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Agree with everybody else. I would not comment one way or the other about 2013 refund being gone. I will add that I had the pleasure of telling a person who comes here from another country, makes more than I make, kids on state health coverage, whining about taxes: I bet you like roads, schools, health care, stamps, and bombs. This is the greatest country in the world. You need to help me pay for that stuff. Pay your taxes. I believe I was doing God's work there.

Maybe even the Barber charges less... She should ask him.

Have you heard the joke about the interesting tax accountant? A couple was getting divorce and they both agreed who ever gets more money from the divorce gets to keep the kids, the attorney now has two additional kids.

I have had two clients who requested refunds this year and the IRS froze those refunds until they filed missing years. I loved it because a lady said: I haven't file 2014, 2015 and 2016. I prepared them and she was getting a refund because she had a daughter a nice withholding. Two years before the baby was born she didn't file and IRS said... hold your caballos, if you don't file those years, you will not see any of the three refunds totaling 15K. Thanks to the IRS, I have two more years to prepare and more dinero to make.

I had one client this year, complaining about taxes ($250K+ AGI from a large 1000 unit apartment building that is managed by DAD) that he should move to the Bahamas where they don't have taxes... I told him: "Don't let the door hit you in the ass" PS... he filed to get SS at age 62. Yeah.. those "taxes suck people"? First in line to suck off the nipple. Rich

I agree with rfassett. He provided you with information and you spent time reviewing that information for each year from 2013 through 2016. Based on that review, you believe 2014 will have a large balance due. Personally, I would not agree to prepare only the returns that result in a refund. Since I'm aware of the entire situation, I would agree to prepare all the returns or none of the returns. May not be a good business decision, but I agree with rfassett, and would send them on their way.

I think the lawyers always get the most money. Had a client who constantly asked me legal questions, and I'd tell her to ask her lawyer. She said he charges a lot more than I do!

my dad had an edsel. Welcome!! The people on this forum are great!

Let's be honest and realize that when you inform them that 2014 is a requirement, they WILL pack up and go to the next preparer and fail to mention 2014. I would inform the potential client that when a refund request for 2015 shows up, the IRS will run a tax return without any deductions for 2014 and assess them a tax owed far higher than your return will generate. Inform them that at that time, fixing their error will cost significantly more than doing an original return.

We prepare the returns. If they choose to send in or not is up to them. They will get the notice when the IRS sees the missing year....eventually. No filing, no statute of limitations. They can pay a bunch more when you have to help them set up the payment plan in the future and try to get all the penalties abated. Tom Newark, CA

Don't know about the ethics, but if he wants to be my client, he comes clean all the way or goes somewhere else. Well not being a collection arm for the IRS, I do believe that everyone should pay their responsible fair share. If he doesn't, someone else has to pick up the bill. That is just my naive way of thinking.

1 more to go! Yay!

Very Handsome children, though! ...............

I almost put everything in the car in the middle of the night to go to a laundromat. Trouble is, we live miles from anything commercial. And, I would've had to wake up Steve to help lift the wet clothes due to the pinched nerve in my back radiating down my leg. Still might do that when I go to the chiropractor in Fairfield this evening; gotta be a laundromat in Fairfield, well, maybe not. Not to mention that I had a dream a couple nights ago as I anticipated going to a laundromat: the dream me fell asleep and was robbed of my purse with car keys and phone and wallet as well as our car and the clothes and laundry supplies, so I couldn't call for help or get home or have any clean clothes to pack nor car to drive to visit granddaughter! Definitely have to go before dark.

Rock and a hard place, Jack. ES didn't give the worman any work product, and is required to give back the original documents, if asked. It is an ethical violation for CPAs to hostage a client's original records for a fee. ES, I'd let it go and never do business for this family again. Others here have laid out the path if you decide to try to collect, but I think you may rack up more in aggravation that it may be worth.

prayers to you and your family. my dad died from cancer 2 summers ago. the time, the grief, and worry - it all takes a toll. still does, 2 years later. take care and god's peace be with you and your mom.

A struggling lawyer told his wife that he just wasn't making much money and if things didn't turn around soon they were going to move somewhere else. Six months later a second lawyer moved into their community. A year later both layers were the richest people in town. .

Ain't THAT the truth! And the same ones who want to write off as charity deductions for their dogs, contributions to the local legis-vermin races, and some things you just shake your head at to think *anyone* could consider them deductions.

I think all or nothing. And get paid up front. Prepare all as paper returns & hand to him for signature & mailing. The client can choose to send them in (or not) as he wishes.

Terry, just be sure to care for yourself. Your mother needs your support and family is first. It is amazing to me the expectations that some clients have. I am glad your response was rational. Extensions are available for good reason. We are human, after all, with limitations though always striving to do our best. I am biting my tongue and biding my time about an incredibly rude client (trust beneficiary) just now. She will be gone soon. Best wishes possible for your mother, prayers and healing thoughts for you and her.

Thanks to everyone for the prayers and continued prayers. My mother is doing good for the condition she has. Unfortunately, she will continue to deteriorate. She will be given quite a bit of physical therapy. Right now they are controlling blood pressure as it keeps spiking and going back down. She is now in a nursing home which is bittersweet for me. I know there will be eyes on her everyday and most of the day. On the other hand, I hate it but there is no choice. Believe this, I have just finished filing two extensions and waiting on one client to say hit the button. A few others already on extension thought I could get theirs in at the last minute including an S-Corp. of course my response was NO!! My thoughts "Are You KIDDING ME?" An S-Corp??? Sorry but I'm not good enough to get it done in one evening. God and I aren't communicating on miracles of this sort. Geez!!

It is a good feeling to know that I just filed my last extension and return. So, I am done and closing shop. I would like all of my friends here to pray for my mother. She is 86 and has just been put in the hospital which is why I 'm closing now. She has PSP (Progressive Supra Nuclear Palsy) and can no longer keep her balance. This mixed with a pretty bad UTI is taking its toll. Undoubtedly, she will be moving to a rest home. PSP is a debilitating disease that is very similar to Parkinson's without tremors. The limbs become almost rigor mortise like, she will loose her voice and her eye sight is affected by limited eye movement and more than moderate sensitivity to light. I hope each of you has had a very prosperous tax season. Take some time and rest up we all deserve it. Thanks,

The usual offer from ATX quoting the best price of the year. This year they apparently are not sending a CD. This year's increase is even greater than ones in prior years amounting to right at 10% for the package I use. Next year I am planning an across the board increase for almost all clients. I look into other software options from time to time but never find one better price wise than ATX. I have never packed my returns with stuff (calculations and all that stuff) but next year will begin doing so as apparently many clients feel it really means they are getting their monies worth even though they have no clue what all that stuff means. Despite my concerns about diy returns the business was fairly stable this year and I had all I should really take on as I about wore myself out. I sincerely appreciate all the responses to my posts during the season as so many help clarify these occasional thorny problems.

I have had some small success in refusing to provide information to a *new* accountant until I have been paid. And one client contacted me after several years needing some crucial document and hoping I had a copy. I did - but would not look for it (anything that old was in deep storage) until she paid up. Paypal payment within the hour, and I found her stuff that evening. We were both thrilled.

I don't know about New York, but in my state you could take them to Small Claims Court without an attorney and win this case plus all fees hands down. You would receive a judgement and then you would have find property or a bank account to levy. It would take some time and effort, but for this client I would absolutely go for it.

I agree with Ron. Prep all 4 years of returns. Hand them to him to mail, and with a bill for all four years. Rich

That seems to be the way with NC. You call them and they won't know either.

We've done nice condos during peak season for as little as $80 bucks a night. You just have to look. Attractions are pricey and if you have kids you sometimes feel as if you should just walk down the street handing out $100 bills but the area has a lot to offer and if you're into nature there is plenty of hiking and the like to do for free. Tubing on the river is fun and inexpensive during the warmer months. We are actually heading that direction this weekend - looking forward to it!

Personally, if the situation were reversed and I were about to receive a pain-in-the-ass client, I would appreciate knowing the history up front. I work in a different field, of course, but dealing with people is dealing with people. And I prefer not to deal with the ones who don't value my time.

Well, I think its against the law or some credit-reporting something-or-another rule to tell the truth nowadays, isn't it? Nevertheless, if I was still mad, I might try to find some subtle, non-litigable way to pass on my impression. Not "That no-good S.O.B still owes me $250 from 2013," but maybe "He's okay, but I'd count my silverware."

No, I'd be afraid it would blow back at me.

Only if I referred the client to a buddy tax preparer, and I would have told my buddy before he accepted the client. Otherwise, no way would I talk about that to a successor accountant.

I'd say that 1/3 of those for whom I filed extensions were still completed before this week. So for that subset, the extension was an unnecessary extra step. But for the remaining 2/3, none of them are on my mind today (aside from this post). I don't usually make fun of my clients, but I did have a phone call about 10:00 this morning from one whom I asked last Nov to find another preparer. Nice client, but just required too much handholding. I'd post the audio just to prove I'm not making this up, but that's probably a privacy issue. Anyhow, here goes (one long sentence without taking a breath - I inserted commas simply to make it easier to read): "John, this is xxx and I can't find my return from last year for my new tax person, my house is on the market and I hope somebody didn't steal it but I cant' find 2016 anywhere, OH WAIT A MINUTE here's the 2015 return and, oh yeah we're doing 2016 aren't we? Never mind, hope you're doing fine." (click) This could be a great Gilda Radner skit on "SNL for Accountants" Since the call was at 10:00, and since we have a long history, I'm betting her appointment was for 10:15.

I marked that ID was not available for my NYS extensions. NYS - Uncle Andy - always protecting us. So far I've had refunds held for 2 old student loans and 1 old child support..........and we have caught a number of expired licenses. Always nice to do the work of DMV or DOJ for them........

I'm jealous! 1 to go plus 3 I'm awaiting 1 last item from the clients. Then I get to start about 35 Forms 990 for my non-profits. Deep sigh.

I am so lost right now but I love you, Edsel. LOL. Wait. wait, wait! You have been in my office, haven't you? Welcome, this family is where you belong.

John actually I know Rita personally, and wouldn't object to any hug by her. Many of you have met me, including yourself, and will know my other identity in time (if you don't already). Someone earlier asked me about the old "ATXers" forum. I think it may have been sponsored by the software company ATX prior to it being bought out. The problem with the forum was ATX didn't assign anyone to monitor the posts and they became increasingly vulgar and the board was ultimately discontinued some years ago.

After ATX, the first three returns will feel really weird and awkward. then you'll start getting the hang of it and be able to fly through the entry screens. I thought having to go to View mode to see a form would be really annoying - but it loads faster than switching pages in ATX.