Accounting and Taxes Thread

[SilverKast]

I think you mean head firmly up a$$ - it is CRA after all.

[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).

[Locke]

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).

There was an easier solution....

[Shazam]

Wait I thought you were an internet accountant.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Wait I thought you were an internet accountant.

I'm just an accountant, although I dont play one on TV.

Thats my main beef with Star Trek. No money? What are the Accountants supposed to do? You murderized my field!

Now we all have to wallow in the filth of Ferenginar just to have a job and, let me tell you, the Dental benefits SUCK!

[DoubleF]

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).

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.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Lubicon

And now this morning they aren't even pretending they will answer calls. The automated system says everyone is busy and to call back later.

Try again 6:30am again today. Second day in a row, CRA is too busy to answer the phone or even put me in a que. Try again later they say.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Lubicon

Try again 6:30am again today. Second day in a row, CRA is too busy to answer the phone or even put me in a que. Try again later they say.

I had to look up some information online yesterday. Nothing major, very basic. "This service is unavailable at this time."


I'm not looking for the procedures on how to land on the goddamned moon I'm checking RRSP and TFSA contribution room. How is it possible that this service is unavailable at this time???

And dont think I havent noticed that in the summer CRA are begging me to do their little 'surveys' about how their website is and that lately? Not a peep. I'm guessing those survey responses were getting more than a little salty?

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

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.

This! Having discussed technical tax issues with DoubleF offline, I can tell you he's a person who is diligent and knows his stuff. I like to think I'm the same ("entitled, eh?"). The terrible reality is that H&R trains their people for 80 hours and sets them loose on the public. I'm pretty sure that DoubleF and Locke have trained, like me, for years. I've been doing tax since the early 1980s. Suspect that I know how to question people and find the interesting angles, where applicable, and they do too....something that the juniors everywhere else simply don't have the experience to do. Nor does a tax program, no matter how many questions it asks....because it's about experience and actually understanding the LAW, not some publicaction that dumbs it down.


Even if you think your situation is simple...as you age (mostly, LOL) it becomes less simple, and often provides more opportunity for creativity. It's always worth a discussion, folks...it's your money at the end of the day.


Meanwhile, this year is the worst tax year since I started. I've yet to see more than a handful of T5s, no T3s online, and many T4s even are not yet up on CRA's site. And they are ignoring it all.


Back to returns now.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by taxbuster

This! Having discussed technical tax issues with DoubleF offline, I can tell you he's a person who is diligent and knows his stuff. I like to think I'm the same ("entitled, eh?"). The terrible reality is that H&R trains their people for 80 hours and sets them loose on the public. I'm pretty sure that DoubleF and Locke have trained, like me, for years. I've been doing tax since the early 1980s. Suspect that I know how to question people and find the interesting angles, where applicable, and they do too....something that the juniors everywhere else simply don't have the experience to do. Nor does a tax program, no matter how many questions it asks....because it's about experience and actually understanding the LAW, not some publicaction that dumbs it down.

Even if you think your situation is simple...as you age (mostly, LOL) it becomes less simple, and often provides more opportunity for creativity. It's always worth a discussion, folks...it's your money at the end of the day.


Meanwhile, this year is the worst tax year since I started. I've yet to see more than a handful of T5s, no T3s online, and many T4s even are not yet up on CRA's site. And they are ignoring it all.


Back to returns now.

Also this. This Tax Season has been an endless grind. Information is missing or otherwise incomplete and there is no recourse. Its been brutal.

I know I say this like a broken record, but I can only make bricks with the clay I am provided.

Investments are the worst, especially with the context of the day. Are they sold? Cashed out? Gone? Or just unavailable?

For all of my clients I look at the data and analyze trends. Where is 'this?' I'd see that historically it was always there but where is it now? Is there an explanation for why it isn't there? The client doesn't have any information, CRA has no information...what am I supposed to do?

Because if I file a crap or incomplete return based on dodgy information, guess who that finger is pointed at when its the end of the day?

I want to do the best job I can for my clients. Always. But sometimes? This season I feel like I'm fighting a war on 4 fronts. I don't blame the clients. They can only provide me with what they have and rely on me and CRA to fill in the rest, but CRA has been training people to be reliant on them and their online services which, this year, have been completely unreliable dogcrap.

They dont send out information. They dont post slips and they dont answer the phone. What are we as Accountants supposed to do with deadlines upcoming and incomplete information?

I feel like Andy Dufresne crawling through that sewer pipe to freedom while someone is welding the other end closed.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Locke

I want to do the best job I can for my clients. Always. But sometimes? This season I feel like I'm fighting a war on 4 fronts. I don't blame the clients. They can only provide me with what they have and rely on me and CRA to fill in the rest, but CRA has been training people to be reliant on them and their online services which, this year, have been completely unreliable dogcrap.

They dont send out information. They dont post slips and they dont answer the phone. What are we as Accountants supposed to do with deadlines upcoming and incomplete information?

In theory (I stress that!) it's the clients' responsibility to provide US with complete info....CRA is really just making it easy. Well, they used to. When a client has 37 T3s, all I had to do was tick them off against CRA's list, and drop them as-is into the return. This year? It's like stepping back to 1990 and hand-entering EVERY SINGLE F*(&^%%$^u&(@ing slip. Doesn't matter if it's me or my assistant...it's gotta be done. That means it costs me, and the client more.

Meanwhile @BobWKHamilton (he's the "Commissioner" of CRA) picks up a salary in excess of $300K annually and does....nothing. Just expects us to do what we usually do without complaint...and the professional organizations stay interestingly silent. As does the media.

Oh...and so far, filing day remains April 30, with a talked-about, but far from "official" grace period for those with Capital Gains. (They've so far ignored the fact that some T4s aren't even online - Alberta Health being one of them, as well as almost ALL slips from TD, CIBC, RBC, Tangerine etc.)

So, it's a great profession to join!! (Please do...)

The only people who REALLY understand how bad it is are those who work in the tax biz....but the rest of you need to know just how frustrated we are with the utter incompetence of CRA. So...um...thanks for reading?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by taxbuster

The only people who REALLY understand how bad it is are those who work in the tax biz....but the rest of you need to know just how frustrated we are with the utter incompetence of CRA. So...um...thanks for reading?

Several accountants said they found identical tax slips—such as T4s and T4As—appearing in their clients’ CRA accounts. T4s record employment earnings, while T4As cover pension and other income sources.
The CRA also confirmed that some users trying to submit returns electronically are encountering error codes that temporarily block them from filing.



“These shouldn’t happen, the system should be a bit more robust and checked,” said Steven Watson, executive director of the EFILE Association of Canada, referring to the error code issue.
The CRA had previously warned that a system update introduced in January led to challenges for some employers and financial institutions trying to upload tax data.

https://www.wealthprofessional.ca/ne...-season/388934


And you're right, the people who arent in this industry dont realize the absolute insanity that this season has been.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by taxbuster

This! Having discussed technical tax issues with DoubleF offline, I can tell you he's a person who is diligent and knows his stuff. I like to think I'm the same ("entitled, eh?"). The terrible reality is that H&R trains their people for 80 hours and sets them loose on the public. I'm pretty sure that DoubleF and Locke have trained, like me, for years. I've been doing tax since the early 1980s. Suspect that I know how to question people and find the interesting angles, where applicable, and they do too....something that the juniors everywhere else simply don't have the experience to do. Nor does a tax program, no matter how many questions it asks....because it's about experience and actually understanding the LAW, not some publicaction that dumbs it down.


Even if you think your situation is simple...as you age (mostly, LOL) it becomes less simple, and often provides more opportunity for creativity. It's always worth a discussion, folks...it's your money at the end of the day.


Meanwhile, this year is the worst tax year since I started. I've yet to see more than a handful of T5s, no T3s online, and many T4s even are not yet up on CRA's site. And they are ignoring it all.


Back to returns now.

I dunno if I deserve to be mentioned alongside someone whose career spans longer than I have been alive... but the kind words are appreciated.

I started in audit. I just ended up in tax later on. I honestly find that the best tax preparers are those who are well versed in financial reporting and auditing. Not only do they know how to navigate the rules/law, they also know how to portray and communicate their findings in a concise and effective manner.

Originally Posted by Locke

https://www.wealthprofessional.ca/ne...-season/388934


And you're right, the people who arent in this industry dont realize the absolute insanity that this season has been.

I'm starting to call this year the catastrophic CRA calamity.

[Lubicon]

CRA really starting to piss me off. Three days in a row (and 5 days out of the six I have called) and they won't even let you wait on hold. Simply get a message to call back another time.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Lubicon

CRA really starting to piss me off. Three days in a row (and 5 days out of the six I have called) and they won't even let you wait on hold. Simply get a message to call back another time.

Welcome to the club. IMO it doesn't matter if you DIY tax preparation or professional tax preparation. If you have first hand experience understanding how bad a CRA experience can get, you're brethren.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Lubicon

CRA really starting to piss me off. Three days in a row (and 5 days out of the six I have called) and they won't even let you wait on hold. Simply get a message to call back another time.

Its so Canada. Could not be more Canadian. Maybe they need more funding, did you ever think of that mister?

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by fotze2

Its so Canada. Could not be more Canadian. Maybe they need more funding, did you ever think of that mister?

Bwahahahahahahahahaha!


So their growth was 40,000 to 60,000 personnel from 2016 to 2024. That is absolutely ASTOUNDING at 50% in eight years. Their efficiency (as measured by me ) has gone from 57% to about 3%. Or something like that. Basically nothing happens there. And when it does, it's usually wrong.


Every weekend after "maintenance" their site doesn't work, or doesn't work properly. Every damned time.


They got something like $400 million ANNUALLY from the Libs so they could "audit international tax cheats" better. So far, from (for instance) the Panama Papers....a paltry $83 mil. Paradise Papers was even less, at $7 mil. So they go after the little guy, because they don't have us (tax accountants) or lawyers or just are too pissed to fight.


Phones you say? An hour on hold is short. Try needing to get a Level 2 or 3 Officer...virtually impossible. You'll probably have to wait 2 hours to get to someone who can ASK for one....and then they'll never call you back.
Collections you say? Yep....they're right on it, but they barely know there's an "Income Tax Act" and that they actually need to follow it and can't collect from certain people for certain debts. That's up to us to tell them, of course. And that's for the ones that speak English well enough to comprehend. Don't get me started.






By the way...for anyone wanting a pretty good belly-laugh, albeit a sad one, read Reddit's sub r/CanadaPublicServants. It's pretty amazing. Seems like everyone hates their jobs, wants leave (paid of course) or accommodations so they can stay with Fido throughout the day while they work a spare gig and get paid by the Gov't to do nothing.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by taxbuster

Bwahahahahahahahahaha!


So their growth was 40,000 to 60,000 personnel from 2016 to 2024. That is absolutely ASTOUNDING at 50% in eight years. Their efficiency (as measured by me ) has gone from 57% to about 3%. Or something like that. Basically nothing happens there. And when it does, it's usually wrong.


Every weekend after "maintenance" their site doesn't work, or doesn't work properly. Every damned time.


They got something like $400 million ANNUALLY from the Libs so they could "audit international tax cheats" better. So far, from (for instance) the Panama Papers....a paltry $83 mil. Paradise Papers was even less, at $7 mil. So they go after the little guy, because they don't have us (tax accountants) or lawyers or just are too pissed to fight.


Phones you say? An hour on hold is short. Try needing to get a Level 2 or 3 Officer...virtually impossible. You'll probably have to wait 2 hours to get to someone who can ASK for one....and then they'll never call you back.
Collections you say? Yep....they're right on it, but they barely know there's an "Income Tax Act" and that they actually need to follow it and can't collect from certain people for certain debts. That's up to us to tell them, of course. And that's for the ones that speak English well enough to comprehend. Don't get me started.

By the way...for anyone wanting a pretty good belly-laugh, albeit a sad one, read Reddit's sub r/CanadaPublicServants. It's pretty amazing. Seems like everyone hates their jobs, wants leave (paid of course) or accommodations so they can stay with Fido throughout the day while they work a spare gig and get paid by the Gov't to do nothing.

Not to mention, they know that for 'the little guy' to properly fight them the cost would be overwhelming compared to the Government who have an endless wallet and so they'd lose in the end anyways.

Yeah, thats not 'accidental.'

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Lubicon

CRA really starting to piss me off. Three days in a row (and 5 days out of the six I have called) and they won't even let you wait on hold. Simply get a message to call back another time.

Another day and another recording saying they are too busy to answer the call and to try back later. That's four days in a row this week now.

[Locke]

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).

Wow. That is one industrious fella.

Come on in. I have arcade games and cookies. Literally.