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Posted

This morning, after two calls trying to find us, in walks an elderly man with a handful of papers.  He wanted us to show him how to fill out his tax return on paper.  He had just taken a buyout from a Federal job and is doing a personal return on paper.  Not only does he have W2 income, but also a Schedule C and a Schedule SE for his wife who has a small business. (But, she never makes a profit)  SE?  My assistant made a vague attempt to help him out.  He doesn't know how to use a computer so we are wondering where he is going to get the forms.  My husband was timing how long he was here.  I still can't believe that anyone would think they could walk into a tax office and expect to be shown how to prepare his return.  Maybe he thought we were one of the tax offices that are closing. 🥺

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Posted
11 hours ago, Sara EA said:

Did you ask him how he got his return done in the past?

Apparently he has always done it himself.  Maybe the wife's little side gig threw him for a loop.

Posted

I had someone call today, looking for help in how to look up whether a particular local charity has filed a public charity report on the state Attorney General's site. As if I knew in the first place, give a bleeping hoot in the second, and third would do such work for a stranger for no fee at any time.

What gives with some people?!

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Posted

Calls from strangers in earlier years for blank tax forms instead of using the Package X at the library. Like I had nothing better to do than print blank forms. In those days I think the ATX program wouldn't even print a blank form with no data on it, or that's what I said anyway.

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Posted

I have one former client who decided I charged too much for a "simple return" and he could do it on his own.  The first year, he called and asked a very simple question that I answered.  The next year he called again with another question.  I told him my consultation fee would be more than the cost for me to do the return.  Never heard from him again.

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Posted

A few years ago I took my name etc off both IRS and state directories and the stupid questions and help (consultation) stopped.  My business was strictly referrals.

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Posted
17 hours ago, Margaret CPA in OH said:

HRS, how do  you take your name and details off the directories?

You log in to your preparer account at the IRS and there is an opt-out checkbox somewhere. I forget the details, though.

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Posted
1 hour ago, Catherine said:

You log in to your preparer account at the IRS and there is an opt-out checkbox somewhere. I forget the details, though.

That's what I remember too, a checkbox not to share contact information in its directory for the public.

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