I had one client who I had called twice, back in April, left her 2 voicemail
messages that if I did not hear back from her to the contrary, I was filing
an extension for her. She never responded. So I filed the extension. Then
she never paid me for it. She dropped off her tax stuff on Sunday (10/12),
and I got started on it on Sunday. I had plenty of questions for her, and I
e-mailed her and I left her a voicemail message. Didn't hear back. Called
her at work on Tuesday and say, Hey ! I need this info ! She got me the
info on Wednesday. Then when I ran her card for payment, I forgot to charge
for the extension I had previously filed. I called her, left a message, no
response. I ran into her on Friday and mentioned it to her, and she got
livid and said she'd never authorized the extension and wouldn't pay. I got
pissed off and told her I couldn't discuss it right now, call me later. The
next day, I got a voicemail message from her, apologizing, and saying that
honestly she is just upset at herself for being so broke and being so bad
with her communications, and she is going to borrow some money to pay me for
filing the extension.
Next year, she is getting a deadline in advance of tax season (such as
Debbie is doing), plus a written letter stating that an extension will NOT
be filed on her behalf unless I receive a request from her in writing to do
so, accompanied by payment in advance.
Cheers,
JoJo
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-----Original Message-----
From: taxchat@yahoogroups.com [mailto:taxchat@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf
Of Debbie Wilson
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 9:31 AM
To: taxchat@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [taxchat] "Drop dead" letter?
I have always set my cut off date for information as April 1st and when it
was August 15, it was August 1st and now it's October 1st. Anyone who
doesn't have all their info to me by that date is not guaranteed they will
get their return on time. Anyone after April 1st is automatically on
extension. About September 1st I go through the files I have and send a
reminder letter telling them what I need and reminding them that if I don't
have the info by October 1st they will not get their return by the 15th. I
still have three or four returns in the draw that didn't get done. If they
don't care, I don 't either. If and when I get the info I will finish them
and I won't be responsible for any interest or penalties. I have one that
is going to owe a minimum of $30,000.00 just in an early withdrawal penalty
from an IRA. I don't have their itemized deductions and have sent them two
letters asking them to come in and set down with me to discuss their
situation. They are new clients who dropped off the information when I
wasn't here so I had no interview. On top of that, they dropped it off
after April 15th so there is no extension.
Debbie Wilson
-----Original Message-----
From: taxchat@yahoogroups.com [mailto:taxchat@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Chuck Warman
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 11:21 AM
To: taxchat@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [taxchat] "Drop dead" letter?
I had the same experience this year that several of you have already
mentioned...this was by far my worst year ever for clients not getting their
tax stuff to me until the last minute. The 10/15 deadline just about did me
in, and I am not kidding. I'm seriously concerned about my health if I have
to go through this bloody wringer again. I'm considering a method to solve
it, and I thought I'd run it past you all to see what you think.
I am thinking about sending out a letter, shortly after next April 15, to
*every* tax client that I extend because they didn't get their stuff to me
in time (there are always a few that are my fault). The letter would state,
as politely as possible, that if they don't have all their tax info to me by
August 1, they will have to find another preparer. Period.
I would prefer to limit this policy to only the most serious
procrastinators, except that I'm afraid that if I wait until, say, late
September to terminate a returning client, they might have a cause of action
against me if they incur a late filing penalty. But if I set the drop-dead
date at August 1, they'll have plenty of time to make another arrangement to
have their return prepared. I would also have to allow for some
circumstances beyond the client's control -- the most obvious case being
late-arriving K-1s.
I'm asking for a few of you put on client hats and let me know how you'd
feel if you got a letter like this. If you don't think it's a good idea,
what alternatives can you offer to help me avoid another 10/15 crunch like
this last one? I'm just too old for this crap anymore.
Chuck Warman, CPA
Wichita Falls, TX
-------------------------------
Thanks,
Chuck
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IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: Unless expressly stated otherwise in this
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upon or used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of (1) the avoidance of any
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IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: Unless expressly stated otherwise in this transmission, any tax advice contained herein, forwarded with or attached to this message was not and is not intended to be used, nor may it be relied upon or used, by any taxpayer for the purpose of (1) the avoidance of any tax-related penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or applicable state or local tax law provisions, or (2) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any tax transaction or tax-related matters that may be addressed herein.
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