When your CPA screws up?

[Hay Dude]

I had a dispute with the IRS 15 years ago it took over 5 years to straighten it out. Thought it was settled 3-4 times then it would start all over again. When it finally ended after amended returns for several years they ended up owing me several hundred dollars, then a year later it started again and after several responses I got another $32 check when they originally want another $30,000+. Haven't heard from them in at least 8 years on that issue so hopefully it has gone to bed. About time to get started on this years return .

I have been told that once you have a dispute with them, you kind of stay on their radar for good.

 

[Hay Dude]

I know my day is coming, Lou. I can feel the little $ I have draining from my account.…

 

[D&D]

Good thing we are hiring more IRS agents

with weapons

 

[Hay Dude]

Would you like ketchup for your crap sandwich?

 

[D&D]

CPA short explanation is the amended return has not caught up with with the original return…

It does seem e-filing hasn’t helped.

The notice has no FTB agent name who sent it or to contact if you dispute…

Notice is pay amount billed or contact if there is a hardship paying.

I’m guessing paying under protest isn’t a good option?

I definitely feel the hurt of not being able to contact someone at the IRS. I am the executor of an estate, the "final" tax returns were prepared and sent Jan 2021. The estate can not be settled because the IRS has not finalized the account. There is no one to call and multiple trips to their office (43 miles each way) has produced nothing but frustration.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^
This is the real reason they have hired more staff, allegedly to relieve the backlog.

 

[MoKelly]

I try to owe under $100 every year, and it's set up to come out of my checking account on April 15. I don't write interest free loans to anybody, which is all that a big refund is.

Except - maybe - EA if you bought their stuff?

Whoops - wrong thread!

 

[ultrarunner]

If it were me, I'd be all over that CPA like a cheap suit until they took responsibility for and resolved this. Isn't this what you pay them for?
Maybe it's a bit too soon, but have you tried contacting your senator/congressman? I had an issue with the treasury dept. a few years back and filled out a form on my senator's website. One of her staffers contacted the agency on my behalf and the issue got resolved in relatively short order. Couldn't hurt...it's part of their job.

Glad my finances aren't so complex I need anything more than Turbotax/HR Block software to file.

My finances only became complicated due to the 1.4% interest I owned in a local California business park.

I had sold a rental home that had been my home years ago and put the proceeds into a private Real Estate Investment Trust that built out a small business park... very simple transaction via 1031 exchange and I was pleased with my good fortune.

About 7 years ago the major wealthy investors of the Business Park saw the handwriting on the wall and elected to sell the California business park and use the proceeds to purchase investment property in a dozen states...

So my little home of many years ago that had become a small interest in the local business park was now a miniscule interest in a dozen properties spread over a dozen states...

The complexity is because most of these states have state income tax requiring me to file returns in states I have never visited... i. e. the $65 I owed in Arizona or $150 in Oklahoma, etc.

Don't get me wrong... for a nobody like myself with a day job taking the proceeds from one little East Oakland house back in the 90's into hotels, storage units, R and D property, etc... is beyond imagination... plus no one is calling me at midnight saying a pipe bursts or a toilet is plugged!

I do think my CPA is struggling filing in multiple states... I am the only client in the firm filing in Oklahoma as and example.

The $1200 in professional CPA fees I have been paying isn't enough for a nationwide firm to even speak with me.

The end game is possibly taking the private REIT public so ownership would be shares of stock as opposed to percentage of individual property... which would great simplify my tax life.

For a simple guy like myself there is no way I have the knowledge to file in multiple states and my CPA firm is also finding it challenging because other state filings impact California filing...

Not sure if my explanation makes sense but it's how I got to where I am...

 

[Hay Dude]

^^^^^
This is the real reason they have hired more staff, allegedly to relieve the backlog.

 

[ultrarunner]

I definitely feel the hurt of not being able to contact someone at the IRS. I am the executor of an estate, the "final" tax returns were prepared and sent Jan 2021. The estate can not be settled because the IRS has not finalized the account. There is no one to call and multiple trips to their office (43 miles each way) has produced nothing but frustration.

This is another hat I'm wearing too...

 

[ultrarunner]

We filed long ago and got our refund as well. I never wait until the last minute if we owe or not is irrelevant.

I look at it like having an impacted tooth. It only gets worse the longer you delay it.

Not like ANY governmental agency is fiscally responsible because they ain't.

I had to check and confirm I have no holdings in Michigan however I am in Indiana and Illinois...

Thought crossed my mind if I ever retire I could take a road trip in my ten year old Corolla and do my own Under Cover Boss criss crossing the country.

Hospitality is a growing sector of the portfolio...

 

[Torvy]

Hindsight being what it is...I prefer a combo CPA-tax attorney for these things.

Your CPA is not stepping up and earning those fees.

 

[Hay Dude]

Mayhaps it's you that needs to wake up and smell the roses.

Kind of reminds me of the most famous ominous quote from the great Ronald Reagan:

”We’re here from the government and here to help you”

 

[D&D]

I find it hard to believe that with the current employment situation and the acute lack of potential people that actually want to work and not be lazy that the IRS could actually find 80,000 people to actually work there. That and considering the low GS starting wage, I don't think so but then who am I to even think that.

Private sector employment pays much better than the starting wage of a GS employee and if they were to carry guns, that opens up an entirely different ballgame as they would have to be trained and certified to carry a weapon in the first place. Not sure about that being a requirement except due to the fact that the government has become increasingly weaponized under this banana republic administration.

Besides, allowing them to carry a weapon would surely open up a huge can of worms anyway, but again, I seriously doubt they could actually hire 80,000 more agents in the first place.

Well, with the “law enforcement” category applied, the gun toting IRS agents would get 25% premium pay (plus shift differentials, holiday pay, etc) and a no age limit 25 year retirement plan.
Why does the fed have so many “police” type agencies? There are more than 32 of them just in the Washington DC area.
seems to me, all an IRS agent should need is pencil, paper and a calculator. But someone has bigger plans

 

[Jstpssng]

Well, with the “law enforcement” category applied, the gun toting IRS agents would get 25% premium pay (plus shift differentials, holiday pay, etc) and a no age limit 25 year retirement plan.
Why does the fed have so many “police” type agencies? There are more than 32 of them just in the Washington DC area.
seems to me, all an IRS agent should need is pencil, paper and a calculator. But someone has bigger plans

Here is the actual job description. Note that it's not for your typical IRS clerk;

WE’RE HIRING SPECIAL AGENTS NOW!​

Click here to apply today!​

Who are we?​

Criminal Investigation (CI) is the law enforcement branch of the IRS. Our mission is to serve the American public by investigating potential criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code, and related financial crimes, in a manner that fosters confidence in the tax system and compliance with the law.

As a Special Agent you will combine your accounting skills with law enforcement skills to investigate financial crimes. Special Agents are duly sworn law enforcement officers who are trained to "follow the money." No matter what the source, all income earned, both legal and illegal, has the potential of becoming involved in crimes which fall within the investigative jurisdiction of the IRS Criminal Investigation. Because of the expertise required to conduct these complex financial investigations, IRS Special Agents are considered the premier financial investigators for the Federal government.

Criminal Investigation Special Agents are part of a diverse workforce that mirrors the taxpaying public we serve

 

[Hay Dude]

I remember having to deal with a fish & wildlife guy. Looked like Barney Fife’s grandson and couldn’t show off his sidearm any more without actually pulling it out.

 

[California]

I've never and would never use a schlock tax service like H&R Block. Those clowns are worthless IMO.

I learned helping my wife wrap up her parents estate that HR Block didn't have anyone who could prepare the distribution docs and final tax docs except for one specialist for the entire city who had the additional training for this. We waited a month for an appointment.

Additionally when I interviewed the office manager of another nationwide preparation service, he candidly told me that all storefront tax services hire minimally qualified clerks who simply input your data to a canned computer program. They aren't qualified or allowed to advise beyond the simple script they were told to memorize. Because ... the real reason the storefront services exist, is to make money on lending you the amount of your tax refund while you wait for IRS to send the real refund.

I personally use HR Block PC software then a couple of times have had my work reviewed by an expensive CPA in very complex circumstances, for example closing Dad's estate and making the distributions. (And she told me I got it right).

 

[California]

The complexity is because most of these states have state income tax requiring me to file returns in states I have never visited...

The $1200 in professional CPA fees I have been paying ..

Wow. Just sell your interest in that REIT! That's no way to live, buried in complexity that you have no control over.

An audit by any one of those states could drag you through misery for years.

So what if you lose a little money or the potential to earn a little more. Buying your freedom will benefit you more. A calm life is a worthwhile goal!

 

[California]

Plus, you can shoot anyone and get a medal of commendation! Just like on 1/6!!!

But what if she and her fellow traitors had succeeded in getting there and killing Pence?

 

[LouNY]

But what if she and her fellow traitors had succeeded in getting there and killing Pence?

You mean she and her fellow PATRIOTS.