Understanding The CPA Client Relationship

Understanding The CPA Client Relationship
By Kelan Roy, CPA 6/25/02

1. CLIENTS SHOULD PROJECT A FRIENDLY, POSITIVE ATTITUDE AT ALL TIMES.

Your tax advisor has chosen an extremely stressful and depressing profession
filled with constant phone interruptions, changing tax rules, impossible
dead lines and unending information requests from the IRS. He or she simply
cannot cope with the prospect of your being depressed as well.

2. WHEN MEETING WITH YOUR TAX ADVISOR - DO NOT MAKE ANY SUDDEN OR UNEXPECTED
MOVEMENTS.

Your tax advisor consumes life-threatening quantities of caffeine on a daily
basis to meet the various due dates of federal and state taxing authorities.
Sudden movements may lead to sensory overload and cardiac arrest. If you
desire to reward your tax advisor for sacrificing his health in order to
complete your tax return at 3AM on a Sunday, gifts of coffee (or in my case
Mountain Dew) may be accepted in lieu of actual cash payment.

3. DO NOT EXPECT YOUR TAX ADVISOR TO BE SYMPATHETIC WITH YOUR PROBLEM.

Your tax advisor's ethical code of conduct requires him to be objective and
independent. Clients often mistake this devout professionalism as the
heartless inability to connect with fellow human beings at any level beyond
their base financial desire to collect fees. This is simply an urban legend.
Tax advisors have been known to acquire mates and in at least three cases on
the west coast have even procreated.

4. DO NOT COMPLAIN IF YOUR TAX ADVISOR'S ADVICE LOSES YOU MONEY.

You must appreciate that tax regulations are mind-bendingly complex and an
occasional unpleasant result is only to be expected. Clients do not think
rationally during a time of financial loss. Now is not the time to assign
blame for your financial calamity but rather to engage your tax advisor for
additional tax and financial planning.

5. DO NOT ASK YOUR TAX ADVISOR TO EXPLAIN WHAT HE'S DOING OR WHY.

Unfortunately, the inherent complexity involved in tax regulations cannot be
translated into any comprehensible form using the English language. Any
attempt to force your tax advisor to explain his actions may lead to cardiac
arrest (Please refer to item number 2 above – sensory overload). Endeavor to
develop a deep, abiding respect in your advisor’s abilities, confident in
the knowledge that if his actions could be explained, you would agree whole
heatedly.

6. EXPRESS FIENDISH ENTHUSIASM AT ANY NEW SERVICES OFFERED BY YOUR TAX
ADVISOR.

Though the fees incurred may be substantial; enthusiastically accept all tax
and financial planning services offered by your advisor. Aggressive Tax
deferral and avoidance schemes are constantly coursing through your tax
advisor’s caffeine enhanced brain.

7. PAY ALL YOUR TAX ADVISOR'S BILLS PROMPTLY AND WITHOUT QUESTION.

Consider it an honor and a privilege to contribute, however modestly, to the
financial well-being of such a learned tax professional.

8. DO REFER NEW CLIENTS TO YOUR TAX ADVISOR.

Potential client referral sources may include parents, grand parents,
children, brothers, sisters, cousins, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, former
spouses, coworkers, neighbors, friends and anyone you may come in contact
with in the normal course of your day. It is a common client misconception
that adding to your already stressed tax advisors work load should be
avoided. Tax advisors derive professional and personal validation through
the additional fee collections.

9. IF YOUR RETURN IS SELECTED FOR AUDIT AND YOU ARE SUBSEQUENTLY JAILED FOR
TAX FRAUD – DO NOT PUBLICLY IDENTIFY YOUR TAX ADVISOR.

This will only cause your tax advisor unnecessary, non-fee generating
publicity.

It is my heart felt desire that the above suggestions will assist you in
developing a deeper understanding of the CPA client relationship.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of these points in
greater detail, please feel free to contact me at kelan@kelan.net

Copyright 2002 – Kelan Roy, CPA All Rights Reserved www.kelan.net

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