I Hate Tax Season

[Root beer]

I'm not even a professional accountant, yet. Nor will I ever take a job in taxes. (unless I'm desperate for a job and I probably go into financial advisor route before I even get a job in tax.) With those said, apparently my family thinks I'm a tax expert or something. My cousin, brother, and dad has already bothered me with tax questions. They were pretty funny and stupid, but still I hate taxes. I wonder if I can add all of my family on my phone to a forward thing where if they try to contact me, it gets automatically forwarded to H&R Block or something? I got audit reports to type up and I don't even want think about taxes for a long time. Unless it's my own return.

[Lund Explorer]

The term is Pro Bono or in the english language, "for the public good". While the phrase is usually reserved for those in the legal profession, almost everyone who has a given specialty is going to be asked for free advice from time to time. If it isn't an accountant being asked a tax question, it could be an auto mechanic being asked to diagnose that mysterious clunking noise.

Having been a practicing accountant for over thirty years, I couldn't begin to tell you how many times this has happened to me. It doesn't matter if I'm sitting on my favorite bar stool, in the middle of a round of golf, or standing in line to weigh in a bag of fish. It seems that everywhere I go, there's somebody who has a question. Then there are the ones that call me on the phone. Some call my office, and others have called my home. But even with all of those untold questions, I can honestly say that I could count on one hand the number of people that I haven't at least acknowledged. I have listened to their questions, and whether or not the answer was simple or complex, I try my best to help them.

Isn't that nuts? Somebody has a question, thinks I have the knowledge to help them, and I actually try to help. Maybe it is because I understand the real reason behind why they ask those questions. Maybe I understand that their imposition is really an acknowledgement of my expertise. While it might take me away from something I was doing, it usually only takes a minute or two to help them out. Other times, you might pick up a paying client, or perhaps will need their help someday.

Now this IS NUTS! I've have actually gotten PM's from members on this very forum with accounting/tax questions. But that's okay with me, it come with the title of professional.

[Root beer]

I might be guilty of academic questions. After reading your post, I'm not going tell anyone I'm an accountant at the fear of being ask a tax question! LOL. I don't mind anything else, but taxes? Come on!! I mean I can remember a lot about the Code, but since it ever changing, I'm not really going keep up with it. Unless it's for my own return. After few interviews and discussions, I cannot afford go back for my master's and I cannot compete with those in consideration for graduate assistant and a full-ride for the master's program. It's likely I'm try get the CMA license for time being. Save up a little cash then tried see what financial-aid I can get to pay the difference for graduate work. On the other hand I might bet happy and satisfy doing cost and management accounting. Least until I have cash and opportunity to start my own business. (I dream of a marina on a lake.)

I have classmates on facebook that I went to high school with that asked me small tax questions. Nothing too complex. I just hate tax discussion. I feel there no creativeness. Unless you're on the planning side. In cost and financial that are used for business operation, there a lot more creativeness involved. Deciding what cost method to use, what depreciation method for financial purpose, how we going make money, et cetera. I enjoy those a lot more than tax.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

It goes with the territory Homie. I get asked electrical questions all the time. Personally at the going rate of skilled labor to come out to your house I can understand why. It's part of the joys of life. Look at it like this, I don't know the first thing about taxes or most anything to do with accounting. Now how much do you know about residential electrical work? (If you are knowledgeable about it, then for the sake of this point, play dumb). Now for me to come out to your house to tell you what's wrong with your lights it is 100 dollars an hour, just for me to show up. That's not even including me doing anything. Now if you were to call me and explain what's going on, and I could diagnose over the phone it wouldn't cost you squat.

See where Im going with this? Me helping a friend out with the knowledge I possess can save them money. It goes with the territory of possessing knowledge of a skill or trade that others do not. I say just enjoy it for what its worth. And try not to stress over it too much.

[Root beer]

It goes with the territory Homie. I get asked electrical questions all the time. Personally at the going rate of skilled labor to come out to your house I can understand why. It's part of the joys of life. Look at it like this, I don't know the first thing about taxes or most anything to do with accounting. Now how much do you know about residential electrical work? (If you are knowledgeable about it, then for the sake of this point, play dumb). Now for me to come out to your house to tell you what's wrong with your lights it is 100 dollars an hour, just for me to show up. That's not even including me doing anything. Now if you were to call me and explain what's going on, and I could diagnose over the phone it wouldn't cost you squat.

See where Im going with this? Me helping a friend out with the knowledge I possess can save them money. It goes with the territory of possessing knowledge of a skill or trade that others do not. I say just enjoy it for what its worth. And try not to stress over it too much.

I'm just going to wear a sign around my neck, "don't ask me business related questions unless you want to be charge." It just been a long day for me trying figure out all this audit craps and find deficiencies and potential problems related to auditing. I guess the handful of calls related to taxes kind of push me over a little. I had surgery last month on my leg, so I cannot go relieve stress through cycling and fishing. I guess the stress is just building up with no means to burn it off.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I'm just going to wear a sign around my neck, "don't ask me business related questions unless you want to be charge." It just been a long day for me trying figure out all this audit craps and find deficiencies and potential problems related to auditing. I guess the handful of calls related to taxes kind of push me over a little. I had surgery last month on my leg, so I cannot go relieve stress through cycling and fishing. I guess the stress is just building up with no means to burn it off.

I like the sign idea. That is priceless.

[slonezp]

When people I run into ask why their air conditioner doesn't work, my response is "I can't properly diagnose it without looking at it and my rates are??? per hour" My rates change depending on the person(neighbor or aquaintence, friend of a friend, guy at the bar). If someone insists on free advice, My response is "You don't work for free, Why should I?"

[Raider Nation Fisher]

When people I run into ask why their air conditioner doesn't work, my response is "I can't properly diagnose it without looking at it and my rates are??? per hour" My rates change depending on the person(neighbor or aquaintence, friend of a friend, guy at the bar). If someone insists on free advice, My response is "You don't work for free, Why should I?"

My rates only increase. Family is free. Friend of family is free. Geriatrics I'll do there work for dirt cheap. Gotta respect the elderly. Everyone else its 100+ an hour depending on the job and my mood.

[tipptruck1]

I use to get all this about cars and auto body. I will take a look for free. But I will charge any one for labor. I don't care if your a friend of the family, family, or a friend. The only ones that get free labor is the grandparents.

Usally they tell me its to munch or try to buy me a case of beer. I had a buddy that wanted to repaint his truck, pull some dents, and replace rockers. I am like it should take me like 3 days or so. He thought about it and says I will give you a case of beer. I laughed at that. I told him I charge 20 a hour. He thought he was getting riped off. Why would I do 3 days of hard work for cheap beer. I would rather have a few hundard dolllars and buy my own beer.

[South FLA]

Darn, I must be a push-over since I do three of my hunting buddies taxes every year as well as my sister and her husband's taxes and do my best to answer all questions from people I know and if I can't find an answer I find an accountant or tax lawyer that I work with to answer it for them. As an aside I won't even touch my own taxes I have an accountant do that, 3rd party is always best, plus finance guys and accountants are like oil and water.

[Redlinerobert]

I'm not even a professional accountant, yet. Nor will I ever take a job in taxes.

Why not work in the tax field? My girl owns a tax firm and let me tell you, it is very lucrative.

[preach4bass]

My observation of everyone who has posted in this thread (up to this point) is that the guys who have said they frequently offer free advice are a whole lot more successful in their fields than those who are stingy with their knowledge or skills. Root Beer, I hope you'll take the advice from the generous men instead of the selfish little boys. Generous men win. Selfish little boys lose. Be a winner. Do the right thing and find out the answers to your family's tax questions.

[J Francho]

Can I write off the cost of replacing all the mice I smash at work?

[slonezp]

My observation of everyone who has posted in this thread (up to this point) is that the guys who have said they frequently offer free advice are a whole lot more successful in their fields than those who are stingy with their knowledge or skills. Root Beer, I hope you'll take the advice from the generous men instead of the selfish little boys. Generous men win. Selfish little boys lose. Be a winner. Do the right thing and find out the answers to your family's tax questions.

Selfish little boys? How do you judge success? Do you work for free? Have you ever come home after working 14 hours in 100+ degree weather only to have your neighbors run up to your work van like you're the ice cream man so you can look at their A/C for free? I guess you would just drop everything to run and help. I guess you're a better man than I. If someone wants to do work pro bono than let them do it. Because someone chooses to charge for their expertise doesn't make them any less of a person. The problem that our society expects things for free. If someone offers their services for free that is one thing. For someone to expect these services for free is wrong.

BTW I get my taxes done for free. Dad and sis are CPA's

[SirSnookalot]

With all due respect to Root Beer and his situation but why would someone want a professional answer from a non professional person? If I were Root Beer my response would be " I'm not a professional yet, I think a professional would be best to answer your question, I'd hate to have it on my head if I gave the wrong information by mistake." So often free advice is worth what you pay for it.

My CPA has taken care of my taxes both business and personal for many years, a good friend before that. Would I expect him to work for free just because he's a close friend? He deserves to be paid for his time and talent.

I agree with slonezp 1000% ! Success and generosity are 2 separate issues, they may or may not go hand in hand. I'm sure we all know successful people that are generous as well as many successful people who are not.

[Root beer]

Do the right thing and find out the answers to your family's tax questions.

Oh, I have. Should have heard my cousin's question. I'm not going post it on here. I even knew answers to my dad's. He was trying get a bigger refund because his refund is lower this year than last year due to few reasons. Unfortunately, he cannot produce an accurate figure for the potential deduction Ah well.

I've done free tutor work, and even explained to friends how their 401k works or how to invest their excess paychecks and how to read the statements they get due to account changes. I did all of that for free. It's kind of nice that some people my age who are just now getting out into the real world are curious about investment instead of relying on social security when they're ready to retired. i just don't like tax questions. I know the Code, I just don't care to help with individual returns due to all the crap you got know.

With all due respect to Root Beer and his situation but why would someone want a professional answer from a non professional person? If I were Root Beer my response would be " I'm not a professional yet, I think a professional would be best to answer your question, I'd hate to have it on my head if I gave the wrong information by mistake." So often free advice is worth what you pay for it.

I guess they thought I was smart as a professional without the fees. Least that what I'm tell myself.