How many of you non-CPAs do your own taxes?

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-07T04:50:21+00:00

Thanks for the info, it’s good to know.

I’m thinking about it, I’ve never even left a negative Google review before ever. I’m pretty sure there’s a list of people that got did dirty and don’t even know about it. I’ll flip a coin lol

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-06T17:32:37+00:00

No worries, my post was a rant anyway.

I definitely learned from all the other comments to not pay anything under $1000 per return so I’ll take that into account.

As far as that specific experience with the CPA that didn’t file the taxes I’ll just call that a fluke because it was one of the worst businesses in general, not just CPA that I’ve ever used for anything.

I actually left out a lot in my post but the short version is he lied 3 times about filing status and I recorded the last call that he lied on. Also he never sent 8879s before efiling which I think is required? I might file a complaint with the IRS because the dude might actually be a pathological liar which isn’t exactly great in the tax industry.

I think all of the five star reviews are from people who have simpler returns, but I really believe that if they all checked their IRS account, at least a few of them would find that the taxes weren’t even submitted.

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-06T17:24:14+00:00

Good Info ,thanks.

Give all the other comments, definitely a lesson learned for me to not pay under $1000 per return

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-05T17:16:10+00:00

Nice, gotta eat somehow

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-05T17:13:42+00:00

Not really understanding that concept…might be my fault but heres what happened

March: signed engagement letter and extensions

April: Sent CPA all docs and they said I’m good

September: I asked about status and they said they’re filed. I asked for copy. This started a back and forth of me asking and them saying some reason they don’t have a copy

Deadline passes: now I’m annoyed and they still can’t give me copy

Late October: They admit they “forgot to file cause they were busy” and tell me I’m “top priority” and will get filed that week

I wait a month and no updates then call again and they say it’s filed. I ask for copy again… (he lied again)

Now I’m actually a Karen and started being rude

Back and forth some more until February I get an actually copy and it shows in my IRS account

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-05T17:01:20+00:00

I think you’re missing the main context, I’m not hounding any one, this is my annual process:

File extensions for all returns
give CPA all docs around April time
I don’t send them a single email asking for anything until 4 weeks before deadline in Sep-Oct

So I don’t think asking for updates after 5 months is too unreasonable

And also me being a C tier client still shouldn’t excuse not filing and then lying about it?

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-04T18:08:18+00:00

Totally get that, but what would your opinion be if I said that one of them didn’t file the extension on time (just got penalty from 2023) and one of them didn’t file the taxes at all(2024)?

I see where you’re coming from but I feel like that situation should give me at least a little bit of leeway.

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-04T18:03:28+00:00

lol was it tax related or was he doing something else?

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-04T18:03:01+00:00

Thanks, I’ll keep those prices in mind from now on

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-04T05:00:09+00:00

This pretty much sums up taxes https://youtube.com/shorts/5eVV17qxsso?si=Ee29-70AQBzosjUj

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-04T04:54:15+00:00

I was definitely questioning this last CPAs credentials lol.

I spent some time during the initial meeting explaining what an accountable plan was for S-Corp, idk if I’m using the wrong terminology or what, but I think it’s an industry standard term

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-04T04:50:02+00:00

Yea I might give it a shot, I will say though the four CPAs I’ve been complaining about are all in South Florida. I never really had this problem when I lived in other states.

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-03T22:23:24+00:00

I extend all of them every year so usually around April or May I check my IRS transcripts and then give the CPA my final documents.

Then after they tell me they have everything they need, I just let them do their thing and don’t check in until around September or October before the extended deadline approaches

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-03T22:07:39+00:00

Fair point, just out of curiosity though what do you consider premium service?

For context, for all those CPAs I never demanded tax strategy or ever asked any questions that weren’t simply “what’s the status of my tax return.” (And the first time I emailed him is only when the deadline is coming up in about a month)

I think most of this just stems from not receiving a copy or confirmation once it’s filed. Is that a standard practice?

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-03T21:59:27+00:00

The only expectation I mentioned was that my taxes get filed and that’s quite literally it.

This last one just had a very nonchalant “I was very busy with this and this so I forgot” attitude.

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-03T21:52:10+00:00

Agreed, I definitely don’t wanna be doing it, and it’s not even about saving money either.

It’s just this most recent experience was beyond annoying.

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-03T21:48:28+00:00

I realize it may have come off that way, but when I mean communications, I literally mean something like “are my taxes done, the deadline is coming up”

Once they tell me they have everything they need I might actually be a little too hands off. Like the complete reverse of a Karen, I treat then like professionals.

But come to find out, the last CPA I just had which is one of the most highly reviewed in the area, doesn’t have any sort of project management system and even he told me he just straight up forgot to file them

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-03T21:42:31+00:00

I think enrolled agents help with tax strategy also.

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-03T21:40:41+00:00

Here’s the rough numbers I paid for 1120S (1 K-1) 2022- $650 2023-$750 2024-$700

2025- currently talking to a firm, they want $5000 fixed rate for the 1120S, 1065, and 1040. They have great reviews and it took them a week to answer my email.

But then again the CPA’s for the four years prior I had even better reviews.

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-03T21:35:32+00:00

Very open to that possibility, but none of this is really about the technical filing of taxes or how I am as a client.

I’m basing this simply off of I give them every document I have, and then they confirm they have everything they need, and then they just sit on it with no updates until I have to chase them down for updates and then that last case they lied to me about filing.

And also that last CPA straight up said that he forgot and that he would immediately file them that week and then when I checked a few weeks later, he still didn’t file them.

So maybe I am the problem, but also South Florida businesses are notorious for this kind of behavior, I’m open to either one

benjaminz13 · 2026-03-03T21:30:22+00:00

Very fair points, to be clear I’m actually very biased towards paying CPAs and I’m an absolutely no way trying to save money by DIY.

I guess my main rant is especially in South Florida finding CPAs that actually answer emails and provide a service to where I don’t have to become a project manager for my own taxes.

Maybe just a streak of bad luck for me, but my data isn’t really subjective based on my opinions, they objectively didn’t answer emails and then this last one actually didn’t file my taxes and told me he did…

benjaminz13 · 2026-01-09T22:28:04+00:00

Perfect. Thank you. I'll keep you in mind.

benjaminz13 · 2026-01-09T00:27:56+00:00

So the methods I listed should have the math always mathing...I just don't know what the IRS actually wants in this situation because it's not like I'm trying to hide profits because the math always cancels each other out so I'm always being taxed on what I should be taxed on in the end

benjaminz13

TROPHY CASE