Five Ways to Annoy Your Tax Preparer

Yes, I’m still alive, just buried in Tax Season 2007. Oh, that and having my home PC die a slow death has kept me offline at home. Which considering the hours I’m putting in, is probably a good thing, as it means I must socialize with the family those few hours a day I’m away from my clients…

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my clients. They allow me to feed and clothe and house myself and the family. And allow us to be good Americans and consume away. Most of them are a joy to work with, and even consider more than a few to be friends. But there always is a handful that, well, I swear they are trying to drive me crazy. Here’s a few ways you too can drive your tax preparer insane:

1. Insist on setting an appointment as soon as humanly possible. Then, during the interview, letting us know that several W2s, 1099s, etc. you are expecting haven’t arrived yet. We love keeping track of all of your bits of paper here at the office as you round the rest of them up.
2. Reassure us that you have provided us with everything germane, and to go ahead and file your return. Over the next few days/weeks/months, make several trips to our office bringing in forgotten 1099s for all your savings accounts, 1098s for the kids, etc. Reassure us with each trip that ‘That should be everything…‘
3. After we’ve eFiled your return, call every day or two complaining that your refund hasn’t shown up in your checking account yet. Despite the fact that we gave you an approximate date to expect it to arrive. And despite the fact that it’s several days before that date.
4. Bring in a bankers box or two filled with every single piece of paper that has a number on it that crossed your desk for the year. Even better if you just toss ‘em in there as they arrive throughout the year without even taking a peek at the contents — and then complain how you keep missing all those bills and how all these companies need to figure out a better way to bill.
5. Do the above, and then call daily – or heck, twice daily – checking on ‘How’s it going?‘ Despite the fact that we’ve told you more than once that, unless you are a farmer, we won’t be looking at your info before March 1st.

Well, that’s a start at least. It’s early in the season. I’m sure I’ll be able to add a few more before the season ends…

[tags]taxes, accountant,tax preparation,annoyances, 1099, 1098[/tags]