Patrick Michael Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Had ten dropped this morning and most wanted to know why they had to go on extension (or pay double the fee to expedite). A new client came to pick up and was upset that my bill was $300 (1040, Sch A, 2 Sch C's, Sch E), when the last preparer only charged $125. I asked why they didn't go back to their old preparer and they said because they got a letter from the IRS and had to pay back taxes, interest and penalties because she "messed' up. And they could not understand why they owed this year when they always got money back before. Well, maybe it was because she "messed" up in the other years and understated your income and the $300 bill is for doing your taxes right! The15th can't come early enough this year. Rant over... feel a little better. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee B Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Wow $ 300 is an incredible bargain ! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Wow $ 300 is an incredible bargain ! No kidding -- MY fee for that return would have been between $375 - $450 (possibly more), depending on how convoluted the C's and E were. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaB Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 (edited) Had one in the mailbox this morning with a note: "Rita, I know this is a little unorthodox, but I didn't have any other time to drop off..."1) My mailbox has been out there for eleven years.2) And USPS has been in business longer than that, even.3) (My daughter said this): He can spell the world unorthodox and can't find a way to get this to you before today? Edited April 13, 2015 by RitaB 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasdlm Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Client dropped off at 8:30 this morning and told my assistant he needed the return by 1:00 today. i just flat out said "not going to happen", and my staff called and conveyed the same. Message back was 'if she can get it done at all, I'll give her a hug'. I'll get it done, and collect my hug, a fee, and hopefully some of his wife's cookies, but if I start down that 'need it at X time' road, it will get uglier every year. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 I'm getting complaints and telephone calls and demands of callbacks demanding explanations from me from the clients I completed over the weekend. They're not going on extension. If they're uncomfortable filing so late, how do they think I feel with tax laws changing retroactively through 20 February and corrected brokerage statements arriving every day?! Why am I spending my Monday explaining that yes your refund is smaller because you earned $9,000 more, instead of working on the stack I still hope to finish today?! It's 2:30 p.m., and I haven't had a block of time to complete a single return today. Three more emails just popped up, but one of them is an alert that I have signed paperwork on FileShare. So, at least, I'll e-file some of these hanging. But, I have untouched returns to prepare!!! OK, I think I feel better now. Hubby just came home from the store with more Easter candy on sale; going to see if he found dark chocolate. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaB Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Had a non-profit director call me: I just about have it all ready.Me: Congratulations, and please don't bring it in until Thursday or Friday.I don't know what it is about non-profit directors, but I don't care how cheerful you are, or how much you love being sweet and holding hands and talking, don't call an accountant on April 13th. About anything, actually. If you are not on fire with a stick in your eye, it can wait. Love, Rita 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Michael Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Wow $ 300 is an incredible bargain Not much to the Sch C's and they were very organized. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 (edited) Had a non-profit director call me: I just about have it all ready. Me: Congratulations, and please don't bring it in until Thursday or Friday. I don't know what it is about non-profit directors, but I don't care how cheerful you are, or how much you love being sweet and holding hands and talking, don't call an accountant on April 13th. About anything, actually. If you are not on fire with a stick in your eye, it can wait. Love, Rita Rita, I just LOVE you!!!! [Parenthetically, if you ARE on fire with a stick in your eye, don't call us either. Go to the hospital, after you doused yourself with a fire extinguisher.] Edited April 13, 2015 by Catherine 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BulldogTom Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Rita, I just LOVE you!!!! [Parenthetically, if you ARE on fire with a stick in your eye, don't call us either. Go to the hospital, after you doused yourself with a fire extinguisher.] Is a fire extinguisher then deductible as a medical expense? Tom Newark, CA 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Had one in the mailbox this morning with a note: "Rita, I know this is a little unorthodox, but I didn't have any other time to drop off..." 1) My mailbox has been out there for eleven years. 2) And USPS has been in business longer than that, even. 3) (My daughter said this): He can spell the world unorthodox and can't find a way to get this to you before today? I'll bet he knows how to spell the word "extension". If not, I assume you're going to teach him. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaB Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 I'll bet he knows how to spell the word "extension".If not, I assume you're going to teach him.Oh, yeah, he knows. And the boot-up-your-ass extraction device is also a medical expense. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry D EA Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Gotta love it. Rita you have made this season so much more enjoyable keep it up! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NECPA in NEBRASKA Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 ox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cathy Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 Not much to the Sch C's and they were very organized. It really amazes me how probably the single thing that can most affect a taxpayer's future livelihood, ESPECIALLY WHEN SELF-EMPLOYED, his tax return, is thought of in such terms as being so insignificant that finding a cheap preparation fee is the best choice, is unbelievable. Which brings up another strategy that some people use: winning through intimidation...there's even a book written on the subject. The more I charge, the more respect I receive. There are some, however, that will not be happy unless they beat someone out of charging what their services are worth. (That's where "winning through intimidation" comes into play.) I agree with others that your client received a good deal....too good of a deal as he/she still bitched! (Sorry, for my French, but I'm at the end of my rope!) You don't need cheapskates for clients. Let them go somewhere else and beat someone else up. You don't have time for their games. Note: My top fee based clients send the most referrals along with glowing recommendations that I wonder who the hell in my firm of one are they talking about! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcb39 Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 Note: My top fee based clients send the most referrals along with glowing recommendations that I wonder who the hell in my firm of one are they talking about! Now, isn't that just the truth? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFA Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 This tax season has been pretty grueling. I am tired and anxious to have some privacy and recharge. Honestly, I wonder why I do this work? I'm seriously thinking of selling my practice while we are at the top of our game. Anyone interested? It's great. We work 70+ hours a week. Who wouldn't love that? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 Web developers/designers have a site called http://clientsfromhell.net/ I think you guys have enough content to start your own site with a similar format. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 Church music director hubby belongs to a board called something like I Hate Bad Church Music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcjenkins Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 Eric, it's one of the valuable benefits of this board, especially the second week in April, that we get to blow off a little frustration privately to fellow sufferers who will understand. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcjenkins Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 I looked at Eric's link, and loved this one. I bet at least half of us have had this conversation with a client. April 11, 2015 I’m a photographer and my client was several hours late and I could not get a hold of her so I assumed she was a no-show and moved on to my next appointment. Awhile later, I finally got a text from the client. Client: OMW Me: I’m sorry but you were several hours late without warning and I had other clients booked today. Client: Well you didn’t tell me I had to be on time. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcb39 Posted April 15, 2015 Report Share Posted April 15, 2015 Absolutely NOBODY has been on time today!!!!! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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