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Based on what you posted, I'd tell him I can't work him in and he needs to look somewhere else. There's a certain subset of clients out there who will take ignoring them as a sign that you're eventually going to get around to them. They think you work all the time, love to do last-minute stuff, and you thrive on pressure & stress. Then they will try to blame you for stringing them along. None of that is legitimate of course, but it won't stop them from pestering you. So the best thing to do is give them a final "no" in order to give them time to find someone else and to keep them out of your hair so you can focus on your good clients.

Are guns and ammo a deduction for Rita if she has to use them on PITA clients?

  I have handled it exactly this way, and although it was tempting, I've never actually explained to them that they're a pain in the ass.  I just doubled my estimates for work, which started out quite high to begin with.  After every job, I'd up the price even more.  Eventually I quoted them $4000 for a project I'd normally only bid $1200 for.  To my relief, I wasn't asked to do the work.  They fished for quotes a couple times after that, and then I never heard from them again.

Really? I was leaving my garage yesterday, started down the drive, put on the brakes and just kept on going. The driveway is a third of a mile long, winding and on the side of a mountain, and yesterday it was a sheet of ice. Only the snow piled three feet high on the side of the drive slowed me down. Yes - I am ready for spring too. And it is on the way. How do I know this? One of my perpetual April clients dropped off his stuff yesterday. When he shows up, Spring is close at hand.

I also worked out. Just kidding, I am eating Cadbury mini eggs in yoga pants.

OK - teaching math and debating what 0x0 or 0/0 or 0+0 or 0-0 equals or means and going to Walmart and buying flowers while at the same time asking for a candy bar and making plans to frame a print? Am I the only one working on tax returns today?

LOL - do you see that sled there? No, I mean the red one with the wheels and all the snow on it. We have one just like that except it is blue. I was driving it one morning a few years back and I came up over a knoll and I was following a big pick up truck and all of a sudden he veers into some ones front yard to the right. Just as he does that, my vision screen opens up and right at the bottom of this very icy hill is a school bus cross ways on the two lane road. I can't follow the truck because I will hit him. I hit the brakes and that vehicle I am driving turns into a sled. By the grace of God - and ONLY by the grace of God - somehow, that sled stayed out of the ditch on the left where I had to go to just be able to squeeze by the bus. And I am just sliding this whole time. And as I start to clear the bus, I see people standing in the road. They are probably saying "look at this stupid impatient idiot" and all I was doing was just trying to hold on. I get past those people and I am still in the opposing traffic lane and I look up and I am face to face with a car going the other way. I slid to the right and past him. Gathered myself and headed on my merry little way. Wow! What a trip! We don't drive that sled in the winter anymore.

Tell him your schedule is full till June 12. $1,000 retainer up front as well. Non-refundable retainer.

That's exactly what happened -- someone else used the ssn on a return. Probably made up, probably EIC fraud. Paper-file the return and contact /get client to contact IRS Identity Theft group, get the 5-digit PIN assigned for next year.

I am working as hard as I can and cannot get past being 60 behind. They just keep coming. Phone and fax are crazy and e-mails are nearly as bad. And, then, the blasted drop-ins. I wish I could get out to buy MYSELF some flowers like SOME people on this board.

I'm glad to see she left 'the bastard' though.

wow - we're going to be like those people on the news using their snowblowers to blow snow on each other while they fought over driveway or sidewalk space. I had the exact same situation. Shopping around. When he called back, i suggested that he continue to shop around that I was not interested in playing pricing games. It is what it is. Does he drive back and forth between McDs and BK to see who has the cheapest burger?

big deal, if she shoots like Catherine, it will only be 1 round. Only a poor shot would get a large enough deduction from this

You are the most patient person this side of Neptune. If you say somebody is a PITA, I'm sure I would have killed him three times by now. Bahahaha!

Either Jack's or John's responses are entirely appropriate and warranted. IF you decide to let this twerp in the door, get the money UP FRONT and make sure the check cashes before you do so much as open the folder.

Have the client go to this IRS page. Call the phone number, and follow their instructions. You can assist by completing form 14039 and include it with the paper filed return. Be sure to include at least 2 of the Identity documents asked for. http://www.irs.gov/privacy/article/0,,id=249802,00.html Taxpayers SS# has been used to file a fraudulent return.

I bet you're the one wanting to write off guns and ammo as entertainment, aren't you?

Several year PITA client emailed me back in January to get a quote on doing his S-Corp return. (When I say PITA, I mean that. As an example, we had to buy security envelopes just for him. But that is a very small tip of the ice berg with this clown. He is a true PITA.) He claimed it had minimal activity in the corp - as if that has anything to do with the amount of work I have to do on the return. I quoted him a price via email and he responded he needed to shop it around. I said that was fine and to let me know one way or the other. I finally heard from him yesterday via email. He says" Just was curious what the charge would be to prepare my personal taxes? The only activity is a small K-1 for the corp [apparently he found someone else to do that], and sale of the FL condo (which I renovated so I want to deduct as many of those expenses as I can); no stock trading last year. I'm not sure but depending on all the renovation deductions I can use, I might slide under the ACA radar." Editorial note - the FL condo was his primary residence for under two years and was never used for any other purpose. So my proposed response is: "Generally I would charge $200 for a return like that and add a $300 PITA surcharge, but for you, your fee is a FLAT-OUT $1,000." Do you think he will get the point? How would you handle this? Really, my true sense is to just ignore him.

Happens every year. Someone always disappears from ATX in to a deep black hole. Just an odd phenomenon :pop: . We will recreate and do him again. I must have deleted him somehow, but......it's just weird. Like i said - at least 1 per year.

I like clients who know more about taxes than I do. It gives me a chance to tell them they're so smart they can file their own - they really don't need me.

Not too many states have any type of official legal separation any more. (CT does not.) If you have a friendly, local lawyer who could cite your state's law, you'll be more confident. And, use Rita's articles.

OMG you both bring back so many memories. Like frassett, mostly funny AFTER THE FACT.

Ditto to Cat's answer. But Micheal is really right, not as much fun, but clearly this one is a PITA SQUARED. No price is enough to make you like seeing him coming in.

Thanks...It seems pretty clear, but just checking...this client is very opinionated and knows just enough about taxes to be a pain in my butt. She already informed me via e-mail that she intends on filing as single since she did not live with that "bastard" since last February. He always files as MFS and itemizes deductions...meaning she has to do the same...only she has no deductions (1099-MISC income) so always owes while he gets big refund. According to her, he then he gives her an "allowance" periodically from that refund when she is compliant. I am glad to see she finally moved out, but I do not look forward to telling her she is screwed until she gets that divorce or "decree of separate maintenance"....whatever the heck that is.

Yep, MFS or MFJ unless they were legally separated by 12/31/14. I have never seen a legal separation, and think the odds are better that a unicorn comes in for tax prep.

Yes. Yes, they are.

WHY BE like that? just tell them you don't wish to handle their work. why give outrageous quotes that they might pass around to others that might be thinking of using you. Simply say your schedule is full at this time.

Hahaha well I broke off the key in the barn door going to feed the calf this morning and my son and I had to break in. I think it may be reasonable for me to check into the guns and ammo for all the people who will have left messages for me when I make it to work. Winter is kickin my @$$.

NOT!!! I just want to write off flowers and hugs. I get plenty of hugs, but no flowers. However, my right hand did bring homemade chicken dumpling soup for lunch yesterday.

I had a similar situation in OH and was the result of identity fraud. The taxpayer should contact the feds and state. The situation is in process and County Sheriff is involved.

In the drop down menu, the delete return is just below the close return and high up on the menu list. I never liked that. I know there's a warning message if you hit the delete return. Sometimes I'm going fast and accidentally hit the delete button. So far I've caught myself with the warning message. But I've been meaning to put in a request that they move the delete farther down the menu list.

I'm more caught up than ever before, but have only had one client say she was going to try to self prepare this year (thought of saying, are you up on the new repair regs then?) and have plenty of new ones. I attribute it to my assistant being well seasoned. She's taking her income tax class at community college this semester and is acing it, plus she's now getting an idea of why things go where they do on returns. Never been this relaxed in March. Kinda scares me too though.... Oh yeah, I'm at a week turnaround. Really. At least to the point where I'm looking at the return and asking more questions if I have any. Less than a week if I work hard.

Organist hubby played a memorial service and brought flowers home. Not as happy as Rita's story, but better than I had time to do for myself.

Oh, goodness. I've not had that one happen yet. I did somehow lose all the 50+ fixed assets on one last week. I was finished with the return, too. Things that make you go Hmmmm. Or $%^&*!

I have had clients call this week to make appts a couple of weeks out and saying they still don't have the 1099s from brokers!

Oh my! So very sorry, Gail! Obviously my brain and fingers were not coordinating on that one. Lion, I then take it that you agree as well? Hey, we're all friends here, one big, mostly happy, family. I know my mother constantly called me by my sister's name. I think it happens in larger families like this one.

Just like arguing with my wife - I never admit wrongdoing, but it doesn't change the nature of the punishment.

Q: Why did the horse cross the road?..... A: Because somebody shouted hay! Q: What do you call a scary female horse?..... A: A nightmare! Q: What type of a computer does a horse like to eat?..... A: A Macintosh

We all have come across the penny pincher power trippers. They are hard to please unless everything is perfect, cheap and fast. You never feel good before, during and after their project. Take the satisfaction from them and turn their work down. Let them know that you have taken on new clients and your dance card is full.

Order yourself some on the phone or online, let them deliver them to you. Problem solved. You too, Cat.

Good Music..... Good Singer's

Are we married to the same person?

agreed. doesn't matter what they admit, tax treatment is the same.

I bought myself five bucks worth of flowers at Walmart today cause I am a little "tensor" than usual and sick of winter. Plus I'm worth it. That's my lesson in "adding" a smile to your face. Got milk and Dawn "Escape" Malibu scent, too.

I have had a couple of those and was able (thanks to my WIP spreadsheets) to tell them, "Yeah, but last year I had all your docs in-hand by Feb 10th and this year you didn't bring them until Feb 28th." And with some, "Yeah, and last year we had to amend because you got corrected 1099-B's in late March and we agreed to hold off this year just in case."

For me, the returns seem to be rolling in... Some new clients, but the production has been well ahead of last year. I expanded, by buying another two practices, but with the combined billing, we are ahead of the plan, plus, we are at a 47% completed rate compared to 21% last year. With twice as many returns in the door than last year. Sweet! Rich

"Duration that the election remains in effect Once the election is made, it can be revoked only with the permission of the IRS. However, the election technically remains in effect only for as long as the spouses filing as a qualified joint venture continue to meet the requirements for filing the election. If the spouses fail to meet the qualified joint venture requirements for a year, a new election will be necessary for any future year in which the spouses meet the requirements to be treated as a qualified joint venture." http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Election-for-Husband-and-Wife-Unincorporated-Businesses I would interpret that to mean that if the spouse is no longer involved in the business, then there is no QJV.

Here in CA the ADP W-2 box 14 amounts (mostly for CA SDI) are the smallest font available it seems. Glad I'm not the only one with a magnifier in my desk drawer.