Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:11/02/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  October 31, 2023 Note to Better Business Bureau: Although I am elderly, have been unwell for years, using a wheelchair, not supposed to drive, and pretty much confined to the house, I’m sure that’s no excuse for my long delay in filing income tax returns, but that’s what happened. BACKGROUND: About two years ago I finally found an accountant who would come to the house. I gave her all supporting documents and asked her to prepare 4 returns, all very simple standard deduction, none itemized. Then SHE procrastinated. Nothing got done for about a year and a half. When she finally finished, I thought everything hadn’t been filled out, properly, so the returns weren’t ready to send to IRS. Again, I called practically every accountant in my area, but none would come to the house. ******* ** *********, CPA with METHOD CPA: Then I learned that one company—Method CPA—had handicap access. With great difficulty, on April 27, 2023, I went there for a consultation with ******* ** *********, CPA. I gave him the returns the first accountant had done (2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020–all standard deduction, not Itemized) and all of my supporting income documents. I asked him to send IRS the returns the first accountant did, and also to prepare and mail returns for 2021 and 2022. I paid *** ********* $1,235.00, and explained what had happened, emphasizing the urgency of this matter. All he had to do was get my husband’s signature on the returns the previous accountant had prepared, send those returns to IRS, and prepare and send to IRS only two more returns (for 2021 and 2022), both of which were standard deduction (not itemized). Then HE procrastinated. As of October 30, 2023, SIX MONTHS have gone by, and nothing I can see has been done. He said he mailed to IRS the 4 returns prepared by the first accountant, but the certified mail receipt he sent to me by email does not connect that mailing with me. I don’t believe it’s proof that he mailed my returns to IRS. But now he demands an additional $1,000.00! So, $2,235 to prepare two simple (standard deduction) returns and then simply mail all of the returns to IRS? On October 19, 2023, by which time he had done no work at all, I emailed *** ********* to tell him to do nothing on my tax situation. I told him not to prepare 2021 and 2022. I asked him to return everything I had given him, including the tax returns prepared by the first accountant and the supporting documents I had given him during the consultation on April 27, 2023. I asked him to return everything to me by October 23, 2023. He refused. As of this date (October 31, 2023) I have received nothing. This is why I am writing to BBB. I respectfully request that BBB direct *** ********* to return to me every document I gave him on April 27, 2023. As he knows, he needs to return these documents to my home by *** or ***** (USPS doesn’t deliver paper mail to my home, because we can’t make it to the mail box on the road in wheelchairs). I had no way to copy all these documents. And now I need them for the use of yet another accountant to get this job done. Obtaining them again, from Social Security, the Federal Government, etc., will take a great deal of time and effort that I will find very difficult to accomplish. He has been over-paid. He has not done the job. There is no reason for him to refuse to give my documents back to me. (Certainly he owes me a lot of money, but I’m not even asking for that, because I am too unwell to handle the stress, transportation, and attorney’s requirements associated with going to court.) ALL I WANT is immediate return of all the documents I gave him last April. CONTACT INFORMATION: ******* ** *********, CPA Method CPA 1100-C North Shenandoah Avenue Front Royal, Virginia 22630 Phone: ###-###-#### Fax: ###-###-#### With respect and kindest regards, Sincerely, *** ******* *************@*****.com

  Business Response

  Date: 11/28/2023

  November 28, 2023

  Dear *****,
  
  This complaint is the first that I have received since first obtaining my CPA license in the state of Virginia in October of 2000.  Below, I will delineate the situation with the Complainant.
  
  Response to Complainant Allegations:
  We initially met with the Complainant on 4/27/23 during which we discussed her tax situation.  During that meeting, it was our understanding that the Complainant was not sure what had been filed and if they were even prepared correctly.  The Complainant stated in her email to the BBB that, “I thought everything hadn’t been filled out on the 4 she (prior CPA) did, so those 4 returns weren’t ready to send to IRS.”  This statement coincides with our understanding of her tax situation at our initial appointment.  During this initial meeting, the Complainant had also told us that she does not receive mail from the United States Postal Service, which would prevent her from being aware of any tax filing/payment issues.  Given this information, we filed IRS and Virginia Powers of Attorney to determine what had been filed for tax years 2016-2020, what needs to be filed, and to request wage and income transcripts to compare to the tax return copies within her documents.  The Complainant willingly signed both Powers of Attorney to do the necessary research (a Power of Attorney is not done to just complete a tax return but done to determine what information the IRS or a State Tax office has on file for previous years).  Our email to the Complainant on 5/9/23 outlined our findings as well as offering to meet to discuss those findings and to estimate costs for next steps to complete the returns for 2021 and 2022.  In the Complainant’s email to the BBB, the Complainant stated, “As it turned out all he had to do was get my husband’s signature on the returns the previous accountant had prepared, send those returns to IRS and Virginia.”  Only after meeting with the Complainant, preparing Powers of Attorney, calling the IRS Practitioner Priority Line to discuss the tax situation and to request transcripts, reviewing the Complainant’s tax records, and reviewing the IRS transcripts could we determine what actually needed to be filed.  If, according to the Complainant, it was simple, why did she seek out our services?
  
  The Complainant replied to our 5/9/23 email on 5/10/23 stated that she could not make another payment until June or July.  We were waiting to hear back from her during the summer before starting on the 2021 and 2022 tax returns.  Based on past collection experience within our firm, we request deposits for work to be completed related to preparation of delinquent tax returns.  We do not push clients for payment.  We complete the work as the client can pay for the work.  In the Complainant’s email to the BBB, she stated, “But now he demands an additional $1,000!”.   I have never demanded payment from any client.  However, I have and did request payment to continue with additional work.
  
  We did not hear again from the Complainant or anyone on her behalf until October of 2023.  The Complainant had emailed her attorney (the attorney who referred the Complainant to us), on 9/22/23.  The attorney then called our office on 10/3/23 to discuss the situation and it was agreed that we would have the tax returns we completed ready for signature.  Two days later on 10/5/23, the Complainant called the office to state that she and her husband would come in and sign the returns.   Due to the Complainant’s health, she did not come into our office.  I went out in the parking lot to obtain signatures.  The Complainant requested for us to take the returns to the post office and mail them on her behalf.  As a normal practice, we do not mail clients’ tax returns to the IRS.  We prefer them to mail returns so they can determine the best method to send.  Given her difficulty in walking, we made a rare exception and agreed to take the returns to the post office.  We mailed the tax returns on her behalf on 10/5/23 and sent her an email letting her know of that. We did not have any further communication until the Complainant’s emailed our office on 10/17/23 which had turned to a contentious tone accusing us of not providing sufficient proof of mailing the tax returns on her behalf to the IRS.  We then forwarded our original 10/5/23 email and provided the copy of the certified mail receipts.  We do not know what other proof we could have provided to the Complainant.
  
  During the meeting in the parking lot of our office on 10/5/23, I again mentioned that our professional fees had exhausted the $1,000 payment (The $235 payment referenced in the Complainant’s email was for the initial meeting on 4/27/23).  The Complainant did not seem to have a problem with our services during that meeting.  

  After receiving the Complainant’s email on 10/19/23 requesting us to ship her documents to her via United Postal Service or *****, I called the Attorney since he was being carbon copied on the Complainant’s emails to me and since he had completed legal work for her in the past.  The Attorney stated he would try to call her.  Five days later on 10/24/23, I emailed the Attorney to see if he had talked to the Complainant to which I did not received a response.  
  
  We emailed the Complainant to pick up her documents on 11/1/23.  Since she is questioning the certified mailing of her tax returns by us to the IRS, we are uncomfortable with shipping her tax documentation to her.  Since a certified mail receipt does not provide enough evidence in her opinion, we do not feel that a shipping label and shipping receipt will provide enough evidence of delivery.  The Complainant or her authorized representative can and could have picked up her tax documentation at any point, even on 10/5/23 when she was at our office.  We never withhold client documents, whether or not we receive payment.  On 11/9/23, the Attorney called our office and made arrangements to pick up all the documents for the Complainant later that day.  The Attorney stated that he would be giving them back to the Complainant on 11/13/23.
  It has since come to our attention that in 2000, this Complainant had previously contracted with another accountant in a predecessor firm (that we acquired in 2014) to complete a fair amount of work regarding a complex tax situation.  The accountant spent a considerable amount of time researching this complex tax situation prior to completing the work.  When the Complainant received the invoice for  work completed, she was unhappy and refused to pay.  The accountant sent her multiple copies of the invoices, attempted to speak with her on the phone, emails went unanswered, certified letters were refused and returned thus resulting in the accountant being forced to take legal action to get paid.  In hindsight, If we had known at the time of the initial appointment on 4/27/23, we would never have proceeded with working with her.
  
  In addition to the complaint to the BBB, the Complainant also reported me to the Virginia Board of Accountancy.  Per an email response from the Board this morning, it was determined that there was no violation of the Board Regulations or Code of Virginia regarding these allegations.
  
  If there is additional information or further clarification needed, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
  
  Regards,

  President, Method CPA

  Business Response

  Date: 11/30/2023

  Please let me know if you need anything additional regarding this response.

  Thank you,

  ***********************************

  Method CPA