MsTabbyKats Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 I don't know if anyone else has this (maybe everyone does)....but I have piles of people I'm waiting to hear from....and nothing (absolutely nothing) that i can work on. I've been e-mailing...and all kinds of "manyana" responses; I don't want to annoy them but...I'm on the verge of telling people "Hey, you aren't my only client". I'm getting very anxious. (I don't do extensions unless absolutely necessary.....I don't want to commit being here on 10/15...just for someone's convenience.) Rant over...and back to e-mailing........ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yardley CPA Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 I have enough to keep me busy right up until the 15th. Here's hoping you get some responses to those emails! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rfassett Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 Agree with Yardley! Hope you get the stuff in. I have 60 that I have to complete by the end of the day on the 12th and am not working at all tomorrow. And I am 99.9% confident that I have everything in house for those 60. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasdlm Posted April 4, 2015 Report Share Posted April 4, 2015 I have my assistant call everyone I haven't heard from (she did this Friday) and say 'We are assuming that you already got your taxes taken care of, which is great, but we thought we would check in to make sure you did not need us to file an extension for you'. Out of 19 people called on Friday, 17 begged 'if I have it there by Monday, will you try to get it done before the 15th'? Staff answered 'no promises, but we will do our best, and they will be processed in the order they come in'. I do this every year during the first few days in April. I always intend to get the returns done (and always do), but the threat of 'maybe not' seems to works well. My guess is that most of them will show up on Monday, and then they will be very responsive when I reach out for questions. Also, the first line suggesting that they got the taxes done elsewhere seems to help. Might be worth a try. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry D EA Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 I too have several folks that I have not heard from and the phone calls will go out. On the other hand. there is still plenty to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Will have my assistant make calls/send emails next week, too. Extensions, all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 I'd hire you if you have nothing to do! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 I have my assistant call everyone I haven't heard from (she did this Friday) and say 'We are assuming that you already got your taxes taken care of, which is great, but we thought we would check in to make sure you did not need us to file an extension for you'. Out of 19 people called on Friday, 17 begged 'if I have it there by Monday, will you try to get it done before the 15th'? Staff answered 'no promises, but we will do our best, and they will be processed in the order they come in'. I do this every year during the first few days in April. I always intend to get the returns done (and always do), but the threat of 'maybe not' seems to works well. My guess is that most of them will show up on Monday, and then they will be very responsive when I reach out for questions. Also, the first line suggesting that they got the taxes done elsewhere seems to help. Might be worth a try. I do just the opposite. I extend them all as they come in, and I tell them I probably won't get them done until May or June. I tell them the last thing they want is a stressed out, tired, cranky tax preparer handing this important task. Sometimes I finish a few by April 15, but that's only if I have time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NECPA in NEBRASKA Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 I have a way more returns than I can finish, but that is my intention. I am open year round and so extensions are great for me and my clients know ahead of time, that if they do not have all of their information in before my deadline, that they will go on extension. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsTabbyKats Posted April 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 But...when they're on extension they have to pay by 4/15.....so don't you have to do some work on the return, so they know how much to pay? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Yes, and that's a pain if things are dribbling in or big changes or new client. For the usual employees with w/h that's usually enough, it's a snap. For the SE who usually owes about the same and hasn't given me anything to change that for 2014, I put the usual. And, if someone has given me zip and calls for an extension, I might have to put 0 and let them take the consequences. I hate the states that won't take extensions via tax prep software, and CT is one of those. Have to use CT's website for those that owe. Or, I'm uploading their extensions to my portal so they can mail them in with checks. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 (edited) But...when they're on extension they have to pay by 4/15.....so don't you have to do some work on the return, so they know how much to pay? I giove it my best shot with the info availab;le. I plug in estimates for anything they don't have or any incomplete information. But I tell them that any interest or FTP penalty they incur (about 3/4 of 1% per month) is their responsibility. The main objective is to avoid the 5% FTF penalty. Most clients understand that. The ones who fail to comprehend it are sitting in the office of some stressed-out, cranky, sleep-deprived tax preparer: not my problem. Edited April 5, 2015 by JohnH 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsTabbyKats Posted April 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 (edited) Well....I e-mailed all my "ready to be e-filed" people that I haven't heard from...that had over a week to "look it over". I e-mailed "new clients" that didn't like the results...and told them they could adjust "whatever"...and if they choose not to use my services....I'll be sending them a consultation fee invoice. I e-mailed old clients...who send me their stuff...then vanished off the face of the earth...and told them that I assume they won't be needing me this year...but if they do...contact me asap. Now I just have to call the people who in the past "dropped it off" at my husband's store....and tell them he is no longer in business, but will be at that location for very limited hours. (They're in the neighborhood...they know he sold the store.) Now...I know you all have chocolate Easter eggs, peanut brittle and other high carb stuff to keep you going. Not me. I spend Mondays at the casino (10-1 during tax season)....so when I get home tomorrow....I'll be e-mailing all the others on my pile...and suggest replying asap...or they will "go on extension" and explain that they still have to pay by 4/15. We'll see if that wakes them up. Edited April 5, 2015 by MsTabbyKats 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsTabbyKats Posted April 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 Oy vey.... I got a response: This guy is a "surgical resident" making, even by NYC standards, a decent living (but he lives in Minneapolis). My fee was $150 for an itemized return. Is there any way you can charge a slightly lower fee? The local H&R block was offering to do it for ~$60 and said my tax return was very straight forward, but I decided to have you do it since i've been with you for so long. As you can see from my expenses, i'm still kind of living paycheck to paycheck! So, here's my response: Do your patients bargain with you...and tell you they can get the same service at "the free clinic"? I don't compete with H&R...I give personalized service. And if you have a problem...they won't be there for you. Your "straightforward return" would have been a standard deduction...with a much lower refund. My absolute lowest fee is $125. If that's not acceptable, please go to H&R. Another PITA (he bargains every year....I also know he's a gambling addict). Another one to add to my "banned list". 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted April 5, 2015 Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 When our kids were young and we gave offered them two cookies and they asked for three, we gave them only one. I think you should tell him that your April price is $175, take it or leave it. (If he gave me a check for $150, I'd probably give him his return.) How much were his gambling losses? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsTabbyKats Posted April 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2015 This guy is in his early 30s....been a client since he graduated med school. I don't remember his losses...but he did have a huge winning....and his bona fide loss was more than that. I'll have to go back a few years and check. As far as the fee...if he does come back...it's gonna be "I'll e-file as son as I receive payment...." I think I lost several due to the H&R half price offer....and if the come back next year...I'll double the fee. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 (edited) I had one client mention the HRB half-price fee to me this year. I think he was joking - at least that's what I assumed. I told him they know what their work is worth and I know what mine is worth. But he has no way to know either for sure and I can't tell him how to make a decision. In any event, my fee is exactly what I said in my client letter - last year's fee plus 6% assuming everything is roughly the same this year. But tuthfully I didn/t care which way he chose. I don't want tightwards for clients because I know I'll resent their quiblling with me over how I make a living. Giving discounts to people who can afford to pay would also impact my ability to prepare all the returns I do for free for people who are in genuine need. Edited April 6, 2015 by JohnH 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsTabbyKats Posted April 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 The problem with giving discounts is when they "spread the word". I did look over my list of "where are they?"....and a few names of cheapskates popped up. One of them went to a lawyer 2 years ago because of an inheritance in France (who completely and totally screwed up his FBAR...and cost him BIG TIME..to the tune of $50,000 last I heard)...but he came back to me in 2014...and I quote "because you're cheaper". Forget the fact that if he had followed my advice...he never would have had the FBAR fiasco. Back to waiting for the mob to attack 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 I just figure if he can lose lots of money to gambling he can pay lots of money to his tax preparer who reports his gambling the most beneficial way and keeps him out of jail. Raise his price. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsTabbyKats Posted April 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 I just figure if he can lose lots of money to gambling he can pay lots of money to his tax preparer who reports his gambling the most beneficial way and keeps him out of jail. Raise his price. OK...I checked my records back to 2006...and saw no winnings...so, we now know my memory is getting fuzzy. He probsbly just gave me his loss...and I told him there was nothing I could do with it. I am sure that the loss was more than his earnings. That I remember...and his earrings back then was in the low 20s. I'd bet this is why he's still living paycheck to paycheck...not his expenses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted April 6, 2015 Report Share Posted April 6, 2015 Make sure YOUR paycheck gets paid by him! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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