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I would like to do some type of marathon (or half marathon more likely), but I admit to being slightly afraid.....4 miles on the tradmill every day...but not sure if I can pull off a marathon. When I started in September, my goal was (and still is) to lose 55 pounds by my birthday on March 25th.....If I can stick with it, another 15 pounds should be possible.....but tax season will make it soooo much tougher.

I started getting calls in December; I already have appointments set with new clients and have seen a few already for 4th quarter estimates and projections. It's my first year fully self-employed and I'm scared & excited; excited by all the new calls, and scared I won't have the energy for them. And I may not make enough to cover the rest of the year. But I haven't really stopped at all except by ignoring the work on my desk periodically since Oct. 15.

Perhaps you both, jainen and Pacun, have a quite different set of clients from mine. Most of mine have been with me for many years and appreciate when I am prepared to address issues that might arise. I have heretofore not had POA in advance of notices. In response to the multiple complaints mentioned earlier in this thread and cumbersome, time consuming and stressful methods of sorting them out between IRS and clients, my inclination certainly was to make things easier for my clients, should the need arise. jainen, if the client doesn't want to sign a POA, the client has every right to decline. I don't agree a priori that a POA requires a separate fee structure although, to address broader issues than simply answering straightforward questions, a separate engagement letter may be in order. I do state that on my tax prep engagement letter following AICPA guidelines. Pacun, I would have the POA to be able to assist with answering questions on a particular tax return, not necessarily under audit, to expedite matters given the complaints stated above. If any client wished to retain additional, previous POA's, they can decline. I can only speak for my clients and none of them have POA's with other CPA's. Yes, I know that to be true having asked at the beginning of engagements. I am unclear as to your meaning with your last statement. I don't see any inconvenience on my part but perhaps am simply not understanding the grammar. Given the increasing complexity of the entire tax process and multiplying problems with poorly trained or otherwise difficult agents, I am even more inclined to be proactive with my clients - not yours - as I know their issues, their particular situations (many elderly), and their comfort levels managing what may appear to be threatening letters from IRS. I would never force anyone to sign a POA. It is and will always be an option. But I do want to continue to be the person that my clients depend on with tax issues start to finish. Thanks for the commentary and insights. It is so good to know that opinions abound and are shared. We may also agree to disagree.

Mine officially started a week ago, when the inquiry calls and "hey, this happened last year what will you need that's different" emails started coming in, and the businesses started sending info for W-2s and 1099s. I am -so- not ready for this.

This year I will be getting signed POA's from -all- my clients when I get initial paperwork from them. Several times this past year I've had clients get weird IRS letters before the returns were processed -- and all the "third party designee" boxes in the world count for NOTHING until the return is processed.

You can always check e-services for the wage & income info to back up what you are putting on the return, including the student loan interest. I just did an e-services POA; I just started doing them online instead of faxing and it's great how quickly you can get the info. You do need the TP's date of birth and one tax year's AGI as on file to verify the signature.