.  "You came to me expecting a professional service.  Professional services require a requisite amount of uninterrupted time to complete the task.  I will contact you if and when I have any questions or when the return is complete.  Please know that my commitment is to complete returns within a two to three week period."

We have had two calls this year wondering when the return would be complete.  Both were new clients this year.  They will not make the mistake of calling again.  They just needed to understand the rules of the game.

[Roberts]

My client just brought in his mother's return because he's taken over power of attorney. He brought in 3 years of returns and none have a copy of the state. Does Jackson Hewitt really not provide a copy of the State Return when doing a tax return for someone? There is a 2012 from Block and it doesn't have a state copy either.

[Catherine]

At this time of year I set up an email auto-respond, saying something on the order of "If you have sent your papers, we are working on your returns, in the order of receipt.  However, if we take the time to respond to everyone who emails for a status report, no one's returns will get completed.  We are doing our best, but refuse to rush or do sloppy work merely to meet the April deadline.  Have patience with us, and we will be in touch with any questions or to inform you that all is ready."

[Christian]

It's so comforting to know I am not alone.  

[Lion EA]

A lot of my older clients don't have enough taxable income to be required to file a CT return.  (I worked at Block, and we always included the state(s) returns in the client folder.)

[WITAXLADY]

really - we have talked about putting that on the answering machine.. but hubby says real person! My staff have 27 returns to input for Feb yet , making only 100 plus for me to check...  numbers just are not coming together this year

and the March ones want to know where there's are as usually extensions are March 10th...

I try to explain my services do take time to do a thorough job - voted best 3rd year in a row - little brag -so most like me yet -

but like a Dr if you cannot wait be here Jan or be patient

and open your envelopes

have all your info

return my calls

or better yet - give me an email I can send questions to at 2 am..

and we do this why?

someone asked me this last week? As I was saving her $$$$ and her hubby wanted to not pay tax on the $15,000 of income he does auto body work for fun  -I should have told her  do it for free and you won't have to file! I might yet.

back to work - finish 1 or 2 yet tonight and only a couple as it is Sunday.

Do love the numbers/puzzle/work - just not the hassle - gotta write my letter to Trump  - priority!! Sunday

 

[Richcpaman]

WiTax:

Wow.  And I am stressed about the ones that have come in before March 15th.  Pretty much all the others are done and gone.  Unless they haven't given me something.  Got another 40 to come in, between now and April 15th, that I still get done, even if they are late.

Actually, I think we are ahead of things now.

Gonna keep the peddle to the metal until the 10th or 11th, no matter what.

Rich

 

 

[rfassett]

I have 32 to get done that came in on or before March 20th - our guaranteed completion date cutoff.  Another 20 that have come in since - which are more than likely to get completed (5 of those are my own entities and personal).  And I anticipate another 50 coming in this week, only about half of which will get done.  We will be done preparing on the 12th, do extensions on the 13th, and then close the office until the 18th.  We are in good shape here.

[Lion EA]

I have clients who assume they've been in line since February or whenever and now give me a K-1 or other info.  They really don't understand why they might go on extensions as it's now April.

The earlier deadline for partnerships really wrecked my usual schedules.  Everything shifted late February to prepare S-corps and partnerships.  Then had to pick up speed again on personal returns.  Only to start getting the calls "I'm leaving for Disney World the 8th so I have to come sign before then."

I may lose a couple of clients this year.  Just told one easy one that never owes that she might go on extension and used Catherine's text to another who just gave me one more piece -- they'll think it's rude and they do not want an extension, but if they bug me one more time they definitely get an extension.

And, I have a pinched nerve that radiates down my leg and slows my walking and dressing and...that I don't want to take the strong pain med that keeps me from working.  Not to mention granddaughter was here last week, so took time off to go to the beach (in winter gear) and zoo and such.

[WITAXLADY]

aah - sorry about the leg.. more moans and groans every year and it is not just the clients..

and why do they think they have to have done before they leave - sign when they come back - works for me!!

I just relooked for this - mulling putting on for Monday so can work - have some 2013's and 2012 state's as well from last year and this year new clients...

Living the Dream!!

talked to all the grand families today

And people - how do you close the 14th? Telling them to pu then... We say we are closed the 15, 16 but know I will work Sat and part of Sun and swamped Mon, Tues with vouchers and cranky's!!

definitely closed the 19th - thought we would have pizza in house but may have to leave!!! to get peace.

gotta write my letter to Trump - getting late in the day. almost forgot I am having so much fun trying to get caught up.  :0

[rfassett]

My office is always closed on Good Friday. Since that happens to fall on the 14th, it just seemed appropriate to call the season on the 13th. We will be back in the office on the 18th working on payroll quarterlies so we will be accessible for client inquiries but I do not anticipate even one call. We have been telling our clients from the get go that this is our plan. It is all about three things: 1. Communication. 2. Training the client base. 3.  Me running  the business and not letting the business run me.

[SaraEA]

I haven't counted how many returns I have in queue but it's a lot.  And numbers don't mean much, it's the complexity.  Early in the week I will focus on out-of-state returns that need extra time for mailing both ways.  The problem is that most of the other returns are monsters that require time and care.  We are closed on Sunday, no clients and the phone is on night service.  I reserve this day for the most complex.  So today I did a six-hour return and another easy one.  The others I touched needed info.  It is fun when those last pieces of data come in all at once.  You get five returns done in two hours!  But then you pick up the four-hour return.....

[WITAXLADY]

and so frustrating when every return needs something!!!!

[WITAXLADY]

but my daughters/soninlaws was 5 minutes! they had everything - must be trained well - I told her that and she said nooo, but you know what - he had all the paperwork, charitable , private school tuition (WI), daycare, etc!! I must have bothered them enough other years,,

verified bank account and all set! another one bites the dust!

however, they are not in my count!