Who has started their list of clients to be fired?

 The part about family clients strikes home!

I guess this means you've started makeing your list.

My daughter copies source documents and assembles my returns.  She's already started on my list. 

 My dad brought his in April 7.  He doesn't have anything.  Don't know why he can't get his cra-ap together.  I started Sunday night, wrapped up Monday AM.  Ahhhh, family.  

 Snorting Root Beer through my nose.

Edit "out my nose"

That's ok, just don't hurt yourself doing it.

 I have started the list.  It isn't very many yet, not as many as I need to fire.  The last time I had a major firing was 2006.  Shortly after the organizer package became available, I sent 25 clients their organizer and a copy of their depreciation schedule with a letter explaining I had to cut back.  I had already lined up a reputable CPA willing to take on new clients, so they weren't as traumaized as I was afraid they would be.  I knew I'd cave if they called, so wanted them to have a good resource in advance.  It worked very well.

I have found that over billing usually works. Like the guy who has fiscal year corp. due 5/15 will soon find out. Cemetery I manage was stiffed out of $200 for removing big tree roots last fall for his mom's burial. He refused to pay extra. This was a tree his family planted against cemetery regulations. Might kill two birds at once. Cemetery gets needed money and I lose a client I don't respect anymore.

Taxiowa - if you want the cemetery to make more money, go the post hole auger route.  You will be able to fit three bodies into the same space you now take up with one grave.  Plus the auger should be able to grind up those roots without much of a problem.

I only fired 2 this season... a few came in that didn't have enough income to file left me shaking my head... H&R wanted to charge one $125 and the other brought her prior year from a CPA who charged $350 to do a sch A where return there wasn't enough income to file.... (I guess they really miss the RALs).

The firings are pretty easy... I just say that I'm sorry I'm not going to prepare your return. As for family and friends the rule is that if I don't have their paperwork by 3/15 they're probably going on extenson... I have about 20 on extension... not too bad... I liked Phoebes idea of sending the exentsions on 4/1

 Sending extensions on 4/1 would certainly cut down on the other questions about if extensions have been accepted if they were filed on 4/18!

Skylane, do you have any taxpayers you plan on firing for next year?

there are a couple of new clients that are teetering on the edge... I put them on extension because the prior year returns were a mess and I haven't decided if the taxpayers are the problem or the previous preparer... but that's about it... most of the new clients are very pleasant...

I have never fired a tax client, but if I did, I would probably go with something a little simpler like:

Dear Dipstick Client:

Due to the fact that you are greatly shortening my life span, I have decided to fire you.  Go away and don't ever come back.

Anybody that wants to use my letter, feel free to do so.

I kind of like...

"During our last visit, by the time you had left my office, my blood pressure had spiked to 210/105.  My physician has advised that there not be a next time, and I am taking his advice.  I hear that Honkomp's Auto Salvage and Tax Service does excellent work."

I also heard that about Honkomp ------------- they really have some good prices on slightly used auto parts too.

It's not urban legend.  The founding father of the firm I started out with had a client that was doing a little grumbling when the return was picked up.  He told the client, just a second, let me see the return.  With that he took the return, ripped it in half and followed up with telling the client not to let the door him him in the [removed] on the way out.  It is quite an effective method of thinning out the herd.