Deadline turns accountants into weekend warriors

Clients who wait until the last minute keep tax preparers busy. But they say they'll rest Tuesday.

By LISA GREENE, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 15, 2002

Kevin Sullivan's birthday was April 11. As usual, he didn't get a party.

His wife, Anne, was too busy. She's an accountant. He's an accountant, too. Like many accountants all over Tampa Bay, they spent the weekend at work.

"We never celebrate (his birthday) then," Anne Sullivan said.

Instead, the Sullivans worked all day Saturday, leaving their St. Petersburg office after 1 a.m. Sunday.

Getting ready for the deadline is a family affair: Kevin Sullivan's mother helped babysit. And when the couple returned to their office Sunday afternoon, their 10-year-old son, Brian, came along before heading to Little League.

"I always, always work the day before," Anne Sullivan said.

That would be the day before today, April 15, tax filing day. Your tax returns are due at midnight.

If you forgot, good luck reaching an accountant.

"Tomorrow's a crazy day," said accountant Buddy Culbreth on Sunday. "Tomorrow's a day you're running around. . . People call because they look at their return the day they have to file it. It is just a zoo."

Like the Sullivans, Culbreth spent Saturday and Sunday at work. His wife never even tries to make plans with him the weekend before the Big Day. She spent Sunday working in the yard.

"It just kind of comes with the territory," Culbreth said.

There's always April 16 to look forward to. "We sleep that day," Anne Sullivan said.

"Most people I know in this business take the day off Tuesday," Culbreth said. "I'm going to take the day off Wednesday."

Robert White, a partner with Cherry Bekaert & Holland, worked Saturday and was at the office Sunday too. But he swore he was about to leave. Really.

"It's a wonderful day, and the Masters (golf tournament) is getting ready to start," he said.

But White had one job he didn't plan to do until today.

"The last return I'll do is mine," he said. "And it'll be tomorrow."

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