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I finally figured out WHY I'm a tax preparer ... OMG, I have finally discovered what’s wrong with my brain: On the left side, there's nothing right, and on the right side, there's nothing left.

I sell capital equipment to medical facilities, pharmaceutical companies, and research institutions. For some of it, I know a great deal about how it works and what it does. But for quite it bit of it, I don't have a clue about how to use the end result. All I know is how to get the result. When I'm talking with them about that equipment, I do the same thing the Drake rep did - I tell them the truth right up front. Most of my customers appreciate the honesty and the fact I'm not trying to BS them, although I'm sure there's an occasional doctor who asks why they don't have MD's selling this stuff. I suppose my answer would be the same as what I speculated about the tax software sales rep. Or I might try a little humor by reversing field and tell them about the sales rep who asked for $300 per hour to prepare a price quote. The doctor objected and said even he doesn't earn $300 per hour. To which the sales rep replied, "Don't feel bad - I didn't earn $300 per hour when I was a doctor either." It all depends upon the circumstances and the audience.

Others of us put much more effort, time and communication with the people at ATX. Despite the opinions of some on this board, the CAB meeting was very productive. I have promised to give you information when I have finished all my advanced testing. You do not know all that is being done behind the scenes.

Maybe most tax software sales reps are not people who can actually prepare tax returns because tax preparation pays more than selling the tax prep software. I'm a sales rep in my other life, and I just don't see how the pricing struture for low-end software could ever produce commissions sufficient to make it worthwhile to sell tax software rather than prepare tax returns.

I'm not specifically picking on CCH, but that is unfortunately the case with all of the vendors. We preparers have only contact with the sales team that may not have all of the facts in place for us to make very informed decisions about our purchase, and the program we are given to test drive is from the prior year. With all of the problems that the ATX program had last year, I have to agree with Eric's statement in the last month or so that CCHSFS needs to go beyond their SOP to reassure their customers that things will be different going forward. Having a sales rep talk in generalities doesn't carry much weight at this point, especially after the repeated promises of fixes over the course of this last busy season.

These agreements should be written by attorneys who specialize in corporate or LLC/partnership business issues. For successful companies that can afford life insurance, I have seen buy sell agreements with life insurance provisions where the premiums are paid by the company and the proceeds purchase the decedent's interest. For example, if one partner dies the life insurance proceeds buy-out the decedent's share and proceeds go to the decedent's heirs. The life insurance proceeds of course are pre-determined and agreed upon in a written buy out agreement between the partners...

(Disclaimer: Sent to me from someone, at some point -- for all I recall, someone here) This story may or may not be true from experiences I may or may not have had with the IRS if I ever did even work for them. During my short employment tour with the IRS in the mail room, I've found several harmless ways to mess with them and receive no recourse. Always put staples in the right hand corner. Go ahead and put a row down the whole right side. The extractors who remove the mail from the envelopes have to take out any staples in the right side. Never arrange paperwork in the right order, or even facing the right way. Put a few upside down and backwards. That way they have to remove all your staples rearrange your paperwork and re-staple it (on the left side). Line the bottom of your envelope with Elmer's glue and let it dry before you put in you forms, so that the automated opener doesn't open it and the extractor has to open it by hand. If you’re very unfortunate and have to pay taxes use a two or three party check. On top of paying with a three party check pay one of the dollars you owe in cash. When an extractor receives cash, no matter how small an amount, he has to take it to a special desk and fill out of few nasty forms. Write a little letter of appreciation. Any letter received has to be read and stamped regardless of what it is or what it’s on. Write your letter on something misshapen and unconventional. Like on the back of a Kroger sack. When you mail it, mail it in a big envelope (even if its just a single EZ form). Big envelopes have to be torn and sorted differently than regular business size ones. An added bonus to the big envelope is that they take priority over other mail, so the workers can hurry up and deal with your mess =) If you send 2 checks they'll have to staple your unsightly envelope to your half destroyed form. Always put extra paper clips on your forms. Any foreign fasteners or the like have to be removed and put away. Sign your name in ink on every page. Any signature has to be verified and then date stamped. These are just a few of the fun and exciting things you can do with the man. These methods are only recommended when you owe money.

Julie, I'm with Tom on this, for the reasons stated but also because you do not want to lose them as clients, and this is a situation where you can have each of them questioning your loyalty to him. Directing them to a qualified planner who will work with you makes you a valued resource without having to 'own' the final plan.

I have had two instances in the last month where four different techs worked on my computers with team viewer; addressed the issues and fixed them. They could not have been more cordial and gracious.

I'm safe. So far.