I agree with you! I still have a huge mess of a partnership sitting here that I finally got sorted out but now the GP of the partnership has “disappeared”.
As a client I suppose at first I would be upset if I received such a letter but hopefully I would be smart enough to give you a call and give you an idea of where I was at and what was going on in my life as to why I may not be able to meet your deadline and from there we could discuss the situation and options. But whose to say some of these people are smart enough!
As a side, I think any letter I send out would most definitely be sent certified, return receipt requested, just so I could protect myself should it be needed.
Susan Cartmill, CPA
Office in
972-221-6431
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...
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
------------
Thanks,
Chuck
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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