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Hard NO

As always, thanks for the valuable input. This group is such a great help.

My hunch is that since the home was in a revocable trust, the decedent was considered the owner and got to take advantage of CA's generous cap on property taxes. Once she died, the trust became the new owner and a much higher (long-delayed) tax was calculated. Most likely taxes are exempt from the statute of limitations. If a CA attorney says it's legal, this is probably the case.

As always in this business, facts & circumstances. Why did you fire him? Is that still the case? Why isn't the new preparer doing the work? If you do this, and he decides he likes you better, is he welcome back for good (if not, tell him up front)? Up to you, but definitely get paid - and make sure the check clears - before you do anything. And don't let him pay via PayPal, as he can go back to them after you're done and claim he didn't get what he paid for. They almost always decide for the payer, and you're out the money plus a Pp fee. Happened to a colleague of mine; I took the Pp link down from my site the next day.

I'm a C corp and filed mine last month. It was very easy and quick.

Is he still rude? I feel like it is never a good idea to ignore a client request, it just feels yukky to me to ghost a former client. Be professional when you decline or accept the engagement. Why is he coming to you and not his current preparer? Ask him. If the answer is something like "I realize I made a mistake in how I treated you and I would like to resume our relationship" you will have a client for life. And he won't be rude anymore. If his answer is rude, politely decline. Tom Longview, TX

I would not, unless they prepay cash/check my PITA fee. Someone taught me our job is to get money, and even the most PITA person we get money from has a price which makes us happy to take said money. A good example is taking back someone who posted nastygrams on review sites. Something powerful about being able to show that person returned.

I agree with Lee and Marilyn. As a general rule, I almost never want to work with a former client again because one or both of us were unhappy enough to terminate the relationship. Of course, these decisions depend on the circumstances and what may have changed in the meantime. I would weigh all of that and also consider what the amendment involves and why this person's new preparer is declining to prepare the amendment.

I would wait. Watch for a 592B withholding form in the sale documents. CA withholds on out of state sellers of property in CA. If CA withheld and the trustee does not know to to give you that doc, you may be leaving a refund from CA on the table. The 592s are generally given at closing and not mailed the next year. Check the TIN on the 592B because it may be the SS# of the decedent and not the EIN of the trust. Look at the sales docs if you can and see if there was withholding to the state. Tom Longview, TX