Do you use direct withdrawal for balances due?

I've been using direct withdrawal for balances due this year. I haven't used this in the past because it makes me nervous but assuming it works correctly, it is very convenient. Does any one have any feedback on direct withdrawal? Hopefully no horror stories...

Just be very careful about the account numbers and RTNs. I triple check.
It's a real mess to fix if you have the wrong info entered.
Other than that it works well. I let the clients decide if this is how they want to pay. More and more are doing this.

That, and direct withdrawal for estimated payments

I used to do direct withdrawal for taxes due, but last year I efiled a clients return with direct withdrawal of $10k minutes after she signed it as it was still open on my computer.

She called me 3 minutes after I filed to tell me not to do the direct debit, she paid it herself online.

The IRS got paid twice, and still hasn't sent the money back. Lots of wasted time trying to clear it up.

I now give them instructions on how to open an IRS account or make a direct pay themselves, and take myself out of the loop. I tell them I won't do direct debits any more.

They sometimes forgot that they asked me to schedule the payment for the last week of April, and now I have to listen to an irate, or even worse; a crying client blaming me because their rent check bounced. More wasted time, bad feelings, etc.

Next problem to solve: Is there a standard form we can use to get clients to sign to verify their bank info for direct deposit? I've been making my own with cut and paste because even when I highlight the numbers on the 1040 they still don't check them. One client gave me her telephone number instead of bank account number. And signed the efile authorization.

That, and direct withdrawal for estimated payments

I wouldn't do estimates. A disturbing fraction of people forget to keep enough money, want to change, etc, and it is a huge pain.

That, and direct withdrawal for estimated payments

I wouldn't do estimates. A disturbing fraction of people forget to keep enough money, want to change, etc, and it is a huge pain.

Yeah I agree on the estimates. I'm not going there!

I've done it with my personal return but don't want that responsibility when it comes to clients.

I used to do direct withdrawal for taxes due, but last year I efiled a clients return with direct withdrawal of $10k minutes after she signed it as it was still open on my computer.

She called me 3 minutes after I filed to tell me not to do the direct debit, she paid it herself online.

The IRS got paid twice, and still hasn't sent the money back. Lots of wasted time trying to clear it up.

I now give them instructions on how to open an IRS account or make a direct pay themselves, and take myself out of the loop. I tell them I won't do direct debits any more.

They sometimes forgot that they asked me to schedule the payment for the last week of April, and now I have to listen to an irate, or even worse; a crying client blaming me because their rent check bounced. More wasted time, bad feelings, etc.

Next problem to solve: Is there a standard form we can use to get clients to sign to verify their bank info for direct deposit? I've been making my own with cut and paste because even when I highlight the numbers on the 1040 they still don't check them. One client gave me her telephone number instead of bank account number. And signed the efile authorization.

Drake software generates one.

Someday I am going to switch to Drake.

But for now I'm using Proseries.

It seems like there should be a form for the bank info confirmation, but I can't find one.

I don't do it either. Honestly, people can be responsible for making their own payments! I don't want the hassle or the liability if I make a typo.

But I had to handle a $25 payment for a NY form that is required to be e-filed, and you can't e-file it without making payment. I was really irritated that there was no way for me to get out of it. It will be interesting to see if that's where we're at in a few years - where the governments make us do it.

More and more states are going that route.

I do not make payments for the vast majority of clients as I do not want the responsibility (or head ache) if something goes wrong or the payment is missed/untimely made

I don't do it either. Honestly, people can be responsible for making their own payments! I don't want the hassle or the liability if I make a typo.

But I had to handle a $25 payment for a NY form that is required to be e-filed, and you can't e-file it without making payment. I was really irritated that there was no way for me to get out of it. It will be interesting to see if that's where we're at in a few years - where the governments make us do it.

Some of the state websites are not very user friendly so it takes a lot of my time to explain to people how to do it and then they have questions. I sure hope it goes well this year because I've been doing a lot of direct debits!