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We had a client come in with their sealed envelopes, and then when we started to open one, they said we are committing a federal offense by opening their mail and they grabbed them all and had to open them while sitting in front of us. You just can't make this stuff up!

On April 7, you can do anything to get a signed 8879. Anything. 10.8

I had a client tape a paper over a section of their handwritten spreadsheet. It said "do not lift off. there is nothing under here." So, I lifted the paper off. Yep, there was just scribble under it.

You could also mail a paper extension request to the client, with instructions that that they must send it in by Apr 15 in order to avoid FTF penalties of 5% per month. The "Amount You Are Paying" box #7 should be blank (not zero, but blank, so they can fill in any amount they are sending with the extension) I would include instructions mentioning the fact that they are supposed to pay the estimated balance due, but a partial payment or no payment is permissible, and they will pay interest and FTP penalty of about 1-1/4 % per month on any unpaid balance. I would also include a short disclaimer that this extension request is based on partial information they have provided, and that I will not be responsible for any subsequent penalties or interest when the return is completed. Then I'd forget about it until they contact me.

I got home Saturday night about nine, and my 21-year-old son, home from college, had done five loads of laundry. All mine. Me: Thank you, honey, I haven't done it in a while, eh? David: Mom. Please tell me you are wearing underwear.

New client call's, wife in prison has POA wants to get the return done. During phone conversation I ask last name and realize it's one of my biggest trucker clients son. - Noting with caution he hates both sons, and both are in/out of the system more than in civilization. Once he gives me the first name major red flag. It's the one that just got out from a drug bust! My response! My schedule is full until the 15th, I did hear that HRB has plenty of availability, would you like there number. Click from other end. Sigh of relief in my side. Way to old for the bottom of the barrel.

Sweet little lady that just left, pushing 80, looked smashing, I told her she looked like she should be in a beauty pageant today. Without missing a beat, she said, "Nah, I need to give everybody else a chance." Crying.

Engineer who spent four days trying to do his return before handing it over, pays $19700 in investment fees, picked up last week, comes in today to give me the signed e-file authorization, and ask / say: 1) What is the $336 on Sch A for medical? I know we don’t get anything for that, but can you take it off? MC premiums on your wife’s disability. Oh, are insurance premiums deductible? 2) You only gave me one copy of the return, I will need one for myself. See this e-file authorization you signed? You, uh, authorized me to e-file. That’s your copy of the tax return. Also says here on the letter, that I will e-file it. You know, when you give me the signed e-file authorization. 3) Hey, are you cooking something? Smells real hot. 4) Hey, I will get more bang for my buck on the 19,700 investment fees next year cause my deductions won’t be limited and I will only have $100,000 AGI. 10.7 I may look calm, but I have killed three people in my head today.

I've opened mail to find checks! And, report cards and psychiatrist evaluations and town tax bills and IRS notices mortgage bills and ....

Yes, and I know I smell like Colonel Sanders now. And not in a good way. Cause he's usually my type, just sayin. LMAO.

It's a tough situation when we already have the client documents in our office and have taken on the project. I think I will adjust next year's engagement letter to cover this situation. I will be adding a paragraph regarding incomplete returns in our office prior to 4-15. In that case, our letter will stipulate that at our discretion, we may (but are not obligated to) file an extension on their behalf. Any thoughts on this approach?

Speaking of rent. My landlord has not renewed my office lease. I must find another place and be completely out by May 31! Everything I am looking at will require a build-out of some sort, plus the base rents are higher. Argh! So, next year, I will be increasing my fees, but of course, it will probably all go to overhead. At first I was optimistic about the move, but now that I am tired and can't find the right place, I'm just frustrated, and dreading slamming and ram-jamming into being out AND in, within 45 days after the 15th. I just want to head for the beach and read a good book.

That is an impressive feat to gather the information, type it in, check it, print it, assemble it, deliver it, e-file it, follow up on the e-file in only 15 minutes. I cannot do that even if it were just a W-2!

I especially like the ones that come to me from HRB or Liberty and complain about my fees when they paid the other guys twice as much. Go figure? I am not the cheapest in our market area nor am I even close to the most expense. I know the time and effort that I put into completing their returns and have not had major problems or made any major mistakes. A few small ones here and there that were not really significant but nonetheless a mistake. If I was perfect then I wouldn't be human and I feel I charge an adequate fee for the services that I provide. So, if they don't like it they can indeed go elsewhere. The ones who do usually come back.

I had that same 1099 covered with orange stuff, but no identifying note. And why do they open them and put everything back into the envelopes.? Year after year, they see me throwing the envelopes in the waste basket and they learn nothing.

I think RitaB get's the award this year for the most crazies! I won it back in 2007, placing my vote already!

If it fits, it ships. Wait, that's something else.

I'd put it in the same category as paying a personal trainer. There's definitely medical benefits to exercise. There may be medical benefits to the Alexander technique. But that does not turn it into a medical deduction.

He's actually very nice, just has no idea how busy I am, like all our clients. I really was stunned that he thought he was mailing his return. I mean, what did he think "e-file authorization" meant? I'm crying from laughing now. Between bites of chicken jerky. Anybody got any Visine?

Chicken. Charred chicken. Flaming charred chicken. MMMMM. Side order of smoke.

gotta love people who pay thousands of dollars in investment fees, and then bawk at your bill.

I have the same two every year that bring me envelopes with dividend checks in them.

As Jack knows, I did the addition to the home last year and have never looked back or regretted it. Planned correctly, it can be a very attractive addition to where you live and will be adaptable to anyone else's needs. In other words, it does not look like an office until you get inside. I added on to the existing office which was actually an existing bedroom. The zoning commission was very cooperative. My office is designed so that it can be used by anyone for anything. Instead of paying rent, I am building equity and have OIH deductions.

How about adding an addition to your home for your office. I currently work from home, and will never change that. I may take the garage and rework it, but won't ever have a separate office in a different location.

We used to e-file an extension in this case, but after reading an earlier thread on this board, we will now not send an extension unless the client specifically requests it. I would offer one final communication, probably both via email and phone - "In order for me to e-file an extension, I need for you to confirm that this is what you would like for me to do for you. Please note you owe and a payment is also expected to be included with the extension. By not providing a payment with your extension, you will be subject to late filing penalties and interest." Something like that.

I don't know how I managed it, but I cooked most of the time, take out once a week. I tried to make things that were in large enough quantity to last a second day, then fill in with simple meals that I could throw in the oven that cook themselves or a quick breakfast meal one night. I also cook for 2 of the dogs that are old and in the early stages of kidney failure. They have other issues and can't take the meds, so custom home cooked diet has helped tremendously. At the beginning of March I made a month's worth for both of them. Tonight I'm finishing 2 more weeks for each....still have to cook lots of sweet potatoes and portion them out.

I have clothes baskets sitting around in every stage of needing to be washed, just washed, need to hang in basement, need to put in dryer, need to empty dryer to make room for more, need to fold and (never get put away). Food is optional at best. Hampers are running over in spite of the above. We just ran out of buy one, get one free coupons at Denny's so those quick lunches will end. A family funeral next Saturday will put a big crimp in things, but I don't think the deceased did it on purpose. Didn't even get beyond sweats today. Sunday's are the best day to get work done. I even called one client to come down and pick his up. He doesn't live far and I needed signature so he came right down, signed and brought cash. Still have appointments all this week. As I said before, I started to turn new clients away on Friday unless they were willing to go on extension. Ah, life is good.

If it's 2 W-2s...an uncomplicated A..,and 2 straightforward states...I'd charge that...especially if the client wasn't a PITA. I factor other things...like...drips and drabs...200 questions...and the assumption of getting a refund. My today rant is..."My friend recommended you. You got him $8000 and charged him $125. Why do I only get $2500 and I have to pay you $150?" Oh yes....2 PhDs at Princeton!

Another guy, always has to pay in with return: “We need to figure out how we can pay more in thru the year.” I look at W-2, copy C. Whomp, there it IZZZZ: M / 6. Nope, they don't have kids.

I think in essence Mom gave your client $10,000 in timber, and your client sold it. I mean, no, that's not exactly what happened, but she just needs to pay up and be happy, in my opinion. Alternative is to look a gift horse (mom) in the mouth, and put it back on mom. Not cool.

I had "My Engineer" tell me that I made an "error" last year with only applying his $5,200 Investment Fees on Sch A, subject to the 2% limit. His "Broker" told him he could write it off to ST Loss on Schedule D if he was at the Schedule A Limit. Would I be so kind as to Amend.. NOT, I did ask on here about that as I never heard of that before, maybe my brain was fried.. Not my imagination, but his "broker" sure is trying to pull a fast one. Rita, you have the patience of a saint!! How did you not smack him upside the head with his tax return?

Yep, he's an engineer. Probably a very good one. Has all the qualifications & character quirks.

And if the date of death was November 2012, you can begin the fiscal year for the estate on November 1, 2012 through October 31, 2013 and they will only be a few months past due on the return as opposed to a year. However, look closely at the income and expenses, and the timing of each, to determine the best fiscal year end for the estate. That will be established with the first 1041 filed, so if nothing has been filed yet you can play with dates a little bit to get the best results.

usually when the previous tax preparer has a low fee, there is a reason - and that usually means you get to do some amending.

LOL at the farmer papers remarks. I have quite a few little farmers. they all smell the same. But I cannot complain to much. See the little guy in my picture. He peed on someones w-2 once.

How about those Farm Returns? Nothing like the smell of records that have been sitting in the Cow Barn for months. Don't forget those strange stains on the Calf and Cow sales slips either.. Blood, Poop. or what? The cigarette smell is the worst and it just sets off my Asthma. I actually received envelopes that smelled so bad I had to air them out on the deck before I could open them. Then I forget that I put them there... At least the dog didn't eat them.

One year, clients brought me their unpaid electric bill. My the time I got to their return, the electric company had sent the notice threatening to cut them off, each was blaming the other, blaming the mail, blaming the bank. Blaming everybody, you name it, and I had the bill the whole time.

I had one client that would bring me unopened certified mail from the IRS that was well past the due date to reply.

i can answer that, assuming its an s corp and they don't have workers comp or disability policies since the shareholders are the only ones on payroll. adding the child makes you have all of the above. I sort of do the same with my kids, they spend the summer scanning back files so I can shred them. and the nice thing is since its earned income they can have an ira. its a nice gift to give your kids if you can swing it. 10k income, 5k ira, no taxes due but fica. 10k might sound high but figure you would give then 1/2 that anyway in allowances, gas money, date money, school supplies etc.

I had one where the client's cat had puked up a hairball on the documents. Several that smelled of Pot....I am located close to the University of Iowa (rated the #1 party school in the nation) I had a construction client that said they had several more receipts but they had them on their truck's dashboard and they blew out the window. I think I will deduct latex gloves and Febreeze as a "Necesssary" expense for handling some of these documents. Thankfully I have an office admin that opens the envelopes and assembles the paperwork for me.

Sometimes the papers look pristine, but SMELLLLLLLL disgusting. Perfumes, smoke, and I think meth production. Those meth (?) papers were so bad that I had to let them air out for two days and even after that much time, I still got eye, nose, and throat irritation. I probably should have called the cops. But then I would have been disclosing taxpayer information without a proper signed consent of disclosure.

I had an entire packet of information that had obviously been wet and dried out without being pressed. Tough to read through the wrinkles.... I was praying that it was only water.... Then there are the folks that bring every tax document still sealed in the envelope it was sent in....

Can't speak for Judy, but here's my take on it. If they were providing a service regarding sensitive financial information, I'd conclude they were trying to comply with some sort of government requirement designed to protect them or me. I'd assume they have sense enough to know who I am or else I wouldn't be doing business with them in the first place, so there must be a logical explanation.

This is how I look at it: If something takes me 15 minutes to do...without aggravation....and without overhead...it's golden. And everyone's happy. If I had to pay rent, electric, sit with the person....I'd feel a lot differently.

Too many different factors to really compare, but hey, think about this Ken, he's not at that preparer's office now. He's at yours, so it seems the client wants what you have to offer. That comes with your price, of course. But just remember, YOU ARE WORTH IT. If you know your price is fair, don't let anyone make you feel embarrassed about it.

Jack's right - too paranoid for their own good. Interesting thought process on the part of the client. Here are my W-2 forms (WITH MY SS#, BTW), my home mortgage information,. a rundown of every penny I have invested drawing dividends, interest, capital gains, etc. Not to mention my medical bills and whether I'm a cheerful giver or a skinflint. So I'm giving you more information about my finances than anyone in the world (aside from possibly my spouse), but I just don't feel right knowing you have a copy of my Social Security Card and my Driver's License.