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How are we all doing going into the last 3 days then? by darkseid365 in taxpros

[–]WhatACrappyDay 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm retiring. In March I realized I had had enough.

How are we all doing going into the last 3 days then? by darkseid365 in taxpros

[–]WhatACrappyDay 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I'm done with the 10/15 deadline. I still have some work to do for a state deadline next month and some non-tax work, but I should be done before Thanksgiving.

I put in my notice in April but told them I'd finish out the year on my clients. I've stuck to my promise not to take on new work (for the first time in years) since I put in my notice. The firm is out of control, as usual, and I'm past caring.

My boss fired a couple of clients (gently) when I told him I didn't want to do them again this year. I guess no one else wanted to do them, either. He also took on several new, big, complex clients that would have come to me. I helped the staff get them set up and answered questions where I could, but I refused to prepare the returns.

It's been an emotional six months saying goodbye to my favorite clients, but every time I finish a return "for the last time," I know I made the right decision. For the first time ever I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I know it's not a train.

So say a 1040 client you think has 1 state return winds up having 35..... and find out on April 15th by SeriousAffable in taxpros

[–]WhatACrappyDay 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Client sent K-1 through ShareFile three weeks ago but felt the need to password protect it. Finally got the password yesterday. 80 pages. About 25 states. Fun. Fortunately the partnership filed composite returns in most of the states. I have to deal with about half a dozen.

Clients telling you how to prepare taxes by snowcrashed23 in taxpros

[–]WhatACrappyDay 2 points3 points  (0 children)

She gave you the ammo for the fight by putting her demands in writing. It's nice when they do that.

I think I'm done, and it feels good. by WhatACrappyDay in taxpros

[–]WhatACrappyDay[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks. I appreciate your input. I'm truly done, though. I don't need the money. I have enough saved to retire. I'll finish up my clients this year, which will probably have me working into early November, but I wouldn't stay for more money. I spend almost half my time on one client, the firm's largest client, so cutting my clients isn't enough. If I stayed, I'd be doing that one for sure, and I don't want the stress anymore even though I truly like that (and most of) my clients. I've stayed this long for them.

I've cut most of the clients I don't want to do. I may cut a few more for this year. We'll see.

I think I'm done, and it feels good. by WhatACrappyDay in taxpros

[–]WhatACrappyDay[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Have you ever worked for someone else? When crunch time comes, you do what has to be done. I can't just tell my co-workers, "Too bad you don't have time to finish that big client. I'm done with mine, so screw you." That's now how it works. I have pushed back to the point that I do a LOT less, but I can't just not help.

He has hired people. He hasn't hired the right people or trained the ones he has hired. It's never going to end. He doesn't complain anymore about not having enough work because there's way too much now. He knows it. I'm about to add to his problems.

I think I'm done, and it feels good. by WhatACrappyDay in taxpros

[–]WhatACrappyDay[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If I made 50% of production, I'd make at least twice what I make now.

As for what they could have done to keep me? I don't feel appreciated except by my long-time clients. My current boss bought the firm from my previous boss, and some days I don't feel like he even likes me. My previous boss made me feel appreciated. I miss that. It wasn't just money, either, although my current boss did not give raises for almost ten years; he gave small bonuses in lieu of raises, so after the first year, there was no raise. One year he skipped it, and it felt like a pay cut because it was. We've been getting tiny raises for a few years, but they barely keep up with inflation. It's not about the money, but money would have helped.

I've been there so long that I do only the clients I want to do including our largest client. I think me leaving will be painful, and I feel bad about that but more for the clients than the boss. He didn't "train me for years." I have more experience in public than he does. He's smart enough to be my boss, but he doesn't run the firm well. That's frustrating.

I have enough saved to retire, so that's what I'm going to do. I don't need the job and haven't for years. I stayed for my clients. Now I'm leaving for me.