Why Staples and Tax Documents Shouldn’t Mix
Ah, staples—the humble little fasteners that have been keeping papers together since, well, forever. They’re neat, tidy, and oh-so-satisfying to use. But let me let you in on a little secret: when it comes to your tax documents, I see staples a little differently. In fact, I might go so far as to say I loathe them. Yes, you read that right. Those tiny metal clips, though innocent-looking, are the bane of my tax season existence.
Why Staples Drive Me Crazy
They Slow Me Down. Imagine this: a mountain of client documents waiting to be scanned, and each one is bound by not one, but several staples. Suddenly, I’m not just crunching numbers; I’m performing an Olympic-level routine in staple removal. Staple remover? Check. Fingernail sacrifice? Check. A tiny paper cut for good measure? Double check.
They Play Hide-and-Seek with Scanners. Scanners and staples are mortal enemies. One rogue staple can jam a machine faster than you can say "audit." And when I’m trying to scan a stack of pages, those staples turn into a high-stakes game of "Find and Remove," adding more time to what should be a straightforward process.
They’re the Gift That Keeps on Giving. You know what’s even worse than a well-placed staple? A poorly placed one. The kind that bends awkwardly, leaving sharp edges ready to snag, scratch, or stab. Bonus points if they’re rusted—because who doesn’t love tetanus in tax season?
What You Can Do Instead
Go Digital. Embrace the future and submit your documents electronically through my secure client portal. No staples, no paper cuts—just a smooth, seamless process that makes everyone happy. If you don’t already have a portal with me, I encourage you to try it out.
Paper Clips Are Your Friends. Paper clips are gentle, forgiving, and easy to remove. They don’t damage your documents or create extra work for me. Think of them as the unsung heroes of tax prep. However, don’t go overboard. Paper clips are sometimes sneaky and my scanner doesn’t like them any better than staples.
Binder Clips for the Win. Got a thick stack of papers? Skip the staples and paper clips and go for a binder clip. Not only are they sturdy, but they are so easy to unclip, scan and re-clip.
The Bottom Line
Dear clients who submit paper documents to me, I love that you’re organized enough to keep your documents together. But the next time you’re reaching for that stapler, remember this heartfelt plea from your CPA: Step away from the staples. Your tax documents (and my sanity) will thank you.