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I always had allergy problems and/or bronchitis between Apr 15 and Aug 15. So the excuse on the 2688 was always "Due to recent tax preparer illness, additional time is respectfully requested to complete this return." That was my story and I'm sticking to it. Always got that magic "Approved" reply. (Remember how we had to file it in duplicate?" ) I agree with Lion, too. Extensions meant more money in my bank account because I could prepare more returns in 10 months than I could in 4. Plus I could live a more normal life in the first 4 and stop trying to be a tax martyr working until all hours of the night & sacrificing weekends.

Sometimes I think it's best to skip a first-quarter estimate and just add that amount to the extension request. For example, I never know what I'm going to owe either. I guess $1k and usually pay $2k or so each estimate. So I pay $3k with the extension. At least I don't underpay for the year, and what's left over gets rolled to the next year (hopefully close to what the first estimate should have been). I know a CPA who pays all four quarter estimates with his extension request. He says that's when his bank account is full with tax season receipts so he might as well. If he's under a bit, he has time to make it up in a later quarter.

If I think they're MORE than a tire-kicker or referred by one of my good clients, my line is something like... I charge by the complexity of your return, which is more than I can see from your documents. It requires me to ask you lots of questions; and you can ask me lots of questions, too. I need to review your prior year returns to prepare this year's anyway, so if you loan me last year's returns now, I'll be glad to tell you how much I would've charged for THAT year. Then, you can compare apples to apples. However, with the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act and the SECURE Act plus any changes in your financial life since 2018, your 2019 return fee could be very different from 2018. Not to mention the new CARES Act which changes our planning for 2020. When would you like to drop off last year's return? If there's an entity return or a Schedule C/E/F or even a K-1, the above "talk" gets more detailed. I still give a price RANGE and try to quote a high enough top range to give myself a margin for error and to make the new client happy when I come in under my estimate, telling him something like..."because you were so organized which saved me time and saved you money...." I'm way off once in a while. I've usually stuck to my high point on the range with a warning that I am reviewing my price structure for next year. I have called a client in the midst of preparation to say I've found something you didn't tell me about (maybe one of the 92-page gas & oil K-1s) which changes your fee to $XXX; would you like me to continue? If they come as a recommendation of a very long-time client -- one that I've raised prices slowly over the years -- and have a similar return to their friend's return, I find myself torn. A stranger walking in the door would get a much higher price for a similar return than a very long-time client. But, the friends have talked with one another. I pick a range higher than their friend/my current client but lower than what I'd charge a complete stranger. Then, I'm back to the "reviewing my price structure for next year" warning. I've lost only one of those, and that was years ago.

I charge by the hour as some forms take a very long time, some, not so much. Over 20+ years I have explained to clients that the better organized their data and documents, the less time it takes. I provide organizers to those who request them and to returning folks with rentals or Schedule C, the organizer pages showing the prior year figures. This helps prompt them to find that insurance figure or remember to list the new equipment that wasn't there last year. And if I have to email more than 2-3 times with questions or clarifications, I add on some time for that. Because every time I have to stop to get some reply and go back to the return often a day or more later, it takes a tad bit at least to reorient and is unproductive. Over the years returning clients either get better organized to reduce the bill, acknowledge and understand that 'I'm billing time,' or move along which is just fine with me. I want clients to be satisfied with my work and understand that I really care to do the best work I can taking the time necessary. I'm at about 50-60 long time clients, maybe one or two new ones annually, and we understand each other. I harbor no hard feelings for those who leave and have even pointed out to some that they have reached a point that going to the free help for elderly would be in their best interest. Others have told me that I am not allowed to retire. Well, I'll be 75 next year. My license is good for 2 more years. We shall see....

My real sales line on this subject goes something like this: "I charge by the form. I don't know for sure what forms you need, so I don't know for sure what it will cost. If you will show me last year's return, I can tell you how much I would have charged for that return. When we get done with the return this year, If you don't like the price, you can pick up your documents and walk out, no hard feelings. I price my services reasonably, and I think you will see that when we get done." I have never had anyone pick up their documents after I have completed the return. I think that knowing I will give them a last minute opt out gives them confidence. Or, I have them so far into the process that even if they think I am a little high on price, they don't want to go through the exercise again with someone else. Tom Modesto, CA

Even with professional services, I personally like to have some idea of cost before I hire someone. If price is the only consideration, I am probably not the one who will get hired. But I have sympathy for people who want to be sure they can afford to pay me BEFORE they engage my services. It just is not always easy to give people a price in advance.

I'd like more clients but not those of the tire kicker variety.

I Will definitely use that on next "shopper". I really do not want anymore clients.

Abby, NO! We had automatic extensions this year to July 15, and we saw what happened. The April 1st folks all came in July 1st. If they thought they had an automatic extension until October 15, they'll show up Oct 1. They will overlap with the usual extension folks who wait until October 10. Tax season will never end!

I efiled one on the 14th, didn't get back to it because I was done, and just waiting for that one client to get me their signature form, and it got rejected! So oops, they filed a couple days late. But it was refunds, no payments.

I went to Reno NV this weekend to see my son and do some yard work with him (gambling was not the reason - it is my story, I will tell it my way). On the way through the mountains, my transmission went out. I am on the side of the road, 20 miles from the nearest town with weekend traffic whizzing by on Interstate 80. I am still 50 miles from my son's home. So I call AAA and tell them I need a tow. They tell me that is no problem, but that they can't let me ride with the vehicle. I have to arrange for my own transportation. Here I am on the side of the freeway, and I have to stand there, waiting for my son to come get me. Luckily, he was able to get out of work early and come get me, but the AAA driver just left me on the side of the road in the middle of the Sierra Nevada mountains. I am sorry, but this just seems wrong and wronger to me. If it was my wife instead of me, I would have been livid that they would leave her on the side of the road. Re-thinking my commitment to AAA after 30 years. I think there are other services out there. This policy of theirs could have deadly repercussions. Tom Modesto, CA

As another Looong Time AAA member, I have used the tow service as well as lockout, flat tire, dead battery etc.. The no rider policy must be something with "social distancing" or something. I have never had an issue with riding with vehicle, Had one occasion where the operator asked me to leave my dog in the towed vehicle as he was terrified of dogs. I would definitely inquire at AAA corporate. I have noticed a few changes in the last couple of years since they moved call center to Northern California. Limit to 4 service calls a year was first. The call operator wanted a credit card to provide service. when I got a little agitated she gave me to supervisor and dispatched tow truck without a charge. I do have several "classic vehicles" that are subject to needing help home.

Taxpayer Karen, you can avoid interest and penalties [maybe not entirely if you've not paid quarterly] by paying what you owe now, before July 15, and here's a Form 1040-ES. I will get you an extension today, and prepare your return as soon as I am able. I will complete your return even before my own, provided I have everything needed to prepare yours. I understand you don't know what you owe; I don't know what I owe either. That's why I estimate as closely as possible, and pay in quarterly what I think is a little too much.

"I can e-file an extension for you or you can take your information back and look for another preparer."

Yeah, extensions are a huge waste of time and money. The extension ought to be truly automatic, where if you don't file by 4/15, it's automatically extended to 10/15 without any effort for taxpayers or the IRS. Essentially this would make the due date 10/15 with payments still due 4/15. At least with efiled extensions, the IRS doesn't have to manually enter 10's of millions of paper extensions.

It happens. We're human. We're all dealing with this crazy environment right now and doing the best we can. Don't beat yourself up.

So, ironically, one of my kids may need a vehicle towed later this week. Looking my my bene, I see this: Fortunately, he will not need a ride, and I may actually tow the vehicle here myself...

Nope, it is on their recorded message before you even get to an operator. Before they knew where I was or who I was or what I needed. Tom Modesto, CA

AAA, and all roadside services, are a network of local tow operators who agree to tow for whatever price the cal center offers. It could be the particular operator for that AAA service area (franchise area) came up with the policy. I would start with the actual operator, then complain to AAA about allowing this policy. --- For many roadside services, when you call their call center, they, in turn call local operators with an offer, sightly raising the offer until they get the tow sold. There is usually zero consideration to the closest truck or speed of arrival. In some remote areas, this can also apply to AAA (if they have no local operator, and agree to use non franchise trucks). The pay rate is very low for the tow operators, and they can bump you for a cash tow of five before they get to you. (I did not realize all of this until I got an RV, and had to dig into how the tow clubs work.) For local issues, AAA is great. Jump, gas, lockout, local tow, etc. You likely already know who the truck operator is. On the freeway, call the highway patrol. They will get a truck there ASAP, and in most cases, you can have them expedite your club tow company. Anywhere else, google a local company, pay them, and seek reimbursement. If your club does not reimburse, then let the club go. If you have a standard vehicle, review the owner's manual tow instructions while you wait, just in case they do not send a roll back truck. If you have anything non standard, know your tow requirements first, and make sure you demand the necessary equipment and/or operator is sent. And maybe just as importantly, unless you know the person arriving is from the company coming to get you, do not accept help from a gypsy driver.

Years ago I had a similar experience with AAA, although I was not left stranded 50 miles out on a mountain. A girlfriend and I were en route to an entertainment show in Philadelphia when my fuel pump died on I-95 miles south of the Philly airport where there is nothing, no phones, and fencing along the road. AAA towed my truck to a local garage and left my friend and I at shopping center where every store was closed because it was a Sunday evening. Later on we found out this was a very bad section of Chester, PA. This was before the days of cell phones and I guess we were lucky that the shopping center had a phone booth. I called a local taxi company to come get us and take us to the Spectrum (now the Wells Fargo Center) so that we could meet up with friends and get back home. It took multiple calls to convince the taxi dispatch that I was not pulling a hoax on them, and we finally got to our destination about 15 minutes before the show ended. Luckily, our friends didn't leave the show early and gave us rides back home! The next day I had to track down my truck and have it towed back to Wilmington to a repair garage I trusted. After hearing the story, AAA did agree it tow it back for nothing. I guess we were lucky to not be harmed in some way and my truck wasn't stripped and was retrieved without much trouble.

YUP! @RitaB, "This driver needs a HUG!"

I think they would have allowed this woman to ride because I would have been folded over in tears and having a nervous breakdown if that driver had suggested to me that he leave me on the side of the road. Or.... I'd have had to call the police to come get me... and mop up the driver...

How do we really feel about turns and twists from Congress messing with tax preparation? Especially those which are retroactive to returns already filed months ago? CBSLee, one of our more knowledgeable members, is often the quickest to display the latest pronouncements. He has an aggressive view of these twists as the more of them that occur, the more service time and revenue is available to the tax prep industry. I don't think anyone can disagree, and I have to give credit for this positive viewpoint. What about the rest of us? Just in the last year we have seen all manner of special devices hammered thru the IRS - Stimulus payments, PPP loans, Payroll Tax Credits, Deferrals, etc. How do you feel when pmi is disallowed and then during March, Congress re-instates it?? After you have already filed a dozen returns that could have deducted it? What about suddenly allowing people to bail out of their RMDs after they've already received them this year? These are just a couple examples of retroactive changes - and actually these retroactive changes are just the tip of the iceberg. What about PPP loan forgiveness when tax laws disallow deductions paid from exempt income?? Not to mention the phone ringing off the hook from people who want you to apply for this & that benefit? The phone ringing off the hook from people who didn't receive their stimulus, even though you cannot really make the IRS issue them a check? This is 2020, and if you think 2021 will be "back to normal" - maybe we had best think again. Presidents and/or Congress (irrespective of party) will be tampering with the IRS and taxes now that it is known that the IRS and our industry can be jerked around. Not just this year - every year. If "back to normal" means a return to stability, my feeling is that you can watch that ship sail into the sunset. In particular, the appeal to politicians in an election year to tamper with the economy will not be something they will want to resist. Am I the only one who feels jerked around? Or am I too engrained in conservatism, so I can depend on a stable tax law for planning and preparation?

I’m a liberal and I get pissed off mad when ‘little’ changes to the tax code (like PMI reinstatement) are done so far after the fact. Or in December, ferchrissake! I know what a headache this kind of stuff means for us. My only redeeming factor is that most, if not all of my PMI clients don’t itemize anymore, and CA never conformed to PMI so no change there. I only have one client that took a stimulus loan, no PPP, and I’ll deal with the IRA withdrawals next year. But holy crap. Stable tax laws allow businesses to plan ahead, budget for capital improvements ... I’m so happy at least half of my clients are retired.

I work remote, but I won’t work for $45!

When I search via Chrome, which I guess must be a Google search, the paid links show up at the top and the informational afterwards, very clearly divided. I can then start with the nonpaid results. Also, look at the actual link; does it include IRS.gov or whatever agency you expect? I have CCH's AnswerConnect set to deliver results when I Google or IE search or.... Then I get a big blue rectangle with the green logo and "Display CCH Search Results" separating the ads above from the informational links below. If I'm searching for something taxy, maybe Bonus Depreciation, I can open AnswerConnect right there and check out the CCH results from Master Tax Guide or Explanations or Laws or Regulations or Proposed Regulations or Treasury Decision or Form or Instructions or Election or Client Letter or....

The other trick is to lie and say that you are not a 3rd party filling out the form. The only way you get the letter instantly is to be the person applying. They will give you the number instantly but the letter will have to be mailed, and I much prefer the letter.

Thanks to Lion and Catherine - the link worked like a charm. I get so sick of Google trying to sell you products and misguiding your searches. I wonder if there is another reliable search engine.