Bonita Valley Tax & Bookkeeping

Revdex.com
Attn: [redacted]
Ref:  Complaint ID [redacted]
Dear Ms. [redacted],
I wish to close and remove my complaint (ID [redacted]) against Bonita Valley Tax & Bookkeeping from any public record.
After communicating with Bonita Valley Tax & Bookkeeping, we were able to come to an amicable resolution to our misunderstanding
I sincerely appreciate your assistance and efforts in this matter.
Very respectfully,
[redacted] S. [redacted]

Bonita Valley Tax & Bookkeeping...

Service
                                        ...⇄ 180 Otay Lakes Road, Suite 106, Bonita CA 91902
                                        ...⇄ Phone: (619) 470-9293   Fax: (619) 470-7411
www.bonitavalleytax.com
 
March 3, 2014
Revdex.com Complaint ID #[redacted])
 
Thank you Revdex.com, for allowing our company the opportunity to respond to this complaint.  I would like to start by saying that this ex-client has not been a client for 12 years, but since 2006.  Prior to 2006, the spouse of this complainant was a regular client, and when they married they chose to continue to come to us for services every year until mid-2012.  During those 6 years, there was never one complaint made by either person regarding level of service or concerns over the preparation of their income tax returns.  Not even one negative word was conveyed to us during these years, but what did happen during these years was a constant leniency by our company allowing extended lengths of time to these clients to pay balances due to our office.  We did this because we knew they’d had some difficult financial years, as well as the long-time client relationship with the complainant’s spouse. 
In 2006, we did not see a payment for their services until four months after the services were completed, and even then we only received a payment for less than one eighth of their balance due.  It took them and additional five months to pay their balance.  In 2007, they paid a week after services were completed, but only because they were told that their tax return would not be transmitted without payment, due to the prior year’s bill being outstanding for nearly a year.  In 2008, it took them nearly four months to pay, and they took it upon themselves to simply ignore some of the interest charged to their unpaid balance.  In 2009, they paid a week after services were completed, and in 2010, they paid two weeks after completion – however I would like to point out that 99% of our clients pay the day their services are completed, and most certainly would not expect us to transmit their tax returns to the IRS until full payment has been made. 
In 2011, the complainant and spouse took five months to pay after services were complete.  To date of the 2011 payment there were no concerns, complaints, or even questions posed by the complainant or spouse regarding the services they had received.  In 2012, after letting their 2011 tax return sit for five months after completion, they finally showed up to sign for it and have it transmitted.  The cost for the preparation was $415.  They begged us to take $200 to transmit with a promise to send the remainder of the balance in two weeks, when they expected to receive a very sizable refund from their tax return.  At this time, they also asked about correspondence from the state taxing agency regarding some income they had not reported in a prior year.  They wanted assistance with this correspondence.  They were told that if they had the documents they claimed to have, it could change their amount due or even get a refund, and that if they wished for our office to provide the services, it would have to be after their current balance was paid in full; their other choice was to contact the taxing agency on their own behalf.  The complainant also claims our owner said to pay the tax and be done with it.  To the contrary, she said that if they did not have the proper documents, their only option was to pay it.  Had our office handled this particular situation for the complainant, the outcome would have been the same, the taxpayer would have been saved hours of time corresponding with the taxing agency, and our office probably would have been looking at yet another unpaid bill for services rendered.  Every reputable tax preparer follows IRS standards and requires their clients to sign an Engagement Letter stating that all tax returns are prepared based on the information and documentation provided by the taxpayer(s).  Had these taxpayers presented all of their documentation at the time of original filing, there would not have been an issue with that particular tax year and the return filed for it. 
Another two months passed, and in November 2012 our office contacted the complainant regarding the outstanding bill, and we were given a credit card number to charge the full balance due.  The credit card number was immediately rejected and the complainant ceased responding to phone calls or emails from our office.  We tried the credit card number a total of a half a dozen times that day and the next, but it was declined every time.  We continued to bill the clients for an additional year.  In October 2013, with absolutely no attempt by the clients to contact us, our office sent them correspondence stating that we would be contacting the IRS with a request to have the preparer’s name removed from the filed return, as the return states that she is the “Paid Preparer,” and we had not been paid in full for the services received.  It was only then that the complainant responded with accusations of poor and/or inadequate services.  At this point they were told that had their “concerns” been brought to our attention prior to ignoring us for a year and a half, prior to telling them that we would be contacting the IRS, and prior to informing them that we were preparing to send them to collections, then we would have addressed the concerns immediately and worked them on a reduced rate, had there been any miscalculations on our part when preparing their tax returns.  This complainant (who clearly states in his complaint that he is in law enforcement) proceeded to send us one email after another, threatening to bad mouth our company all over the internet, trying to bully the owner into forgetting about the balance due, and having the audacity to demand FURTHER services in exchange for the balance that had already been due to this company for over a year. This email correspondence lasted into November.  His emails took such a threatening tone overall, that we ceased communications and sent the account to collections (something that was well overdue on our part).  The day after the clients were submitted to collections, the complainant posted two poor reviews on the internet as backlash.  This was one of the threats promised in the emails.  One under the complainant’s name & one under the spouse’s name, however they were both clearly written by the complainant.  The complainant is currently trying to negotiate the balance due with our collections agency.  They have reported to us that the complainant’s has attempted to use scare tactics and threatening demeanor during their interactions. 
As for the complainant’s comments about seeking someone new for services, there really is no telling who this couple is going to, but the fact of the matter is that there are a number of people in this country who prepare incorrect and/or fraudulent tax returns every day.  This complainant claims that they found someone to give them deductions that our office failed to get them.  The truth is that they were just never happy to hear that they didn’t qualify for deductions that they happened to want.  Deductions like job expenses and medical expenses are required to meet certain minimum amounts, as well as other qualifications.  These taxpayers want to “blame the messenger” for not being eligible to claim certain deductions that they want, and like too many people in this country, want to take “tax advice” from their co-workers rather than from an ethical and professional preparer.  They may have found someone who will get them certain deductions without question, but it means nothing, as there are numerous “tax preparers” out there who will tell a taxpayer anything they want to hear; will give them any deduction they want (even ones they don’t ask for); or who simply do not know better when it comes to ineligibility for deductions.  So again, they may have found someone to get them the deductions that they seek, but good luck to them when a real, in-person IRS audit happens to them for ineligible deductions, or even fraud.  Ethics is of the highest importance at Bonita Valley Tax & Bookkeeping, and we do not hesitate to tell clients that they are not welcome to return when they insist that they want the rules bent.  As for the complainant’s comment about us threatening to contact an employer for non-payment, this is not the case at all; the taxpayer was told that we would be contacting the employer mentioned regarding the choice of scare tactics and threatening behavior chosen in the correspondences with our office. 
At this point, this is the last bit of time intended to spend on this complainant, as we have already spent way too much time on these people who clearly have a very fuzzy understanding of ethics and integrity.
Again, thank you for allowing us the opportunity to respond.  Our company has never had any complaints like this in its nearly 30 years of doing business. 
Thank you for your time.
Kind Regards,
[redacted], BS, RTP
Tax Consultant
Office Manager
Accounts Receivable

Review: My wife and I had been clients of Bonita Valley Tax & Bookkeeping for over 12 years and had been noticing a decline in services over the past 4 or 5 years, culminating in tax year 2011. We did not realize how inferior the services we were receiving were until we finally switched to a new accountant in 2013 for tax year 2012. We were billed by Bonita Valley Tax $415, which I paid $200. I have not paid the other $215 due to the poor service and inferior tax return preparation expected of a professional accounting service. I'm not a tax expert and I do not know what are normal deductions for a police officer and a Marriage Family Therapist (our occupations) and trusted that [redacted] (owner of Bonita Valley Tax and Bookkeeping) would inform us of what we can legally deduct. Unfortunately, I had to find out through co-workers what they deducted, then bring that information to [redacted], and then be told that "yes" you can deduct that (whatever the deduction was). On another occasion, I was audited by California, told I owed over $1000, and [redacted] told me to just pay it. I contacted California's tax board and they actually helped me fill out the proper paperwork and not only did I not end up owing, but I got an additional refund. I've offered to pay the remaining $215 balance if [redacted] would go through the last few tax years and ammend the returns that I believe were not done to the level I paid for. Now, not only has she refused that offer, but she has added penalties, interest and other fees, and sent my bill to a third party collection. She has also made threats to contact my employer if I didn't pay and threats to ruin my credit.Desired Settlement: I request settlement in that I will pay the original $215, all other fees and penalties be waived, and Bonita Valley Tax go over the 2006-2011 tax years to ensure I received all the deductions I should have received with competent representation and tax preparation. Or, if the previous settlement option is unacceptable, then both parties walk away with no money owed and I'll drop the tax ammendment request. I further request that Bonita Valley Tax be admonished for threatening to inform my job.

Business

Response:

Bonita Valley Tax & Bookkeeping Service

180 Otay Lakes Road, Suite 106, Bonita CA 91902

Phone: (619) 470-9293 Fax: (619) 470-7411

www.bonitavalleytax.com

March 3, 2014

Revdex.com Complaint ID #[redacted])

Thank you Revdex.com, for allowing our company the opportunity to respond to this complaint. I would like to start by saying that this ex-client has not been a client for 12 years, but since 2006. Prior to 2006, the spouse of this complainant was a regular client, and when they married they chose to continue to come to us for services every year until mid-2012. During those 6 years, there was never one complaint made by either person regarding level of service or concerns over the preparation of their income tax returns. Not even one negative word was conveyed to us during these years, but what did happen during these years was a constant leniency by our company allowing extended lengths of time to these clients to pay balances due to our office. We did this because we knew they’d had some difficult financial years, as well as the long-time client relationship with the complainant’s spouse.

In 2006, we did not see a payment for their services until four months after the services were completed, and even then we only received a payment for less than one eighth of their balance due. It took them and additional five months to pay their balance. In 2007, they paid a week after services were completed, but only because they were told that their tax return would not be transmitted without payment, due to the prior year’s bill being outstanding for nearly a year. In 2008, it took them nearly four months to pay, and they took it upon themselves to simply ignore some of the interest charged to their unpaid balance. In 2009, they paid a week after services were completed, and in 2010, they paid two weeks after completion – however I would like to point out that 99% of our clients pay the day their services are completed, and most certainly would not expect us to transmit their tax returns to the IRS until full payment has been made.

In 2011, the complainant and spouse took five months to pay after services were complete. To date of the 2011 payment there were no concerns, complaints, or even questions posed by the complainant or spouse regarding the services they had received. In 2012, after letting their 2011 tax return sit for five months after completion, they finally showed up to sign for it and have it transmitted. The cost for the preparation was $415. They begged us to take $200 to transmit with a promise to send the remainder of the balance in two weeks, when they expected to receive a very sizable refund from their tax return. At this time, they also asked about correspondence from the state taxing agency regarding some income they had not reported in a prior year. They wanted assistance with this correspondence. They were told that if they had the documents they claimed to have, it could change their amount due or even get a refund, and that if they wished for our office to provide the services, it would have to be after their current balance was paid in full; their other choice was to contact the taxing agency on their own behalf. The complainant also claims our owner said to pay the tax and be done with it. To the contrary, she said that if they did not have the proper documents, their only option was to pay it. Had our office handled this particular situation for the complainant, the outcome would have been the same, the taxpayer would have been saved hours of time corresponding with the taxing agency, and our office probably would have been looking at yet another unpaid bill for services rendered. Every reputable tax preparer follows IRS standards and requires their clients to sign an Engagement Letter stating that all tax returns are prepared based on the information and documentation provided by the taxpayer(s). Had these taxpayers presented all of their documentation at the time of original filing, there would not have been an issue with that particular tax year and the return filed for it.

Another two months passed, and in November 2012 our office contacted the complainant regarding the outstanding bill, and we were given a credit card number to charge the full balance due. The credit card number was immediately rejected and the complainant ceased responding to phone calls or emails from our office. We tried the credit card number a total of a half a dozen times that day and the next, but it was declined every time. We continued to bill the clients for an additional year. In October 2013, with absolutely no attempt by the clients to contact us, our office sent them correspondence stating that we would be contacting the IRS with a request to have the preparer’s name removed from the filed return, as the return states that she is the “Paid Preparer,” and we had not been paid in full for the services received. It was only then that the complainant responded with accusations of poor and/or inadequate services. At this point they were told that had their “concerns” been brought to our attention prior to ignoring us for a year and a half, prior to telling them that we would be contacting the IRS, and prior to informing them that we were preparing to send them to collections, then we would have addressed the concerns immediately and worked them on a reduced rate, had there been any miscalculations on our part when preparing their tax returns. This complainant (who clearly states in his complaint that he is in law enforcement) proceeded to send us one email after another, threatening to bad mouth our company all over the internet, trying to bully the owner into forgetting about the balance due, and having the audacity to demand FURTHER services in exchange for the balance that had already been due to this company for over a year. This email correspondence lasted into November. His emails took such a threatening tone overall, that we ceased communications and sent the account to collections (something that was well overdue on our part). The day after the clients were submitted to collections, the complainant posted two poor reviews on the internet as backlash. This was one of the threats promised in the emails. One under the complainant’s name & one under the spouse’s name, however they were both clearly written by the complainant. The complainant is currently trying to negotiate the balance due with our collections agency. They have reported to us that the complainant’s has attempted to use scare tactics and threatening demeanor during their interactions.

As for the complainant’s comments about seeking someone new for services, there really is no telling who this couple is going to, but the fact of the matter is that there are a number of people in this country who prepare incorrect and/or fraudulent tax returns every day. This complainant claims that they found someone to give them deductions that our office failed to get them. The truth is that they were just never happy to hear that they didn’t qualify for deductions that they happened to want. Deductions like job expenses and medical expenses are required to meet certain minimum amounts, as well as other qualifications. These taxpayers want to “blame the messenger” for not being eligible to claim certain deductions that they want, and like too many people in this country, want to take “tax advice” from their co-workers rather than from an ethical and professional preparer. They may have found someone who will get them certain deductions without question, but it means nothing, as there are numerous “tax preparers” out there who will tell a taxpayer anything they want to hear; will give them any deduction they want (even ones they don’t ask for); or who simply do not know better when it comes to ineligibility for deductions. So again, they may have found someone to get them the deductions that they seek, but good luck to them when a real, in-person IRS audit happens to them for ineligible deductions, or even fraud. Ethics is of the highest importance at Bonita Valley Tax & Bookkeeping, and we do not hesitate to tell clients that they are not welcome to return when they insist that they want the rules bent. As for the complainant’s comment about us threatening to contact an employer for non-payment, this is not the case at all; the taxpayer was told that we would be contacting the employer mentioned regarding the choice of scare tactics and threatening behavior chosen in the correspondences with our office.

At this point, this is the last bit of time intended to spend on this complainant, as we have already spent way too much time on these people who clearly have a very fuzzy understanding of ethics and integrity.

Again, thank you for allowing us the opportunity to respond. Our company has never had any complaints like this in its nearly 30 years of doing business.

Thank you for your time.

Kind Regards,

[redacted], BS, RTP

Tax Consultant

Office Manager

Accounts Receivable

Consumer

Response:

Revdex.com

Attn: [redacted]

Ref: Complaint ID [redacted]

Dear Ms. [redacted],

I wish to close and remove my complaint (ID [redacted]) against Bonita Valley Tax & Bookkeeping from any public record.

After communicating with Bonita Valley Tax & Bookkeeping, we were able to come to an amicable resolution to our misunderstanding

I sincerely appreciate your assistance and efforts in this matter.

Very respectfully,

[redacted] S. [redacted]