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Good article. How many on this forum are skilled with a slide rule? (I have one in my desk, although I don't stay in practice.) https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/context/logarithms-celebrate-their-400th-birthday I credit the slide rule with having enabled me to form a mental picture of how log tables actually work.

Good article. When I got ready to leave for college, in 1961, my father gave me a beautiful slide rule as my special gift. The leather case had a belt-loop so I could keep it at my side all the time. and I loved it. I could do simple calculations faster than an electronic calculator or today's calculator apps. And, of course, those did not exist then.

He can obviate the estimated tax problem by taking a salary/bonus check in December and allocating most of it to withholding taxes. (for example, $10K salary, less $765 SocSec/Med, less $8K Federal Withholding for a net check of $1,235. Adjust as necessary for state tax, etc.) The withholding paid via W-2 is considered as being paid in equal amounts throughout the year.

The salary vs distribution does not look "reasonable" by my way of thinking. The IRS is really tracking this situation lately. John H is correct.

I see this is your first post. Are you familiar with the issues surrounding "Reasonable Compensation" and S-corp owners? Did you explain this to the prospective client? This is the first conversation I always undertake, because if they won't deal with that, then we really don't have anything else to discuss.

OP Sounds like you run an H&R....or JH.....where the customers come in for simple returns and big refunds. You don't build relationships...you focus on turnover. This isn't what most of us are about. I do everything myself. Some of my more complex returns are quicker than some of the simple ones, where I have to do explaining and/or hand holding. That's because I focus on the person and what that person needs. I don't want the "one shot" deals.

I use my phone/tablet a lot, because it would be a huge pain to drag my laptop everywhere and it can't take decent pictures. I have been to 4 doctor appointments with my mom in the last week and it's so much easier to take a picture of doctor orders, her new doctor referral, etc and then drag it into Evernote/and her folder, which then syncs to my tablet and laptop. I know that I could be much more efficient if I took some classes at the local community college. Any technical skills that I have are totally self taught as they were still teaching typing when I went to high school. Today I was doing group texts to my siblings giving them the updates and the new appointments that are coming up.My phone is password protected and running three different anti-virus and malware programs. It will mostly self destruct if I lose it.

I agree with Jack and KC. Tax returns and taxpayers are too varied to come up with an average time or cost. You can have two clients with Sch Cs, one with all receipts neatly summarized, another with a shopping bag full of every piece of mail that looks financial he got all year, including birthday cards and the life insurance bill he threw in the bag instead of paid. Of course you charge the shopping bag guy a lot more because it takes so long to organize his mess. You still end up with two Sch Cs, so an average makes no sense. Then there are the clients you have to chase for missing info. Some of these people are missing half their tax data, and they piecemeal it to you so you never know where you are in the return. Others are missing something simple like their car taxes and get the number to you the next day (or two months later). The preparer not only has to input the data but be thorough enough to know what's not there and communicate with the client. Takes time, but again the fees will reflect that. At the chains the model is pretty much to get every client in and out in an hour or less. I wonder how often things like car taxes are ignored because the client doesn't have them with him or her and no one wants to put a return on hold. In a professional practice, it can take a whole season to determine how much an employee brings in per hour. Some days I put more returns on hold than I complete--looks like I didn't cover my pay. Then one day a dozen clients provide that last bit of info and I collect thousands. Again, averages don't work. Perhaps instead of calculating ratios and averages, you should offer a reasonable hourly rate. If you only have a only few employees it won't take long to see who is earning their keep and who is texting all day. Remember too that experience with each client's quirks will help to speed things up in the future. I have a couple of shopping bag clients who used to take me hours to sort and categorize. Now that I know them and what to expect in those bags, I can separate the wheat from the chaff in no time.

I/we have never computed such a number. More items are far more important. The last 10 years, at the firm, 30,000+ returns, 5 total audits for returns that we prepared. Preparing returns is different than a factory production line. I have a higher regard for our business than that. Therefore, ratio, and all the other indicators I see used in this kind of discussion seem to trivialize my profession. These discussions feel like the method the big box stores use with their "customers." I have clients, not customers. There is a difference, and I will ALWAYS have clients instead of customers.

And, the answer to everything is -- pick one: Yes, dear! Whatever you think, dear! That's right, dear! That's a wonderful idea, dear! each said with enthusiasm.

A young Texan grew up wanting to be a lawman. He grew up big, 6' 2", strong as a longhorn, and fast as a mustang. He could shoot a bottle cap tossed in the air at 40 paces. When he finally came of age, he applied to where he had only dreamed of working: the West Texas Sheriff's Department. After a series of tests and interviews, the Chief Deputy finally called him into his office for the young man's last interview. The Chief Deputy said, "You're a big strong kid and you can really shoot. So far your qualifications all look good, but we have, what you might call, an "Attitude Suitability Test", that you must take before you can be accepted. We just don't let anyone carry our badge, son." Then, sliding a service pistol and a box of ammo across the desk, the Chief said, "Take this pistol and go out and shoot: six illegal aliens, six lawyers, six meth dealers, six Muslim extremists, six Democrats, and a rabbit." "Why the rabbit?" queried the applicant. "You pass," said the Chief Deputy. "When can you start?"