Client doesn't know

[TAG]

I have a very disorganized,  mentally slow, and lazy client who doesn't know how much he paid in for his 2016 Federal estimate tax payments.  What's the easiest way to get this info from the IRS?

[Lynn EA USTCP in Louisiana]

File a POA and download an account transcript 

 if it were me I would also download the wage and income transcript . 

[TAG]

Thank you Lynn.

[michaelmars]

why make it your problem?  tell him to check his bank statements

 

[Lee B]

1 hour ago, michaelmars said:

"why make it your problem?  tell him to check his bank statements"

I agree wholeheartedly ! How are you ever going to know whether you have all of this client's information ?

You can't do everything for him or her !

 

 

[Catherine]

Well, yes - except you can *charge* for the time to get the transcript, and then you know what else the bozo is missing.  It can be a good way to decide whether to keep a client, how much to up-charge him (keeper or not), and on top of that head off next year's CP2000 letter at the pass.

[SaraEA]

I have an elderly client who on April 15 couldn't remember if he paid his one estimate or not. (If they have the cash, I often set up older clients with just one ES so they can pay when they pick up their return and be done with it for the year.)  His son did a cursory review of the bank statements and didn't spot anything, so I didn't enter the payment, although I was pretty sure he had paid.  About three weeks later the son told me his dad got a check for the full amount.

When in doubt, especially if there isn't time to get a transcript, don't enter a questionable payment.  Better for the client to get a surprise refund than a surprise bill!

[Roberts]

20 hours ago, Catherine said:

Well, yes - except you can *charge* for the time to get the transcript,

Yep, most of us are in the business of billing for our time. I have no problem with doing these things for clients, don't understand why others do.

My co-worker is a chronic complainer about EVERYTHING. I don't give him any of the attention he desires like my co-worker ("Oh, I'm so sorry you had to go through all of that, I was so worried all weekend about you"). He doesn't get this that a client asking you for help, IS OUR JOB.

[Max W]

One thing that the IRS always seems to get right is to credit the return the correct amount of ES payments, whether posted on the return or not.