Getting To Know You Tuesdays are back! And I couldn’t be more excited to reintroduce the feature than with an interview with Kelly Phillips. No, I’m not that narcissistic as to feature myself twice (even I would get sick of me). Believe it or not, there is another Kelly Phillips in the world practicing tax. And she’s delightful. So, onto the interview…
1. Where are you now?
Little Rock, AR at a Telecommunications Company
2. What’s your official title and what does it mean?
Tax Manager – it means I review a lot of tax returns! We file in practically every state for a lot of companies, so I review all of the proforma federal returns, state returns, estimates, and extensions; make sure no states fall through the cracks; respond to notices; coordinate state audits; and I get somewhat involved in the quarterly provision and year-end 10-K processes. Plus I do all kinds of other crazy projects like transaction cost studies, IRS audit requests, external, internal and SOX auditor requests, gathering regulatory information, and researching various state credits and what’s needed for those.
3. What books are on your nightstand?
Oh, goodness, I’m sort of ashamed, but I think a picture might be the best way to answer this… (see right). I’m an avid reader. I stack the books up and just head down the pile. In my heyday (B.C. – before children) I could read 3-5 books a week and throw in a couple extra on the weekends. It’s slowed down a little, but I don’t normally leave the house without a book or magazine. I always told my husband that there are worse things to be addicted to than books.
4. If you weren’t working in the tax profession, what would your dream job be?
Since I’ve been practicing my 10 key skills from the ripe age of 10 and heading up ledger pages for my aunt to earn extra money over Christmas break since jr high, I’ve been preparing to be an accountant most of my life. If I had to pick something else, hmmm? Do they pay people (a lot of money) to read? I would like to do that.
5. What’s the last movie that you saw (DVD or in the theatre)?
My daughter was in the hospital over Christmas and I watched a bunch of movies then since she was only 3 months old and just wanted to be held. The Spiderwick Chronicles, Made of Honor, Enchanted and the Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian kept me entertained. (Apparently, I have some sort of fascination with Patrick Dempsy and chronicles.) And I watched Eastern Promises but I thought it was terrible.
6. Tax is a huge subject. What’s your area of special interest?
Are office supplies a special interest? Because I really like pens. [editor’s note: Me too!] Kidding. I’m really a generalist. When I was in public accounting, I did mainly professional organizations – lawyers, doctors, service providers. I did business and personal returns. This is my true love. I do corporate taxes now, no individuals, and I miss the client interaction and 1040’s. I love boxes of receipts.
I’m also into helping bloggers get their taxes in order. Whether that be filing LLC and FEIN paperwork, preparing 1099’s or filling out Schedule C’s, I like to help “mommybloggers” who might be in over their heads get it straightened out.
7. What’s the best tax or financial advice that anyone ever gave you?
Check your work. A stupid mistake is probably going to cause you more trouble in the long run than if you just took the extra 15 minutes to double-check. And don’t always take the client’s word for it.
8. Coffee or tea?
Neither. I know it’s sacrilege for an accountant to not drink coffee and for a Southerner to not drink sweet tea, but the smell of coffee makes me gag and the only sweet tea I ever drank was my Granny’s. Just water for me.
[editor’s note: Please, no phone calls. I am actively investigating whether Kelly is a true Southerner as you read… I, too, was simply shocked to hear this.]
9. Name five artists on your iPod (or mp3 player).
Br>I’m truly sorry I’m such a dork. I don’t even own an iPod, or any kind of MP3 player at all. If I had an iPod, it would probably have Barry Manilow (don’t be a hater), some classic rock, 50’s pop, and a bunch of classic country artists. Although at the conference I went to this weekend, we had a special performance by Chris Mann, who was awesome and charming, so I might include him. Last time I went to this conference we heard Jessie Baylin, and I loved her too.
10. What would I be surprised to know about you?
I’m six feet tall. I grew up in a town that used to be a plantation. My backyard stopped at a cotton field. I’ve driven a combine. I’m incredibly clutzy.
11. What college did you attend (in what subject)?
The University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas. I got a BBA in Accounting with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies. My senior thesis was on the past, present and future of the Supreme Court. I also have a Masters in Accounting from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
12. If you had the opportunity to make one change in the tax code tomorrow – an extra credit, a disallowed deduction, whatever – what would it be?
I would repeal the home office deduction. That deduction causes more problems and headaches, and homeowners just salivate over the chance to take a deduction for their home office, and it is SUCH A PAIN IN THE NECK for practically nothing.
13. What’s the best thing on TV right now?
Lost, Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, Big Love, Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters, Life on Mars. That’s all I have time for with some Jon & Kate Plus 8 thrown in for filler. Oh, and Wheel of Fortune, because my brother is going to be a contestant on the March 26th show.
14. What do you think Congress will repeal first: estate tax or AMT?
Please, like Congress is ever going to get rid of those two money makers! They both seem equally ridiculous to me, but I bet AMT tax goes away or gets overhauled first. AMT has become very lucrative, but the estate tax is imposed on dead folks, so who’s really complaining about that? People who are going to be dead. And they can’t vote.
15. If Uncle Sam handed you a huge refund check right now, what would you do with it?
It would be a miracle if I ever got a refund. Buy my plane tickets to Blogher. And I’m sure my husband could find some Magic cards that he needed to purchase. I’d probably put the rest in the kid’s college funds.
16. Biggest tax newsmaker: Daschle, Joe Francis, or TARP?
Joe Francis and Tom Daschle’s smiles are eerily similar if you check them out of Wikipedia… I think they’re both morons for not paying taxes. The IRS is going to catch up with you sooner or later.
I’m going with TARP as the biggest newsmaker. I think more people have an opinion about this bailout than any other government program.
17. And, other than taxgirl, what’s your favorite tax-related web site?
Nothing exciting here, BNA and CCH are mainstays in my work. As for entertainment, (if tax can ever be entertaining) I check out CPA trendlines on a regular basis, their twitter feed always has some good articles.
You can find Kelly at www.mrscpa.net, where she mommyblogs with some tax talk thrown in here and there. She also writes reviews at www.wanttoknowwhatithink.com and vlog (Dad, that means “video blog”) at newbaby.com.
Thanks, Kelly, for playing along!
If you’re a tax professional and you’d like to be featured, shoot me an email or DM me on twitter!
Glad to see the Getting to Know You Tuesday is back! And what a great subject – Kelly is just as funny and smart IRL, let me tell you. Then again, so is Tax Girl Kelly!
I remembered the last time I found another Kelvin Kao while googling myself to find out what would come up. Turned out there’s another Kelvin Kao, also a computer programmer, and also from Taiwan.