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Started By
Message
Advice in Dealing with CPA issue
Posted on 4/22/19 at 10:07 am
Posted on 4/22/19 at 10:07 am
I dropped my taxes off to my CPA in mid February. I am usually pretty meticulous and I have all of my stuff in order to make it easy for them. When I dropped it off I asked about the turnaround and was told that they had about 10 people ahead of me. Well, I waited patiently till the end of March before calling to see how much longer it would be. Oddly enough, in the process of searching for my CPA's phone number, I realized that he had just been indicted on a bunch of fraud charges right after I had dropped off my returns. So, I called to see if I could just come pick up my tax stuff and bring it somewhere else. Well, when I called they said that the return was already being processed. Not wanting to have to fight with them over whether I would have to pay anything for not, I just decided to let them finish and find a new CPA next year. Well, on the Friday before the tax deadline, I called to find out if they were going to have my return completed in time and they took my number back but did not return my call. I tried calling on April 16th and they decided to take the rest of the week off. Today I was finally able to get in touch and they told me that they had filed for an extension. My question is, is this standard practice to have someone's taxes for over 2 months and have to file an extension? I called and told them I am coming pick my stuff up eventhough it is not complete. Do they have any grounds to charge me for anything and/or should I be responsible for the extension fee? Thanks in advance.
9
Posted on 4/22/19 at 10:15 am to lsualum01
Well that's shitty.
Do you expect that you'll owe?
I'd pull out my shite for sure. Regardless on how the payment issue to them shakes out. Ideally you'd want to buy pay, but at this point I'd pay (depending on how much), just to take back control.
Do you expect that you'll owe?
I'd pull out my shite for sure. Regardless on how the payment issue to them shakes out. Ideally you'd want to buy pay, but at this point I'd pay (depending on how much), just to take back control.
Posted on 4/22/19 at 10:19 am to lsualum01
quote:
My question is, is this standard practice to have someone's taxes for over 2 months and have to file an extension?
No. When I was practicing, those situations were usually a file waiting on a K1 being prepared by another CPA. Sometimes files do get lost in the shuffle, so to speak, but those were rare. Sounds like this place has bigger issues, not least of which is terrible communication with its clients.
Both places I worked didn't charge to file an extension, and didn't charge until the return was completed. Every firm is different though. And your records are your records. They can't hold onto them if you request them back.
Posted on 4/22/19 at 10:22 am to lsualum01
quote:
My question is, is this standard practice to have someone's taxes for over 2 months and have to file an extension? I called and told them I am coming pick my stuff up eventhough it is not complete. Do they have any grounds to charge me for anything and/or should I be responsible for the extension fee? Thanks in advance.
I’m a CPA and used to work for a small firm doing taxes. It is definitely not usual for them to have your stuff for over 2 months and file an extension without your knowledge. Unless you were waiting on additional information to come in, or have any complicated business dealings, I can’t think of a legitimate reason for them to do that.
I’d definitely pick up your shite and go elsewhere.
Posted on 4/22/19 at 11:12 am to lsualum01
I am sure Wayne has been putting all his time and effort into his legal situation, so this does not surprise me. Pick up your stuff and I would refuse any bill they may or may not send
Posted on 4/22/19 at 1:44 pm to lsualum01
Go pick up your stuff.
If you provided everything they needed to file, there is no reason at all they should have filed an extension. I’m sure that why you brought it there to begin with. You don’t need help procrastinating.
And a CPA firm will barely even have a cost associated with filing an extension, it takes an admin like 2 minutes. So I wouldn’t worry about a bill. They dropped the ball on your business
If you provided everything they needed to file, there is no reason at all they should have filed an extension. I’m sure that why you brought it there to begin with. You don’t need help procrastinating.
And a CPA firm will barely even have a cost associated with filing an extension, it takes an admin like 2 minutes. So I wouldn’t worry about a bill. They dropped the ball on your business
Posted on 4/22/19 at 1:51 pm to lsualum01
Oof.
No it's not normal to take two months to prep a tax return, provided you turned in everything at the same time, but it sounds like they have some "pretty good" reason for the delays.
I generally tell people if they get me everything by March 15, they will go out on time. If you are missing stuff, it just depends on the nature of what you are missing. If you get me everything March 6th except for a K-1 that arrives on April 9th and that K-1 has a $17 passive loss, I'll get you out. If you get me everything on Feb 23rd except for a K-1 that represents 85% of your income and I get it on April 13th, you are probably getting extended.
They may charge you for the work they did to date. They cannot withhold your records from you for non-payment but they can withhold their workpapers. Of course if they charge you, then you need to decide how to handle. Something tells me they have bigger issues right now than going after former clients for non-payment.
No it's not normal to take two months to prep a tax return, provided you turned in everything at the same time, but it sounds like they have some "pretty good" reason for the delays.
I generally tell people if they get me everything by March 15, they will go out on time. If you are missing stuff, it just depends on the nature of what you are missing. If you get me everything March 6th except for a K-1 that arrives on April 9th and that K-1 has a $17 passive loss, I'll get you out. If you get me everything on Feb 23rd except for a K-1 that represents 85% of your income and I get it on April 13th, you are probably getting extended.
They may charge you for the work they did to date. They cannot withhold your records from you for non-payment but they can withhold their workpapers. Of course if they charge you, then you need to decide how to handle. Something tells me they have bigger issues right now than going after former clients for non-payment.
Posted on 4/22/19 at 3:43 pm to lsualum01
Are you W2 employee with no additional income OP? If so you don't need an Accountant. If not I'd question why they didn't predict you to owe anything? I have to sign a form (almost positive I do anyway) that I mail in to extend and then you have to predict if you will owe any money to the IRS with your extension and send a check to them with how much you predict you will owe.
So I'd question how they sent in your form without your signature (maybe I'm wrong on this?) and also how they calculated what you would owe as $0?
So I'd question how they sent in your form without your signature (maybe I'm wrong on this?) and also how they calculated what you would owe as $0?
This post was edited on 4/22/19 at 3:45 pm
Posted on 4/22/19 at 4:18 pm to baldona
Filing an extension is literally just a few mouse clicks and done electronically. Only thing that would be mailed would be a check with the extension voucher. This CPA doesn't sound like he was really on top of things, so not surprising he didn't think to consider if OP needed to make a payment with his extension.
Posted on 4/23/19 at 1:39 am to lsualum01
So, I called and told them I was dissatisfied with the lack of communication and how they drug their feet with my taxes and told them I was coming to pick my stuff up. When I got there they apologized and the CPA asked to meet with me. He said he had made a mistake and set my file aside because he wanted to ask me a question about one of my expenses. This really didnt make any sense because the question he asked was already written on the paperwork I submitted. My taxes were pretty straight forward. I get a w-2 and I have a couple of rental properties. I had flood losses in 2016, as well as losses from the acquisition and repairs to an additional property in 2016. The CPA ended up apologizing and offered to do my taxes for free. I got a nice return but I will be using a different CPA next year. I appreciate all of your responses.
Posted on 4/23/19 at 4:52 am to lsualum01
quote:
I got a nice return but I will be using a different CPA next year.
I think you meant to say you got a nice refund.
Posted on 4/23/19 at 5:11 pm to lsualum01
quote:
I realized that he had just been indicted on a bunch of fraud charges right after I had dropped off my returns.
A BUNCH of fraud charges, you say? I would have picked up my information the morning after I found that out.
Posted on 4/24/19 at 2:56 pm to lsualum01
quote:
I got a nice return but I will be using a different CPA next year. I appreciate all of your responses
Considering the delayed responses and how much they dragged their feet; you may want to start looking at a new CPA now and explain what happened this year. They will most likely want to request some information from your old CPA to make the transition easier. Plus, they can do a review to ensure your returns were filed properly.
Posted on 4/27/19 at 12:32 am to Jag_Warrior
I didnt find out about the legal trouble until I went to google his phone number to see if my taxes were complete. It was only a couple days before the deadline. At any rate, I found a new CPA and I will bring my stuff in next week and the CPA will look over it for me. I appreciate all of the responses.
Posted on 4/27/19 at 12:32 am to Jag_Warrior
Duplicate
This post was edited on 4/27/19 at 12:33 am
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