Pissed at my tax prepper

**Update-I guess he must've felt guilty as I received a small check from him in the mail today as a partial refund on my fee. Still no note or words of apology but the check is fair. Also my state refund hit my bank today as well, now just waiting on the paper check from Uncle. On another note and without going into details I usually don't get a refund, some years I pay a little extra so no one needs to advise I not use my money to give the fed a no interest loan.**

I've been using the same accountant for 4 years (after leaving my previous because she refused to file electronically and was charging me a ridiculous fee). This guy has been decent, fair fee, files electronically, etc. Well this year he screwed up, didn't check the box for electronic deposit on my federal refund and screwed up the state-had to refile it, says he checked the box for the electronic deposit on that but I won't know for a bit more time.

Next year my return will be a lot more simple, thinking of just using Block or something similar. My younger son just finally got a full time job with benefits starting on the 29th (he's been working 2 part-time no benefits). I committed to helping him with the bills from his emergency appendectomy last September and was planning on making the final payment this week-not now. Really pissed at the accountant. All he could say was "hope this isn't a problem" when I called him this morning.

State isn't doing EFT for returns this year. I filed mine already and I know the box was checked for EFT, but they sent a check with a letter saying due to fraudulent returns being submitted so frequently they are only sending checks to the address listed on records. Still didn't take that long as we filed Feb 1 and already got our small check back. Used it for our Valentine's Day dinner.

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Originally Posted by Dave

State isn't doing EFT for returns this year. I filed mine already and I know the box was checked for EFT, but they sent a check with a letter saying due to fraudulent returns being submitted so frequently they are only sending checks to the address listed on records. Still didn't take that long as we filed Feb 1 and already got our small check back. Used it for our Valentine's Day dinner.

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I got my state refund via ACH :confused:

Sounds like a pain. You probably should not use the IRS as a savings account, take less deductions and put the difference in your check in a savings account. that will solve the problem in the future. You are just loaning your money to the Govt. and getting no interest, not that there is any interest to be had at the banks.

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Originally Posted by Doc45

I've been using the same accountant for 4 years (after leaving my previous because she refused to file electronically and was charging me a ridiculous fee). This guy has been decent, fair fee, files electronically, etc. Well this year he screwed up, didn't check the box for electronic deposit on my federal refund and screwed up the state-had to refile it, says he checked the box for the electronic deposit on that but I won't know for a bit more time.

Next year my return will be a lot more simple, thinking of just using Block or something similar. My younger son just finally got a full time job with benefits starting on the 29th (he's been working 2 part-time no benefits). I committed to helping him with the bills from his emergency appendectomy last September and was planning on making the final payment this week-not now. Really pissed at the accountant. All he could say was "hope this isn't a problem" when I called him this morning.

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Originally Posted by milwaukeeshaker

Sounds like a pain. You probably should not use the IRS as a savings account, take less deductions and put the difference in your check in a savings account. that will solve the problem in the future. You are just loaning your money to the Govt. and getting no interest, not that there is any interest to be had at the banks.

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This is a good post.

Instead of holding it in a bank account, investing in good mutual funds will usually provide a nice return. [Beer]

I agree with milwakeeshaker, I try not to lend the GOV money, but sometimes is easier said than done.

My current accountant had to earn my business, and they did in a matter of minutes. I file a few different tax returns every year and they found 1000.00 left on the table. Good accountants are not cheap either.

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Originally Posted by esizer

I got my state refund via ACH :confused:

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Could be because I used tax prep software? I'll have to reread the letter after I get home.

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Originally Posted by milwaukeeshaker

Sounds like a pain. You probably should not use the IRS as a savings account, take less deductions and put the difference in your check in a savings account. that will solve the problem in the future. You are just loaning your money to the Govt. and getting no interest, not that there is any interest to be had at the banks.

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Without giving my financial dealings out to strangers you are off base with your assumption on my situation.

Again the accountant screwed up, the issues on my state return had nothing to do with that refund. That's as far as I'll go addressing the specific issues.

Are you looking for another Tax Accounting Business Doc45?

This sure can be frustrating and a pain. Total bummer.

Probably, I'm mostly disappointed in the accountant's attitude about his screw up. Never apologized, just that he hopes it doesn't cause me any problems. I told him it did and hung up.

Well, if you don't mind sending taxes down to COS, Phases Tax Service 719-548-1646 has been outstanding. I used to send all my stuff out to a CPA in PA for years, but he died.

If you really want to hear something to make you laugh or not feel as bad, I had to write a $14K check had to be written to ol' uncle Sam once.

We had issues with our accountant suddenly becoming stubborn and a bit cavalier about certain issues, so we went with H & R Block, and couldn't be happier. In fact, I have a coupon for referrals. Our tax preparer works over off of County Line and Holly. PM me if you want more info. :)

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Originally Posted by Doc45

Probably, I'm mostly disappointed in the accountant's attitude about his screw up. Never apologized, just that he hopes it doesn't cause me any problems. I told him it did and hung up.

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Tell him the same thing we told our old account. No i don't have a problem, You DO. Any monies owed to irs or refunds lost . It's coming out of your wallet.

Thank you both very much. Too late for this year but I'll definitely make a change and will follow up.

DO NOT USE H&R BLOCK, liberty, or any other of the mall type tax services. The are not cheap and do a horrible job. They can do a 1099 and 1099ez form and that's it. Anything extra and they are clueless and charge WAY too much to do it. Been there, done that and learned from it

Turbo-Tax.
Did mine a few days before the Feds were accepting them. The day they started accepting mine went right through.
Got my Federal return in one week, got my state two weeks after I filed.
Saw on the news a couple days after I got my state refund deposited electronically in my account that CO wasn't doing that this year because of fraud....... they did mine.

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Originally Posted by Dave

State isn't doing EFT for returns this year. I filed mine already and I know the box was checked for EFT, but they sent a check with a letter saying due to fraudulent returns being submitted so frequently they are only sending checks to the address listed on records. Still didn't take that long as we filed Feb 1 and already got our small check back. Used it for our Valentine's Day dinner.

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Where'd you hear that? My state refund was deposited into my checking account about 10 days after I e-filed my return.

If my accountant makes any mistakes I tell him he needs to fix it. That's why we pay these guys, right?

I have a business with very variable income plus I work a "normal" W2 job so I never know if I'm going to end up over or under paying on estimated taxes. Last year the company I worked for didn't withhold Colorado tax since they are in TN. Sometimes its easier, and you feel better paying someone more experienced to do your taxes.

I've not had good luck with H&R Block in the past. I've been doing my taxes on Turbo Tax for the past few years but I'm debating on using an accountant this year because I separated from active duty and turned my house into a rental.

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Originally Posted by milwaukeeshaker

Sounds like a pain. You probably should not use the IRS as a savings account, take less deductions and put the difference in your check in a savings account. that will solve the problem in the future. You are just loaning your money to the Govt. and getting no interest, not that there is any interest to be had at the banks.

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Well, don't err Too far the other direction, either... Or they'll ding you for under-withholding (or whatever they want to call it now) and slap penalties on top of having to pay out taxes... It all depends on your tax situation, don't follow advice from someone that doesn't know your situation.

This year we have to file K-1 and K-1N (in addition to all the forms we did last year). Bonus points if you know what I'm talking about, extra if you can guess what the source of K-1 income is...

Trust fund, mining or mineral claim.

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Originally Posted by ColoradoTJ

Trust fund, mining or mineral claim.

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Not exactly, but Trust fund is close... (it is in a trust, but not what I'd call a 'fund')

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Originally Posted by HoneyBadger

This is a good post.

Instead of holding it in a bank account, investing in good mutual funds will usually provide a nice return. [Beer]

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Sound advice right there. I try to manage it so that I don't get refunds but come close to break even. Usually end up +/- $100 on taxes. Having a dad that was a CPA helped. All a tax return means is you gave the gov a loan for 12 months and didn't get a thing out of it.