MsTabbyKats

I have one like that....but I got his papers early February.

I'm gonna give him a call today...and a call next Monday.

I wouldn't file an extension etc.

I know my guy will ultimately file with me....but there is a possibility yours may have gone elsewhere.

Do nothing....you are not his parent.

That is an impressive feat to gather the information, type it in, check it, print it, assemble it, deliver it, e-file it, follow up on the e-file in only 15 minutes. I cannot do that even if it were just a W-2!

Yes...but I don't do that. Mine are on line...I send them a PDF file. My expense..maybe printing 2 sheets of paper.

And if the basic data is there from last year...maybe 5 minutes to enter the new wages.

But...to reiterate ....this would be a simple A...with a cut/dry second state....done on line return.

My lunch is a daily peanut butter sandwich. Quick & nutritious....but boring

You should put them on a sterilizer. :)

Judy....how would you feel if someone you've known since elementary school asked you to prove you were you?

:)

I am not embarrassed, KC. Really just frustrated when other preparers undervalue their services and the market. It just creates a conversation with that client that we don't have time for right now!

This is how I look at it:

If something takes me 15 minutes to do...without aggravation....and without overhead...it's golden.

And everyone's happy.

If I had to pay rent, electric, sit with the person....I'd feel a lot differently.

I think once...ages ago. But he asked; I didn't offer.

If it's 2 W-2s...an uncomplicated A..,and 2 straightforward states...I'd charge that...especially if the client wasn't a PITA.

I factor other things...like...drips and drabs...200 questions...and the assumption of getting a refund.

My today rant is..."My friend recommended you. You got him $8000 and charged him $125. Why do I only get $2500 and I have to pay you $150?" Oh yes....2 PhDs at Princeton!

Gee...you people are really harsh.

I have a PhD in astrophysics client who doesn't know how to write a check.

But...I bet he's a lot smarter than me.

You should never assume people know something...just because it's trivial and mundane to you.

I just had a falafel.

The client I like:

Someone who was referred to me; new in the country; everyone in the family has social security numbers...and thinks I'm a wizard because he gets a refund. Oh yeah...this perfect client has 1 W-2...that's it. And then he refers me to all his friends with the same scenario!

End to the story...maybe

I told her to file an extension...NO...she didn't want to!

We came to an agreement about the home office that did not involve calculations.

She told me that the large brokerage account was joint with her X...and I should divide it in half.

I said I couldn't....that both of the accounts had her name and SS number...and only her name and SS number.

Then I got a really good idea. I told her to call the broker...and ASK...who was the owner of these accounts.

So...we are now waiting for an e- mail from the broker.

And when it turns out that I'm right...up goes the fee!

I do think the "you go on extension " tactic did put her in her place.

But I don't want to do her again. She's just not worth the aggravation.

My super is my client. I try to keep him happy because he can turn off the heat. But, how many pairs of work boots can he claim? And does he wear the same ones on his schedule A jobs as on his Schedule C jobs?

Oh vey...but at least he knows that it isn't my fault that he owes $10K.

Lol...the referring CPA just told me the X (she did their joint return when they were married) was already in contact about the capital gains.

The client gave me 4 brokers statements. Two had the x-husbands name as primary. I didn't look at them. The other 2 had her name and her name only...which I used.

Well...the CPA also said "extend".. So "extend" it will be....with my invoice in full.

Btw...this is really more of a rant than asking for advice.

But I will never take a referral from this woman again. She knows I hate doing tax returns for lawyers...and she hid that fact.

Oh...I agree...but I know she doesn't want an extension.

The thing is...I really don't want her as a client. I don't want to deal with her or extensions. I never do extensions. My husband just sold his business...and I don't want to commit to being here on October 15th!

I want to do an extension...and then she finds someone else,

She is very different than my typical client,,,in personality and finance. I thought I was getting a newly divorced woman with barely any money. Instead...she's got a giant portfolio with giant capital gains.

I got married in Vegas. At least I think I did.

New client...a referral and I was misled.

The CPA who referred did not tell me she is a lawyer...although not currently working as such

Long story very short....I've been getting the info in drips and drabs for a month. And everything becomes complex. Example....daycare is 4 facilities with different amounts of each kid....and she sends me formulas. The total credit for 2 kids is about $300.

I sent her the final return and she needs to talk to me (I'm busy...I don't take phone calls now...e-mail and I respond almost immediately) about her home office and capital gains. The gains are exactly as on the 1099-Bs...the home office is exactly what she told me!

I just don't have the patience to discuss with her. There is a communications gap between us...and a real mis-match. I'm sure she feels this way too.

I am ready to say either:

I don't have the time to complete your return and you'll need to go on extension (she owes about $20K...and wants to open a SEP-IRA)...and pay me now

Or

If you want your return filed by 4/15 you will need to have someone else prepare...and I will just charge you a consultation fee.

I really want to say "we just don't click"....go away and don't pay me a dime...but I don't want to cause a problem for the woman who referred her.

Rant time over....

I had a long term client...but he wasn't happy with his 2010 return...so he said he was going elsewhere...paid me a consultation fee...and all was good.

What he didn't like was his refund...and let's just say..the return was on the verge of looking ridiculous. I refused to put down one more penny towards expenses.

Fast forward to yesterday. He sends me a letter from the IRS ...and in the e-mail says it's about 2010.

I look at it...and the letter clearly says 2012.

He sent me another e-mail today....says it's 2010....again the letter clearly states 2012.

I again respond...it's 2012!

He calls...just now...and says on page 2 it says 2010 .

I explain...I did not submit 2010. I did the return...you didn't like it...you went elsewhere.

I also explain...even if I did it....I can't help him until after 4/15....and that I doubt this was the first letter he received.

What I am sure happened ....he was audited for a few years...and now they are holding his refunds.

Ha ha ha.....

I ended our conversation explaining that I don't put junk on returns.

E-mail me...e-mail me...e-mail me...!!!

I have clients with accents. I cannot understand them. This is besides forgetting what people tell me. E-MAIL ME!

Unbelievably my program has a list of possible Schedule A deductions....and the repayment is right there.

Thanks guys....

I don't like working on returns piecemeal. It's a perfect recipe for making a mistake or missing something, is inefficient, and overall wastes time because then I go over the original data again on review to make sure everything is input. If I know things are missing, I don't work on that return unless I have all of the information. Having followup questions is different than those clients that want to bring most data so to get the process started. I need to be efficient and won't work like that.

Oh...I hear you

I could go on about a new client I wish was never referred to me.

To top it off .....she's an attorney ....so she thinks we are writing the constitution. If I knew her occupation before I started...I never would have started.

But ignoring that it was for education, if he was previously taxed on this $38,000 and has to repay it in 2013, then can't he either deduct it on Sch A or take it as credit under claim of right, as explained in Pub 525? Would that do him more good than going back for education credits when he did not pay for the education he just repaid his employer?

Excellent...Pub 535....Page 34 ....Method 1

So...back to my question...do you think he can deduct the taxable part of the $38K in 2013?

WHAT $38K why did they quit?

I don't know....maybe a better job...maybe it's too cold there...

Reimbursed only about 5K. That's the IRS limit, so the rest is added to the W2 and it is taxable and qualifies for the Life Learning Experience.

Are you saying an employer can only reimburse you up to 5K per year?