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About 6-7 years ago I fired all the jerk clients. Really wasn't a large number but holy cow my life became more enjoyable. Ever since I have routinely eliminated jerks from my life. (Co-worker's son and wife were the most recent) Raise prices but also suggest jerks go to another firm. Local investment firm does taxes for people and fired anyone without at least $500k in investments. Their letter just said they have refocused their practice to handle certain types of clients and listed 3 firms they suggested they contact (HRB, JH and a local EA). Do it politely and give them time. When you see someone's name on an email or caller ID and your heart hurts - fire them. Life's too short for that crap.

Marilyn, You are a better person than I am. However from my point of view "loyalty is a two way street"!

I think sometimes it’s our fault clients or people in general treat us bad, because we permit it. A couple of years I had a tenant that had every excuse to pay the monthly rent, the rent was paid late, but paid, this happened for a couple of years, until I had a talk with them. They had the nerve to get upset because I was no longer a nice person and threatened not to pay the rent, they were evicted in less than a month.

Of course, those were the Greatest days of your life ~ mine too. I noticed you're in MO. We're both "Show Me" people. I was born on a MO farm & experienced like kind incidents. Our barn cat, Bimbo loved popcorn & would be @ back door before it finished popping. We know the catch our cats bring us are not for the dog to eat, they're "I love you ~ praise me" trophies.

Absolutely!! Once I got the nerve to do that the first time, it got easier. The relief is immeasurable and the time that is freed up can double or triple the income from that one problem client. Being polite and professional is a must, but there is no excuse for rudeness, excessive demands and complaints on their parts. I even had to cry one time; but handed them their final return with depreciation schedules and said Goodbye. Guess what, some of their relatives are still good clients.

Sister in law and BIL have a 7 acre place with 2 barn cats, a freakishly awesome dog, 2 horses, miniature donkey, 3-4 cows and multiple chickens. It's a joy visiting their home and I keep a bag of biscuits in my car just for their dog. They enjoy visiting us in the city also - see it as a big vacation. I live in the city and owned an 1870's home with this wild skylight on the third floor that shined down onto the main floor. I had a cat who would bring me those "praise me" trophies and the birds would fly around leaving blood on my third floor walls.

She can charge a fee if the will permits and/or Probate approves. The amount will be taxable income to her, not subject to SE. To claim expenses, she'd have to report the income on Sch C, subject to SE. (And since she's not in the business of administering estates, Sch C is just wrong.) Why bother? Just let the estate reimburse her out of corpus.

I can not improve on mcb39's comment one iota. Everything Marilyn stated is spot on. When downsizing, I started with the most time consuming clients (a.k.a - pain in butt), Ones who proved they couldn't / wouldn't get their 'stuff' together regardless the number of times I explained things. Clients seldom complained when I raised fees for same work as last year. They usually realized everything increased. If one questioned why - I explained, "many recent tax changes required added work" or reply on a more personally identifiable level "At least it's not as much as our utility company's monthly increase." Today, grocery prices are # 1 topic. Of course that worked for general type returns. Make a few lists, by category, of clients who take too much of your time for their fee ~ the ones you know they won't change. If they won't change ~ guess what, You gotta make the change ~ for your individual and / or family's health & wellbeing. I wish you well on your changes. So many of us have been there. REMEMBER: Your mental & physical wellbeing is more important than any tax return. Reread mcb39's comment. I've "known" her via ATX for decades & I trust what she says.

I feel that loyalty to longtime clients is more important than raising their fees. Turning them loose in a world where everyone is raising fees is just wrong. I have found, because many of my clients have been with me for 20 plus years; they understand when I give them a slight raise, but I also give them special consideration. Every year, I lose a few or more through death or no longer having to file. Every year I also gain new clients; almost always through referral; occasionally through the IRS website. These are the clients who get the raise because I am still less costly than the par. I already have new clients calling because their old preparers are cutting back or retiring. Since I am training a replacement, it doesn't worry me to take on new business. Absolutely, if circumstances change; they buy another rental or two; they open another LLC; whatever the reason; they are reasonable enough to know that they will have to pay more. If they are a huge annoyance to me, they get fired; and that has happened a time or two. Two years ago I had one come back after 9 years and ask kindly if she could come back and she has been a model client ever since. Just had a client come through the door. Have to run.

I am working way too long of hours and have too many clients both tax and bookkeeping. I plan to raise fees this year, but I don't feel like that I will lose many based on past raises. Has anyone had any experience in raising the minimum fee to focus on higher end returns? I am thinking about sending out letters to those under my new higher minimum fee stating they may be better served looking elsewhere for their tax needs. It is hard to do as many clients have been with me a long time, but I am feel like I cannot be the stop gap in the marketplace. Any thoughts would be welcome.....

I misunderstood you the first time, thinking you said she could not be reimbursed by estate. However, I do not see why the estate would not take a deduction for an allowable expense paid for and reimbursed to the executor; regardless of whether he/she is also a beneficiary. What if he/she paid for legal or accounting fees out of pocket? Are you saying the estate can reimburse but not take the deduction if she is also a beneficiary?

Optimistically by the end of 2023, realistically by the end of 2024.

I have been gradually downsizing and raising my fees hasn't resulted in any clients leaving. Every year I send out letters telling selected clients that I won't be able to prepare their tax returns, or payroll or etc.

For us the big benefit of the gridlocked divided government for the next two years will be, minimal tax law changes which will hopefully allow the IRS to finally get caught up

I was at my grandparent's farm (as a youth) and they had a rental home on the property. I'm sitting on the tailgate of the truck playing with a cat, their black lab is sleeping on the porch and another cat jumps up onto the porch with a dead mouse. The cat is playing with it, tossing it up into the air, rolling around with it, pouncing on it. Black lab gets up, walks over and eats the mouse. The cat is POed as the lab gives it a look as it lays back down. Lesson of the day is don't tick off a sleeping dog during his nap. Greatest days of my life were on that farm.

still doesn't cover increased cost of toner, paper, postage, etc