Over the years I've either done my own taxes, bought TurboTax, or gave them to my friend's husband to do. In 2006, I cashed in some stock options so I went to a tax guy last April because it was beyond my scope to figure it out. This tax guy is someone I know well because we used to work together until he quit my company to open his own tax accounting firm. He's this very nice and fun guy who we'll call Gene.
Last year, I bring him my taxes as well as my mom's and he does them. His normal rate is $125 but we get the friends and family discount for $95 each. Since it's my first time having a professional do them, I gulp and write the check.
In 2007, I do nothing special financially. My tax forms consist of my lone W-2, my interest, my taxes and my tithing. That's it. Very simple. I decided on Monday to try and do them myself and did so (see my earlier blog for the easy & free tax software link.)
This afternoon, I take a nap after work and then my work phone rings at about 5:30. I answer it and after about five minutes, figure out it's Gene my tax guy. He literally harrasses me for another 10 minutes about how I didn't bring him my taxes. Mostly it's jokey/funny but you know what? There was this underlying meanness. He made a comment about how when I come back to him next year, he'll have to enter in all of this extra info because I skipped a year with him. He talked about how I was special enough to get the discount and how he couldn't believe I didn't go to him this year. He asks why I didn't give him my taxes and I said "it was just easier to go to my computer and do it myself than to take a trip into your office." He hassled me more about how I could have just mailed my stuff in and on and on until he finally hung up.
The more I think about this, the more irritated I am. It could have been that I was half asleep and maybe not getting the humor but I just don't think normal tax guys (who you also happen to be friendly with) call and hassle clients who don't go to them every year. Or do they? I know he does call and check on people because people are late getting their stuff turned in. But he never even asked if I was bringing my stuff, he just kept calling me Miss Turbo Tax.
And no, I didn't dream this - it really did happen!
3 comments:
Goodness, I wish it were a dream. That's outrageous! Sounds like Gene might not be doin so well with his 'ol tax business.
That is so weird. I agree that he must not be doing well in his business. He certainly won't win clients that way, though! Experiences like that make me scared to answer my phone when I don't know the number, though you probably have to answer when it's your work phone.
Gene the jerk.
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