I thought you would enjoy this one

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state? NA


I had a client walk out of our offices yesterday. He had driven almost two hours to come and have us do his taxes. He is alledgedly self employed.

So, when we first sat down I tried to explain to him that he was probably jumping the gun having us prepare the return so early, since it was possible that he could receive tax documents up until the end of January and he might end up having to amend his return. He insisted that he was ready.

So, I asked him for his records.....and he stated that he didn't bring them with him. He actually showed up at our office without a SINGLE piece of paper. He stated that he had all of the information regarding his income and his expenses in his head...

Naturally I refused to do the return. That was actually a first for me. That is the only time I have ever had a client show up without even a single piece of paper.

[tranquility]

Interesting, I've never had that either. Obviously, you couldn't prepare a return. But then again, I'd almost rather that than someone who brings in....THE BAG. You know, the big 'ol shopping bag of paper. Those are even better when they want to go through each piece and explain it. One by one and then put it back in the sacred bag. Since they're all long-term clients who are a bazillion years old, we don't have the heart to charge them appropriately for the time it takes. It's also hard to pass them off to the young guy as the client so loves that "nice young man who always does her taxes". (Any time someone calls me young, they get special consideration.)

[rmet4nzkx]

Laura,
It was the complimentary hot beverage that lured him in out of the snow

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by rmet4nzkx

Laura,
It was the complimentary hot beverage that lured him in out of the snow

Actually, its rain here rather than snow....I would almost rather see snow, my front yard is pure mud at this point.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by tranquility

Interesting, I've never had that either. Obviously, you couldn't prepare a return. But then again, I'd almost rather that than someone who brings in....THE BAG. You know, the big 'ol shopping bag of paper. Those are even better when they want to go through each piece and explain it. One by one and then put it back in the sacred bag. Since they're all long-term clients who are a bazillion years old, we don't have the heart to charge them appropriately for the time it takes. It's also hard to pass them off to the young guy as the client so loves that "nice young man who always does her taxes". (Any time someone calls me young, they get special consideration.)

Even thinking about "THE BAG" makes me cringe...LOL.

[rmet4nzkx]

Originally Posted by LdiJ

Even thinking about "THE BAG" makes me cringe...LOL.

Isn't that what you are supposed to do if the IRS calls you for an audit?

[abezon]

Yep, you should always keep important tax receipts in a bag in case of audit. That way, when the IRS nastygram arrives, you can dump out the receipts & put the bag over your head until the IRS gives up & goes away. It helps to stick your fingers in your ears & sing la-la-la-la-la-la.

[Dandy Don]

Did you have any idea of what this man's income might be? I don't blame you for turning down a possibly challenging client, but since he could have been a paying client, couldn't you have taken down his basic information and prepare a preliminary return and put it on hold until the tax withholding documents came in? Did you ask him if he intended to bring documentation in at a later date?

DANDY DON IN OKLAHOMA (tiekh@yahoo.comO)

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by Dandy Don

Did you have any idea of what this man's income might be? I don't blame you for turning down a possibly challenging client, but since he could have been a paying client, couldn't you have taken down his basic information and prepare a preliminary return and put it on hold until the tax withholding documents came in? Did you ask him if he intended to bring documentation in at a later date?

DANDY DON IN OKLAHOMA (tiekh@yahoo.comO)

He didn't intend to provide any documentation at all. He told me that either I did it without documentation or he would go elsewhere. I was happy to have him go elsewhere .

[tranquility]

Did you have any idea of what this man's income might be? I don't blame you for turning down a possibly challenging client, but since he could have been a paying client, couldn't you have taken down his basic information and prepare a preliminary return and put it on hold until the tax withholding documents came in? Did you ask him if he intended to bring documentation in at a later date?

It's not just a matter of a challenging client, it's the matter of desiring to maintain the ability to practice in front of the IRS. Clearly, no respectable preparer would sign a return under these circumstances. As to the preparation on "spec", I've got to make sure the office is ready for the season (forms, network etc.) and have a major client with dozens of partnerships coming in next week. One would have to be very hungry to take the risk.