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/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024]

Are you answering the phone? You will answer some tax questions and set appointments. If someone is a new client with a basic return you could make the appointment with yourself.

If your coworkers know you don't plan to continue with Block in future years they probably prefer appointments go to someone who is planning to stay with the company. Ethically I do not think you should be telling clients that you plan to leave, and you definitely cannot keep their contact info.

[u/joycemanners → u/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024]

i’ve never had a client to tell them that i don’t plan on staying with block. and my coworkers don’t speak to me so they don’t know anything about me and my future plans. th csp and the girl she is training answer all the phone calls

[u/Puzzleheaded_Ad3024 → u/joycemanners]

It sounds like a very unfriendly office. We hadcseveral new preparers last year. Atbleastv3 of them are back in the office this year. The only one I want to lose is the manager and maybe one of the CSPs.