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I guess you could say I am an “old dog”. I have been preparing 1040s since 1972 – over 35 years.
I do not believe in the old adage “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” As a tax professional I must learn “new tricks” every year, as Congress is constantly making changes and additions to the federal Tax Code, and the members of the New Jersey legislature are always finding new ways to nickel and dime NJ residents so they can continue to milk the state dry with pork.
Just because I can learn new tricks doesn’t mean that I necessarily want to. There are many specialized “tricks” related to individual taxation that I have no desire to learn at this point in my career.
For example, the Offer In Compromise program is an excellent way for taxpayers who owe excessive amounts of money to “Sam”, which continues to accrue interest and penalties daily, to finally satisfy their outstanding debt and “wipe the slate clean”.
I do not believe in the old adage “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” As a tax professional I must learn “new tricks” every year, as Congress is constantly making changes and additions to the federal Tax Code, and the members of the New Jersey legislature are always finding new ways to nickel and dime NJ residents so they can continue to milk the state dry with pork.
Just because I can learn new tricks doesn’t mean that I necessarily want to. There are many specialized “tricks” related to individual taxation that I have no desire to learn at this point in my career.
For example, the Offer In Compromise program is an excellent way for taxpayers who owe excessive amounts of money to “Sam”, which continues to accrue interest and penalties daily, to finally satisfy their outstanding debt and “wipe the slate clean”.
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While I think this is a great program, I have no intention or desire to learn how to prepare and submit an Offer In Compromise, even though I may have a client or two who would benefit from this program.
Similarly, the Injured/Innocent Spouse procedures (which are confusing even to me) can save a truly injured or innocent spouse, who has filed a joint return with a less than honest spouse, from having refunds on subsequent separately filed (or filed as Single) returns “garnished”. I have at least one client who would definitely benefit from such a submission. Yet, again, I do not want to spend the time to learn how to properly prepare a submission.
To be perfectly honest, it takes enough time, effort, and expense just keeping up-to-date on the basic 1040 and NJ-1040 laws. I do not want to spend time learning a “trick” that I will probably use once or twice every three or four years – my time could be put to much better use. A wise lesbian once told me, “Only Sherwin Williams can cover the Earth”. I am content being a basic 1040 expert and do not feel the need or desire to add specialized “tricks” to my repertoire.
It is not that I do not want to help my clients. It is similar to my response when I am asked to prepare various financial and other applications and forms that have nothing to do with taxes. I do not have the experience, or enough knowledge of the intricacies involved, to confidently prepare the form or application (nor, again to be perfectly honest, do I particularly want the knowledge and experience). More important, I do not want to jeopardize the client’s chances of acceptance by my lack of knowledge or experience.
As a result I need to locate fellow New Jersey tax professionals who are knowledgeable and experienced in these and other special “tricks”. Specifically I need preparers who will provide specific services on a one-time basis for a client without attempting to “steal” the client’s 1040 business.
To start with I would like a New Jersey tax professional who is experienced with the Offer In Compromise program and another who is knowledgeable in the Injured/Innocent Spouse rules to email me.
I have suggested to the NJ chapter of NATP that they try to generate an online data base where members can be listed according to their area or specialization(s) to be included on their website.
TAFN
While I think this is a great program, I have no intention or desire to learn how to prepare and submit an Offer In Compromise, even though I may have a client or two who would benefit from this program.
Similarly, the Injured/Innocent Spouse procedures (which are confusing even to me) can save a truly injured or innocent spouse, who has filed a joint return with a less than honest spouse, from having refunds on subsequent separately filed (or filed as Single) returns “garnished”. I have at least one client who would definitely benefit from such a submission. Yet, again, I do not want to spend the time to learn how to properly prepare a submission.
To be perfectly honest, it takes enough time, effort, and expense just keeping up-to-date on the basic 1040 and NJ-1040 laws. I do not want to spend time learning a “trick” that I will probably use once or twice every three or four years – my time could be put to much better use. A wise lesbian once told me, “Only Sherwin Williams can cover the Earth”. I am content being a basic 1040 expert and do not feel the need or desire to add specialized “tricks” to my repertoire.
It is not that I do not want to help my clients. It is similar to my response when I am asked to prepare various financial and other applications and forms that have nothing to do with taxes. I do not have the experience, or enough knowledge of the intricacies involved, to confidently prepare the form or application (nor, again to be perfectly honest, do I particularly want the knowledge and experience). More important, I do not want to jeopardize the client’s chances of acceptance by my lack of knowledge or experience.
As a result I need to locate fellow New Jersey tax professionals who are knowledgeable and experienced in these and other special “tricks”. Specifically I need preparers who will provide specific services on a one-time basis for a client without attempting to “steal” the client’s 1040 business.
To start with I would like a New Jersey tax professional who is experienced with the Offer In Compromise program and another who is knowledgeable in the Injured/Innocent Spouse rules to email me.
I have suggested to the NJ chapter of NATP that they try to generate an online data base where members can be listed according to their area or specialization(s) to be included on their website.
TAFN
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