Getting concerned about my tax return

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
I dropped off my income tax receipts and forms at my accountant's office in early February. When I did he was busy at his computer with his back to me and did not even turn around when I spoke to him. He just said "Leave your stuff on the desk." His desk looked similar to the one in the cartoon and I was worried then my things would get lost in the shuffle. I did as he asked and left the office.

Since than I have not heard anything from him or received my documents back. He is not answering his phone or email. What should I do?

desk.jpg
 

Deb, I would go to his office in Person. Now. I know this is a busy time for them now, but not hearing from him since February is just wrong.
 
If he doesn't even acknowledge your presence, by taking a moment to accept your paperwork..."just leave it on the desk"...there is a good chance that he lost some of it, or somehow screwed things up. If that is the way he conducts his business, I would not go back next year. Besides, unless you have an extremely complex tax issue, filing online using H&R Block or Turbotax, etc., is much faster, easier, and cheaper. I've used H&R for years, and this year I filed on Jan 29th, and had both the Fed and State refund checks by mid Feb.
 

I'd be getting pretty nervous at this point and I think I'd go over there and demand my documents back and take them to H&R Block and get the returns done.

If getting your documents back at this point isn't possible (if the guy has fallen off the earth or dropped dead or something), I would file for an extension of time to file the returns. Do you think you will owe money? If so, I believe you have to pay that with the extension.

If the guy is a CPA, I'd file a complaint with the local licensing board. If he's not, and has truly fallen into a black hole, you'll have to recreate your documents. Most of them (official stuff like 1099s etc. and your social security statement) can probably be accessed online. Mine are, anyway.

What a can of worms.
 
I would find a new a tax person next year. No excuse for his actions. And do as already suggested, go by his office to see what is going on. If he has dropped dead or something you can file an extension to buy some time to get things together for another person to do it.
 
I'd be nervous too Deb, you must see the accountant as soon as possible in person and take care of this. All good advice here, please take it to heart...good luck.
 
Make sure you file even if you don't have all your stuff anymore. Do as best as you can because there is a penalty for not filing.

You can always adjust your return later and explain it to the IRS.
 
The form for filing an extension and instructions can be found here: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/extension-of-time-to-file-your-tax-return

Sorry I can't get the link to post right, but you can copy it and paste it into your browser. The extension gives you until October to file. Just do not do nothing, because of penalties and interest; the IRS is relentless and will hound you to your grave and beyond. File something and pay what you think you owe by the April due date.
 
Sorry Deb..but I wouldn't have left my taxes with someone who 1. doesn't even acknowledge my presence and 2. has a desk as messy as in this cartoon!! I sure hope you can get to the bottom of it (no pun intended). When he finds your taxes, possibly still undone, I would seriously consider taking my taxes back and using a tax prep program. They're easy to use and do the figuring based upon your answers to questions as well as filling out the proper forms. H & R Block Tax Cut has answers to common questions that come up during the process. Different versions of the program are available for simple taxes, investors and homeowners and businesses. Some come with the state tax program. You have the option to prepare and e-file 5 tax returns.

Good luck with getting your taxes back!
 
Deb--I hate to sound like a jerk, but it seems that you enjoy posting "issues" that any logical person would already know what needs to be done. You seem to be an intelligent person so just go back there and pick up your documents and follow the well-meaning advice in this thread. You should not have waited so long to do this.

If you must have someone prepare your taxes in the future, keep copies of all documents.
 
debodun said:
I sure do! I've led a very protected life. The smallest issue and I'm a deer in the headlights.
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Well, I think we all have at least something we are "deer in the headlights" about. Mine is car trouble.

Just get it resolved one way or the other this week, and next year use another tax preparer. IMHO if your tax situation is not super complicated, H&R Block works just fine. Keep us posted about what happens.
 
debodun said:
I sure do! I've led a very protected life. The smallest issue and I'm a deer in the headlights.
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:confused:

This is puzzling. You've never married, your parents have been deceased a long time, I've never seen you post about siblings or other relatives or even about protective neighbors or friends. You live an independent life taking care of yourself and your pet(s). You're retired with a good income. So....How have you been protected and by whom?

I agree with OneEyedDiva......one doesn't leave important tax documents with someone who has a cluttered, messy, disorganized workspace and doesn't even acknowledge your presence.....then doesn't return calls or respond to emails.
 
how complicated can a tax return be? you either file a long form with all kinds of documentation for deductions or short form with standard deductions. either way turbo tax or h & r block are easy to use.

i could understand multiple stock transactions requiring exact transaction documentation but routine deductibles like mortgage or meeting health care expense if those are used is a no brainer. a column for earnings and the rest to show what reduces your tax to either pay or get a refund.

i prefer turbo tax after using a tax service that charged $300.00 to do what i could for $39.95 using turbo tax. the small refund was processed and electronically sent to our account within about two weeks. what i enjoyed most was after filling out the info the summary said i had less than 1% chance of being audited.
 
Turbo Tax is excellent. They even have a free edition in Canada where you can file your tax online.

Of course it's bare bones but I am experienced and that's all I need.

It even allows you to file online and print out your return.
 
I sent an email to his alternative email and received this third party "form" response:

"Please be patient and know that he is working hard to accommodate all of his clients. We appreciate your patience."
 
debodun said:
I sent an email to his alternative email and received this third party "form" response:"Please be patient and know that he is working hard to accommodate all of his clients. We appreciate your patience."
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Good Luck....you have less than two weeks before you will be dealing with the IRS.
 
Nobody suggested sending another email. That's not a solution.
Debodun, you asked for help/advice from SF members then you ignored all of it and did what you wanted.

As DonM said...good luck.
 
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debodun said:
I sent an email to his alternative email and received this third party "form" response:

"Please be patient and know that he is working hard to accommodate all of his clients. We appreciate your patience."
Click to expand...

Deb, that third party response isn't going to do you any good with IRS if your return is unfiled without an extension. You need to step up and play on your own team -- get over there and either get your return or get those docs back and get this resolved or file for an extension on your own. It's your neck on the line, not his.

That form response tells you nothing, except that he is a lousy businessman who does not see you as worthy of his time -- he could be off in the south seas drinking mai tais for all you know. If you don't stand up for yourself, nobody else is going to, and you could be graced by the presence of the IRS in your life until hell freezes over. Your choice.
 
I don't understand why you would send an email instead of marching yourself to his office, getting your information and going to the nearest Block or Jackson Hewitt office. They will file an extension for you. You must like dealing with the IRS more than I do. My CPA called to tell me they had already filed my extension. I always did my own taxes until I inherited a stock account last year and would rather not deal with it myself. Its worth it to me to be sure its correct. I don't want to ever be audited after helping a couple of clients navigate the process. Why do you ask for help, get excellent advice and then go off on a tangent?
 
A similar thing happened to me 35 years ago. On April 14th or 15th, I got a call to come in and pick up my forms. The fee was $250, and they never completed one of the forms due to carelessness. I had spent a few hours figuring out what my refund might be so I knew something was wrong. They corrected their mistake but lost my business. Why pay someone else when you can do the job better?

From then on I handled my own tax returns every year and saved around $10,000 in fees. Eventually I worked for Jackson Hewitt, and now use the free internet services for my own taxes and those of friends and family. Good Luck!
 
I abhor face-to-face confrontation. I can't ever get productively angry - I start crying if I get riled and lose my dominance of the situation. I am also afraid I'd get carried away and say things I'd later regret. A co-worker, with whom I once had a confrontation years ago which he self-proclaimed he won, told me, "Never start a battle if you don't have any ammunition."
 
debodun said:
I abhor face-to-face confrontation. I can't ever get productively angry - I start crying if I get riled and lose my dominance of the situation. I am also afraid I'd get carried away and say things I'd later regret. A co-worker, with whom I once had a confrontation years ago which he self-proclaimed he won, told me, "Never start a battle if you don't have any ammunition."
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pick the lesser of confrontations.
go to the accountant and ask for proof your return has been filed

or

confront the IRS

which works best for you?
 

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