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Have you slept with your CPA today?

By
Home Stager with Home Staging Online Services

 

No, it's not a bumper sticker like "have you hugged your kid today?" I just wondered if others were sleeping with their CPA's, because I am. And it's worked out really well. I haven't had to pay to have my taxes done in four years.

cpa

Now, before you make any hasty judgements about me, I want you to know that my accountant is the only person I am sleeping with. I am not sleeping with the cable guy or the lady at the dry-cleaners. If my only goal was to save money, I would be sleeping with my mechanic and my dentist.

 

Having been in a close relationship with a CPA for four years now, I have made a few discoveries. Did you know that during tax season they often work 12-18 hour days, seven days a week? Were you aware that October 15th is fast becoming as big a deadline as April 15th? And that for a full service accountant, preparing tax returns is only a small portion of what they do? OK, I'm done quizzing you.

 

My accountant has clients who own multi-million dollar businesses. When I asked him one day, whose return was the most difficult or time consuming, he replied "Yours". Now, how could that be? My income is consistently in the four figure range. I always have most of my bank and credit card statements! QuickBooks and I are best of friends! meBut, then the memory of last year came flooding back. The phone calls...like this one: "Elaine, according to your records, no one paid you after August, is this true?" "Oh, I'm sure that's not true, I would have noticed that." "Then, why do you have seventeen outstanding invoices?" Oh, I guess I got so busy, I forgot to enter it when I got paid!" "Busy? It was your slowest quarter!" "Would chicken be OK for dinner tonight?" (Not so clever attempt to distract him, since between January and April 15th, the only meal we share is dinner on Valentine's Day)

 

 

I have this recurring nightmare that starts around the end of February every year.  I come home one day to find all my belongings packed in a suitcase (you know this is a dream if all my belongings fit in one suitcase). He has decided he doesn't love me anymore. Sobbing, I drag my suitcase to the waiting taxi (apparently, I don't own a car in this dream either) and I turn to look at him one last time. His lips part, and I think "he's going to tell me it's all a mistake, that he can't live without me, that I'm the only person in the world for him!!! "Oh yeah", he shouts from the front porch, "and good luck finding someone to do your taxes!"

hug

So, I think you should give your CPA a hug today. Not because they work incredibly long hours, not because they don't see the light of day for six months out of the year, not because they have to deal with the IRS on a regular basis...but, because they may be sleeping with someone like me.

 

                                          

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Comments (30)

Elaine Manes Gage
Home Staging Online Services - Denver, CO
Staging done ONLINE!

Greg- LOL! I think we've all been "slept with" by the IRS! ;)

Emily- Oh, good call! You probably saved yourselves months of therapy!!!

Mar 17, 2008 06:01 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

I've had the same accountant for 15 years, and I really should send her some flowers since I have no interest in sleeping with her!  Loved the post.

Mar 17, 2008 11:48 AM
Elaine Manes Gage
Home Staging Online Services - Denver, CO
Staging done ONLINE!
Norma- Yes, but if you sleep with her, you might get flowers back! ;)
Mar 17, 2008 11:50 AM
Cheri Smith
Prudential Gary Greene, Cypress TX - Cypress, TX
Realtor Prudential Gary Greene
Yep, I sleep with myself every night. I've been doing my own taxes since I was 16. It's not that hard. I would never want to rely on someone else to figure out my organization because it would frustrate them to no end.
Mar 17, 2008 12:18 PM
Elaine Manes Gage
Home Staging Online Services - Denver, CO
Staging done ONLINE!

Cheri- I am very impressed! Unfortunately, the word "organization" is not in my vocabulary!

Mar 17, 2008 01:48 PM
Elaine Manes Gage
Home Staging Online Services - Denver, CO
Staging done ONLINE!
Jason- Thanks for featuring this post in the Family Ties group!
Mar 18, 2008 09:37 AM
Ruth Rivera
Zip Realty, Inc. - Deltona, FL
Central Florida Real Estate
Elaine, Awesome ! I don't sleep with my CPA, but he's an awesome guy ! My husband and I have sent him pizza before (Bribery) just kidding!  Great post.
Mar 20, 2008 12:28 AM
Sarah Eubanks
Hill Valley Financial Services - Oregon City, OR
Preferred Oregon Loan Consultant & Notary Public
Elaine, a terrific post!  Thanks for your point here.  It gives me an idea...  :-)  Off to "hug" a few people!
Mar 20, 2008 02:21 PM
Elaine Manes Gage
Home Staging Online Services - Denver, CO
Staging done ONLINE!

Ruth- I think a pizza's a great idea! My CPA hardly ever takes time to eat!

Sarah- Hugs are good, too! Remember, I am not promoting that you should be sleeping with your CPA!!!

Mar 20, 2008 03:21 PM
Marianne Sweet
Home Sweet Home Staging - Rochester Hills, MI
Home Sweet Home Staging, LLC Rochester Hills, MI
I sleep with my CPA too!  Me!  Thank heavens for Turbo Tax!
Mar 20, 2008 11:49 PM
Gary Barnett
Home Matters - Indianapolis, IN
Home Matters Property Stylist Group, Indianapolis
Elaine, better than that.... I sleep with a Stager.
Mar 21, 2008 01:41 AM
Elaine Manes Gage
Home Staging Online Services - Denver, CO
Staging done ONLINE!

Marianne- Good for you! I know a lot of people who swear by that! And, sleeping with yourself is always a smart move!

Gary- You lucky man! I wonder if my accountant feels that way!

Mar 21, 2008 04:14 AM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)
Elaine - I am going to include this post in the weekly Family Ties wrapup (two weeks in a row for you!).
Mar 22, 2008 01:06 PM
Marci Toliver
438-4642 - Mauldin, SC
Anderson SC, Spartanburg,Greenville SC, Home Staging
Elain- Im starting to think that you have SEX on the BRAIN- where are the chicken blogs. wink
Mar 22, 2008 01:24 PM
Susan Walters
Keller Williams Realty, Ann Arbor, MI - Ann Arbor, MI
Elaine, I have two CPAs for sisters and still do my own taxes for the reasons you stated in your very true and hilarious blog.  Now, I do sleep with my computer guy, though I find him nearly useless regarding real estate, except for the hardware.  Take that any way you want to....
Mar 22, 2008 02:25 PM
Jolynne Photography, Creative Wedding Photography, Family Portraits, Bar Mitzvahs
Jolynne Photography - Hemet, CA
Bat Mitzvahs, Senior Pictures, Event Photography

Hi Elaine. I came across your post thru the Family Ties wrap up. I'm glad I did...you are a fantastic writer.

I don't have a CPA, but I do have a certified tax preparer. He does a great job and doesn't charge me enough for his excellent service. I sent him a letter of recommendation and a gift certificate. Maybe, after October 15th, he can take out the person he's married to. 

Mar 22, 2008 02:26 PM
Erby Crofutt
B4 U Close Home Inspections&Radon Testing (www.b4uclose.com) - Lexington, KY
The Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY

Things keep going the way they are and we'll wish we were sleeping with the gas station owner.

What a funny visual you planted.

I hope your CPA doesn't have this problem.

A CPA said his credit card was stolen but he decided not to report it because the thief was spending less than his wife did.

Mar 22, 2008 03:11 PM
Elaine Manes Gage
Home Staging Online Services - Denver, CO
Staging done ONLINE!

Marci- Now, no one said anything about SEX...except YOU!!! Besides, woman cannot live on roosters alone!

Susan- LOL!!! Well, hopefully he has more hardware than software! Thanks for the giggle!

Joey- How wonderful that you take the time to show your appreciation! And, thanks for the compliment!

Erby- LOL!!! My CPA doesn't mind if I spend money, as long as I have a record of it!!!

Mar 22, 2008 05:18 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate
LOL! I don't sleep with my CPA. I sleep with, and am married to my home theater/surround sound/alarm system guy ;)  But I pity my CPA. I keep all my receipts in a folder all year, separated by type, with a bunch of envelopes labeled, "car receipts", "dry cleaning", "Medical", "postage", "business supplies", etc. Then I frantically have to add them all up at the last minute. Then he inevitably calls me with more questions. *sigh*
Mar 23, 2008 10:34 AM
Elaine Manes Gage
Home Staging Online Services - Denver, CO
Staging done ONLINE!
Lisa- Well, good for you! Would you like to trade for awhile? Not the sleeping thing, but you know what I mean! ;)
Mar 23, 2008 10:58 AM