RitaB Posted January 18, 2011 Report Posted January 18, 2011 Gal just in here told me her friend said she should do her own taxes, that she was crazy for paying me to do it. But, gal says she told her friend that she trusts me "explicitly." (That's good to know, but kinda sounds R-rated.) OK, she is single, no kids, two W-2's. I have been charging her $45. Guess I'm busting her proverbial chops. Also while here, she tells me her mom said I ought to be writing off her meds. Me: "Sure thing. How much did you spend?" Client: "Probably $800. Maybe more. Also, I should get that Earned Income Credit." She made $17,000. I am so glad my clients pay me these outrageous fees when they are the real experts. I lead a charmed life, ya'll. Quote
Janitor Bob Posted January 18, 2011 Report Posted January 18, 2011 I get this every year....and some don't believe me when I explain why, with $38,000 income and no kids, they do not get the EITC. I've tried charging these clients high fees to encourage them to go elsewhere..but they always seem to show up at my door. They usually already know how much their refund will be and expect me to hit their target. 1 Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted January 18, 2011 Report Posted January 18, 2011 Gal just in here told me her friend said she should do her own taxes, that she was crazy for paying me to do it. But, gal says she told her friend that she trusts me "explicitly." (That's good to know, but kinda sounds R-rated.) OK, she is single, no kids, two W-2's. I have been charging her $45. Guess I'm busting her proverbial chops. Also while here, she tells me her mom said I ought to be writing off her meds. Me: "Sure thing. How much did you spend?" Client: "Probably $800. Maybe more. Also, I should get that Earned Income Credit." She made $17,000. I am so glad my clients pay me these outrageous fees when they are the real experts. I lead a charmed life, ya'll. Add Schedule A, charge her for it, show her where the amount is. Works wonders. I have clients who INSIST that they see their union dues, prescriptions, charitable giving of $500 and work uniforms. Even though most use standard deduction, I print and charge for the Sched A, and the whole world is rosey!! Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted January 18, 2011 Report Posted January 18, 2011 I get this every year....and some don't believe me when I explain why, with $38,000 income and no kids, they do not get the EITC. I've tried charging these clients high fees to encourage them to go elsewhere..but they always seem to show up at my door. They usually already know how much their refund will be and expect me to hit their target. Maybe you need to explore the upper limits of their fee tolerance...:dunno: Quote
JohnH Posted January 18, 2011 Report Posted January 18, 2011 "Explore the upper limits of their fee tolerance..." Now I really like that! I plan to put it to good use. Quote
Lion EA Posted January 18, 2011 Report Posted January 18, 2011 Yep my first two "clients" are a mother and grown daughter, living their own separate lives. But, mother has been a long-time friend, so I've always done her return for free. Each year she brings me one or more of her grown children, expecting their returns to be free also. Mother is in a hurry to get her big refund. Well, she had $17,000 in unimployment benefits and only $186 withheld. Owes nearly $600 and can't understand why. Has no money to pay the IRS. Gave her unemployment benefits to a different grown daughter and son-in-law for their mortgage payments. Didn't keep any to repair her car or to pay her taxes. In tears. But, that's not the daughter that's in my office. This one is a single mom with three children and a nearly $7,000 refund due to EIC and additional child credit. I'd like to slap her upside her head and tell her to give her own mother $600 of her refund to pay her taxes. Now I actually wish I did RALs so I could keep $600 from daughter and give to mother. You all can guess who babysits for those three grandchildren while mom works at home depot. Quote
RitaB Posted January 18, 2011 Author Report Posted January 18, 2011 Add Schedule A, charge her for it, show her where the amount is. Works wonders. I have clients who INSIST that they see their union dues, prescriptions, charitable giving of $500 and work uniforms. Even though most use standard deduction, I print and charge for the Sched A, and the whole world is rosey!! Yeah, I always print the Sch A the first time around, no charge, to show them. Years 2 - 100, if they keep bringing me their $800 in medical and $327 in "tithes" (Wow, Jack, your folks are REAL philanthropists), I just charge them and say nothing. 1 Quote
Catherine Posted January 18, 2011 Report Posted January 18, 2011 Maybe you need to explore the upper limits of their fee tolerance... That phrasing is a thing of beauty..... 1 Quote
Margaret CPA in OH Posted January 18, 2011 Report Posted January 18, 2011 Beautiful, indeed, and now taped to my desk for frequent reference. Quote
kcjenkins Posted January 19, 2011 Report Posted January 19, 2011 Gal just in here told me her friend said she should do her own taxes, that she was crazy for paying me to do it. But, gal says she told her friend that she trusts me "explicitly." (That's good to know, but kinda sounds R-rated.) OK, she is single, no kids, two W-2's. I have been charging her $45. Guess I'm busting her proverbial chops. Also while here, she tells me her mom said I ought to be writing off her meds. Me: "Sure thing. How much did you spend?" Client: "Probably $800. Maybe more. Also, I should get that Earned Income Credit." She made $17,000. I am so glad my clients pay me these outrageous fees when they are the real experts. I lead a charmed life, ya'll. Is it possible that her Mom's name is BETTY SUE ???? :blush: Quote
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