Quote:
Originally Posted by Sr. Mints
My accountant retired and sold his business sometime last year. He's been my most of family's accountant for ages, and said it would be an easy transition.
Hol. Eee. ####. Was. He. Wrong.
After three weeks of back and forth, I've long passed the point of annoyed and ready to blow a gasket.
What's most annoying, they insist on doing everything via digital signature. They send my f'd up taxes and ask me to review, then send a digital signature, I say "actually...", a few days later, same thing only different screwup. And they never want us to meet, despite me asking for an initial meet-and-greet - that's just the way I role.
I looked up their address and it feels kinda sketchy as there are a couple businesses there--a couple of accounting practices, no less, with some employees with the same name at each--but it could be a shared office?
My taxes aren't that complex. Some non-taxed LTD payments, some part time income, some self employed income, some investment income, a bazillion medical expense. But I also have a DTC and my taxes are tethered to a caregiver whose finances are more involved, foreign property, etc.
The original person doing screwing up my taxes is a KFC *and* McDonalds manager *and* realtor currently, at least according to Linkedin. Am I elitist for wondering what the hell is going on? Maybe. Do I care? Not one bit.
After going ballistic this morning I got a call from a more senior person who does seem to know, well, lots, and I can find him more easily on the 'Net. What in the actual #### kind of operation have I fallen in with?
I just don't have the mental fortitude for this kind of stress, or any stress.
Anticipating having to drive as far north as north goes to their office and pick up my file later this week, then driving as far south as south goes and showing up on Locke's doorstep at the 11th hour (which I should have done).
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Anyone can call themselves a tax preparer. The difference between a good and a bad one is how they take responsibility when a screw up happens. Screw ups will happen even for very good tax preparers.
Keep in mind, even with little information, it's very possible to still badly screw up a tax return. A simple test is to compare the thickness of the tax information to a fully printed tax return. The tax return is noticeably thicker than the tax documentation.
The silver lining is that many more people are starting to realize the gap between a basic and good tax preparer. Don't get me wrong, those inexpensive outfits have their place. But too often, people underestimate their taxes and are unknowingly letting the CRA win, by a lot.