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Hernando Today

It's Not As Taxing When You Work Together

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By TONY HOLT, Hernando Today

Published: March 3, 2008

SPRING HILL - Rick Leone and Doug Edwards wade through tax law and crunch numbers all day.

They make sure to fill some of their time each day bantering about life's pleasantries.

Leone is a Boston Red Sox fan who, ironically, was a tax attorney for the "Yankee Clipper" himself, Joe DiMaggio.

Edwards is a fan of the Grateful Dead who thinks a day without wearing a Hawaiian shirt is a day wasted.

The two of them occupy an office west of the Four Corners intersection along Spring Hill Drive. Anyone can walk in on them during any hour of the day and catch one of them in the middle of telling a joke to the other.

"At this stage in my career, I know I'm not going to get rich over this," said Edwards, A CPA who claims to put a client's best interests ahead of his own profit margin.

Edwards drives a 1938 Dodge and does not pay a mortgage. This is his way of keeping his days occupied at a time in his life when he could be spending it on a golf course. It is also a way for him to assist people.

"I know who the people are down here," he said. "I'm just like them. They are retired folks ... but we have young couples and small business owners here, too."

Edwards said he is cheaper than H&R Block and better suited for some of the more sophisticated tax returns.

He does not charge for e-filing. Other places may charge as much as $50. He is happy to eat that amount, especially if it means keeping that customer for the long haul.

When a business owner who is filing taxes requires a CPA and not someone who went through two weeks of training, Edwards always finds room to accommodate him.

"This place is very price sensitive," he said. "Basically, your neighbor is doing your taxes for you."

That was when Leone playfully interrupted. The conversation was veering away from him.

Much of his client base in South Florida remained loyal and followed him when he relocated to Hernando County.

When he set up his office in Spring Hill, he was not starving for new business. Even still, he tapped in to a market that seemed in dire need of a tax attorney.

Leone said he is the only one within a two-county radius.

"When new business comes in, that's usually for Doug," he said. "What I do is represent people who have conflicts with the (Internal Revenue Service)."

It never ceases to amaze him how many people ignore letters from the IRS. The longer people wait, the worse of they are - and the harder it is for Leone to help them.

He said while IRS agents have a job to do, those on the opposite end of the phone regularly "become an emotional wreck."

There was one instance where a man was mistakenly billed for $114,000. Then he came to see Leone, who pointed out the discrepancy to both the customer and to the IRS.

"They misinterpreted what he owed," he recalled. "It took a few months to get resolved, but it got resolved."

Not all tax burdens are settled by a few attorney fees and phone calls, but if there is a way to soften the sting set forth by the federal bean counters, Leone is likely to find a way.

His sense of humor is what hooked DiMaggio.

Leone is a Maine-native who idolizes the Boston Red Sox. When the Yankee hall of famer met him for the first time, the quick-witted lawyer asked him for a favor.

"I told him, 'Joe, I got something for you to autograph.'"

It happened to be a photograph of Red Sox great Ted Williams.

DiMaggio got a kick out of it.

"He loved me ever since," he said.

Biz at a glance:

Name of biz: Douglas L. Edwards, P.A./Rick Leone, tax attorney

Where it is: 11027 Spring Hill Drive

Get in touch: 352-686-8634 or toll-free at 877-2-TAX LAW

Send a fax: 352-686-8636.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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