My accountant lied about efiling my tax returns.?

Question

I used a new accountant this year, referred by a friend. After providing all paperwork and meeting to discuss, he claimed he finished the returns, e-filed them and would send them to me. It's now the end of June, and I've been stalking him since end of April to send them to me. I have not received a refund or stimulus check, and every day that I speak with him he promises to both e-mail and mail the returns that day - of course I never receive them. I do not believe that he filed my returns, I'm not sure if he protected me by filing an extension, he has all of my paperwork and I'm not sure what course of action I can take to resolve this.

Answer 1

DEPENDING ON your income level;

hire an atty and investigator to see what

he has really done.

or

fire him.

start over.

sue him for fraud; accountants belong to assn and are held accountable to high

ethical standards; or maybe he is not

an acct at all but instead, just a cheap

tax filing person who knows squat.

If he is self-employed, file with the BBB.

If employed, seek out his boss.

PREPARE to sue him for both

fraud and breach of contract.

IT is not mean of you to do so, it

is our legal systems' way of provoking

a response to a problem when we

have paid  a professional [or anyone]

for a performance and we feel we did

not get what we paid for.

Answer 2

From the point of view of the IRS they could care less why you did not file if that is the case.  If you owe tax they are going to assess penalty and interest on you.  You should first contact the IRS to determine if your return was filed.  If not demand that he return all of your documents and take them to someone else. As soon as you know that a return was not filed you should file a suit for what ever your damages may be.  If he is a CPA, file a complaint with the Accountancy Board in your state.

Answer 3

He may have filed your return and taken your refund.  You need to contact the IRS.  

You can also show up unannounced at his place of business and get all your paperwork.  You can do this regardless of whether he has filed or not.

This situation sounds fishy and sadly not uncommon.

Answer 4

Check to see if he belongs to a buisness association.  Call him NOW and tell him you have written a letter to the Better Business Bureau. (do that b 4 you call him) tell him what you have done and then tell him you are going to the County Attorney and get a lien on his business.  Scare H--- out of him.  I'll bet U get action right away.  Follow through on all of this.

Answer 5

Call IRS, and see if the returns have been filed.  If not, you can advise what happened, in order to hold you harmless of late fee, penalties, etc.  You should do the same with state income tax.  Call the State Division of Revenue.  Advise them of what hap penned, and ask for their assistance.