[Demha]

So a few friends and family have asked me to do their taxes. I’ve been busy lately but I’ve agreed to do them for my family members only. I didn’t want my friends relying on me to do their taxes. It’s not about the money (I wouldn’t charge them). How do you handle the influx of friends & family that expect/want you to do their taxes? Do you charge them a fee? I’m just curious.

Gleim baby!
Grand Valley State University - '15
Accounting & Finance
FAR - 2nd Window '16

[EuroAddict]

You just graduated college and are willing to do other people's taxes?

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[Missy]

I don't do taxes for family or friends. I wouldn't want to charge them, and don't want to deal with them thinking I can work some magic to get them a bigger refund just because we're family.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Gatorbates]

Depending on the volume, I charge them a fee. After all, it is my time. If it's just one relative, I may just comp it, depending on whether I like them or not 🙂

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[SpiritofGod]

Preparing income taxes require some experience. And as mla said, people expect you to conjure magic and give them the biggest refund. If you charge them, you are considered a tax practitioner. The IRS requires that you have a PTIN in order to do this.

[alboreland]

You can get Turbo Tax with five returns for about $50 and you don't need a PTIN. It comes with a free state, but will have to pay additional if you need another one.

[Missy]

alboreland thats only if you don't charge for preparing the taxes. If you charge even one person you absolutely need a PTIN.

https://www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/Frequently-Asked-Questions:-Do-I-Need-a-PTIN%3F

I'm sure there are people who charge without one, but we're certainly not going to promote that here.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

For the one neighbor that brings my trashcans in when i'm out of town, closes my garage occasionally and watches out for me in general, i do his on Turbotax at home.

Otherwise they can come in to the office and be a normal client.

I do have a handful that I tell them i will look it over if they prepare it in Turbotax themselves. Less than 3.

[Tncincy]

I've been doing taxes as a business for 20 years…..I have done my family taxes at least half that time…..Oh they whine when I attempt to charge them, but I let it go until now I can't charge them if I wanted to. Family is hard because they tell you all the sad stories of financial horror and they play on my sympathy, and how they are so glad I do what I do. So unless you are ready and able to do taxes for free…DON'T DO IT. :-). There is no turning back once you start.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[marqzho]

simply Don't.

Play dumb. Tell them you don't even do your own tax 🙂

REG 90
FAR 95
AUD 98
BEC 84

[EuroAddict]

Is no one concerned w/ the fact that he/she just graduated and immediately think they can do returns?

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[EuroAddict]

Is no one concerned w/ the fact that he/she just graduated and immediately think they can do returns?

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[Missy]

Not really, I've been out of school a while but have no tax experience so I don't feel I am qualified to do returns. Just because someone's been out of school several years, if they lack tax experience, I feel exactly the same. Plenty of people pass tests (CPA, EA, etc) and still aren't necessarily qualified to do tax returns. But maybe OP has some tax experience during college or even before (we don't all graduate when we're 21 LOL) and you don't need a degree to get tax experience.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Stilgoin]

@euro I would be more concerned if someone graduated with an accounting degree and did not know how to do a personal tax return. Of course a business return is something totally different.

B | 62, 78
A | 73, 67, 79
R | 82
F | 59, 59, Waiting

Ethics | 93

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
~Winston Churchill

“In a world full of critics, be an encourager."

[EuroAddict]

@Stillgoin:

A personal return just ins't a W2. If that's the case, they can do it themselves.

It's also like saying you should be concerned that someone graduated and can't pass FAR. Jus' sayin. It's not that easy.

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[Anonymous]

I do a few relatives returns for free. Sometimes they take me out to eat as a thank you or on occasion they have offered to clean my house (my living room must have given them the impression I needed them to help- lol). I don't have a PTIN so I use Turbo Tax and would really feel wrong about taking money from them. Funny part of this is, I don't even do my own taxes ha.

[Author]

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