Clients late this year dropping off data

My phones have been almost dormant too. I actually checked the telephone/fax combo to make sure it was in telephone mode and working. But I do have less clients each year, mainly due to them passing away, and I have not been accepting new clients for years, except once in a while for child or relative of existing client.

I've gotten 9% of my individuals in so far.  Very slow.  Has allowed me to get ahead on businesses.  Every year I cut-off all appointments as of the last Sunday in March.  I also will not accept start any new returns after that date (at least I try not to) except for ones that came in prior that I haven't gotten to.  I got tired of everyone trying to meet with me, drop off, portal upload, fax, etc. on April 10th and later.  It's a Pavlov's Dog Training.  Most clients conform.  I'll accept missing data, but just enforce the no new returns.  Portal uploads are now approaching 50%.

Fidelity is also not early for some. I think most of the Financial brokerage firms or whatever they call themselves now are not ready, depending on type of Investments That clients have and so forth

Yes, it was in the high 50s here in the western Chicago suburbs on Friday with nothing but sun.  I imagine the post office isn't used to that and probably just decided not to deliver the mail until the weather returns to typical February temperatures with some snow.😂

I finally changed my voice mail to say if you are an existing client, please leave a message and I will return the call the set up an appt but at this time I am unable to take any new clients.  I felt pretty good for a day with that, then I caved and changed the voice mail outgoing message to my standard, please leave a message and I will return the call. 

I was only able to go one day turning away new clients, clients that I do not need and really am pressed to take them on anyway.  At least now when I call them back I get an idea if the return is complex or basic.  I can handle quite complex returns, I just don't want to at this point so I refer those out but if it is a basic w-2, 1099 type return I take them on.  

For example one lady called .. called her back.. she is going on how she inherited a very large sum of money and wanted to meet with me to discuss how much, if any is taxable and where to put her money.  I asked her if any of it was IRAs or pensions and she had no clue.  I referred that one out.