Client provided documents last year (in 2019) to complete his 2018 return.
We called him in to review and finalize his taxes and it turned out that his property rental was possibly supposed to be on a trust tax return.
Client provided documents that confirmed this.
He insisted that we report it on his personal return and I refused and he left.
He called today to make an appointment - I'm not sure for what.
I took the call and told him that I am not accepting clients right now.
He asked, "what about in two weeks or so".
I said, "no, I am over saturated with work and I am not accepting clients at this time, please find another preparer".
I am worried that this was a mistake. It's not the real reason. I just said it because I didn't remember exactly why I didn't wan to serve him anymore until I looked up my notes.
I'm worried that he will call or email for a quote and see if we are or are not taking clients and my staff will quote him. He seems like the type to do this.
Client is in a protected class, but the reason I won't serve him is because:
1) I don't trust that he is honest with me about his taxes or that he takes being honest on his tax returns seriously.
2) I did lots of work for him and didn't get paid. I didn't bill him, but he was supposed to come back with more docs and file the trust return, and he never did.
3) I don't have the bandwidth to deal with clients that are not tax compliant or have situations that need extra time and attention.
What is my next move?
Do I send him a disengagement letter of some sort?
Do I stop taking all clients for 3 weeks or so, so if he "tests" us, he gets a consistent answer?
Do I suck it up and call him in in 3 weeks because it's safer to serve him than not to serve him?