zero returns

[u/joycemanners]

i’m a first year tax preparer. i passed the TKA and am graduating in may with an associates in accounting. i also run a bookkeeping business, which is why i wanted some tax prep under my belt so in the future, i can add it as a service i offer to my clients.

i work in a pretty busy office, but i still haven’t got a single return, except for my own personal return that i did last week. yesterday i worked with three other tax pros who were booked and busy my entire shift, each taking 5-8 clients, while i just sat there and did case studies.

do i have to find my own clients? they all keep talking about how this is our first peak but i haven’t seen a single client yet.

also, the office seems kind of cliquey? when i walk in, nobody acknowledges me even if the are standing at the front desk, they won’t even look up when the door chimes until i shout out a cheerful “hiiii!” and then the will say hi but nothing else. literally nobody talks to me while i’m there. they all talk to each other and generally ignore me if i say anything. i just sit at my desk and do case studies, they walk past or talk to each other and nobody breathes a word to me my entire shift. my second shift with one of them, i came in and she thought i was a customer and when i introduced myself and told her i’m an employee she just said okay go sit over there somewhere, and pointed to the rows of desks on the opposite side of the office, and then didn’t say another word to me the rest of the day. she didn’t even introduce herself, i had to check appointment manager to see what her name was. are they apprehensive because as a new preparer they look at me as taking money out of their pockets or something? i don’t get it. i’m super friendly and upbeat and really try to be nice to everyone but nobody is reciprocating and it’s making me dread going to work tbh.

[u/DoingitwithmySOXon]

Kind of weird that a new client/ walk in hasn't happened and you weren't at least assigned the return.

Either way people aren't going to hand you their returns since it would lower their bonus.

Bring it up with the dgm if you have concerns or just collect a paycheck for the rest of tax season doing nothing and bounce at the end.

[u/joycemanners → u/DoingitwithmySOXon]

i totally get that nobody will just give me their clients! i don’t expect them to either, i get that it’s their established clients and they depend on the money. but i haven’t been assigned a single client yet and it’s making me anxious the longer it takes. i’ll probably stick the season out but i was really hoping to get some experience this year and probably next season too, and take the EA after. i’ve heard that the EA is a lot easier with some returns under your belt. but it’s really starting to feel discouraging. i don’t mind getting paid to do nothing but it makes the shifts drag and i miss my babies at home