[mla1169]

Why do people assume that all accountants can (and want to) do their taxes for them? I have no experience preparing taxes why would you WANT me to do yours? Do you want me to cut your hair? I’ve seen that done enough times I should be able to right?

Just wondering if anybody else has experienced this and how you reply.

(oops sorry wrong forum, I started on the all forums page and it defaulted to FAR)

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[kandisjoy]

Just tell them that you work in whatever it is that you work in and that you don't have any experience in taxes. Suggest Turbo Tax to them if their taxes are relatively simple… a local CPA firm if their taxes are complicated.

If they seem shocked that you don't know how to do taxes, describe it like this… Tax is only one part of what some accountants do. It's kind of like a “specialty” for doctors, or a subject for teachers.

FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85

CA Licensed 11/2011

[Anonymous]

When I was finishing my degree and people asked me “what are you studying” and I was like “accounting”, they always asked “so you can do my taxes?”….got annoying

[RedRage00]

Yeah, it gets old. I don't do taxes, but I get asked that all the time.

Texas CPA
Licensed, March 2012

[katyuser]

Lots of my friends are waiting on me to finish with the CPA exams so I can “do their taxes”. Yeah, right, that's why I'm doing this.

[Anonymous]

LOL I get that all the time, sometimes I just want to laugh. I just smile and tell them that it is not my specialty, it's like but I can refer them to someone who can..When they ask why I am not doing it, i tell them it is like asking divorce lawyer to represent me in criminal case..then they get it 🙂

[T-rex]

If I were an unsavory character, I'd profit from all the tax preparation requests. Here's how I'd do it:

I'd tell whoever asked that my fee was $500, and then I'd outsource the work to someone who'd do it for $250 (or less).

So that would be +$250 for me, +$250 for the tax preparer, and -$500 for the sucker who could probably do them himself using Turbo Tax. Most tax returns are pretty basic.

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[Anonymous]

@ T-Rex:

So you might say it's:

a)sucker's perspective

Dr. Sucker Expense 500

Cr. Cash 500

b)T-Rex's perspective

Dr. Cash – from Sucker 500

Cr. Cash – To Tax Preparer 250

Cr. Revenue made off a SUCKA 250

🙂

Whenever someone asks me if I can do their taxes I say, “sure…do you like audits from the IRS?”

[katiekanton]

I was expecting a lot of these comments, but I haven't gotten a single one. I think most people I know don't want me to know how much they make and how much they don't give to charity.

AUD - 88
FAR - 90
REG - 85
BEC - 88

[SIMSLAYER]

In my experience, when people find out you are an accountant they expect you to do just about everything for them. I have been asked (or automatically expected) to do tax returns and S-Corp/LLC formations. I have been expected to solve complicated business/tax matters when I thought that I was just out at a casual dinner having some drinks and relaxing. And of course, who best to figure out the amount of tip to leave once the dinner is over. Hey, we have an accountant at the table… I have been the default expert for figuring out units of measurement calculations for recipes and household renovation projects, when all I'm trying to do is relax from a hard week's work. Sometimes I think people get lazy and want you to do for them what they can do for themselves. I'm sure just about everyone can figure out the amount of tip to leave, or quickly google a recipe measurment/conversion if they tried.

My all-time favorite (tax-related) statements are: Is my return done yet? How is my return comming along? That's all I am getting back? I heard from so and so that her accountant got her a bazillion dollars…..Hello, I'm doing this for free remember!!

FAR- 81
AUD- 93
BEC- 79
REG-

[makinthemagic]

a lot of people ask (and some kind of expect) me to handle their basic 1040 needs. it all works out. one client is a mechanic who owes me a few hours worth of car repair when i need it. another friend just brings over a case of beer with his w-2's. he usually can file a 1040ez so i'm done working before i finish the first beer. others pay cash. this is all routine work i can easily do in taxcut. now if someone comes to me expecting me to handle complex issues like simslayer described, close friend or not, we're going to talk hourly rates

Bec 4/11/11 91
Aud 7/11/11 75
Reg 8/31/11 80
Far 5/24/11 86
Ethics - 98
California Licensed CPA
Illinois Registered CPA

[Anonymous]

I frequently approached by people who don't want to pay taxes. When that happens, I just told them that I am a financial accountant not a tax accountant.

[T-rex]

Exactly, Baseball!

I'm so impressed that you're applying your FAR knowledge to real life situations! 😉

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[Author]

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