Core Financial Outsourcing Incorporated

August 19, 2015Response to alleged engagement letter dispute: [redacted] signed an engagement letter with Core Financial to prepare his Annual Tax Preparation in the amount of $At that time, [redacted] did not disclose that he had a first-time home buyer's credit in 2010.A tax return Consists of W-income & income, interest & dividends, itemized deductions for real estate taxes, mortgages, charitable contributions and one (1) state tax filing.Once we received [redacted] s's information, his return consisted of {2} W-2's, (2) retirement distributions, student loans, Roth conversions, Health Insurance exchange, vehicle contribution which required Form 8283, and a [redacted] trustIn addition [redacted] had the sale of the house, moving expenses, etcand two (2) state tax filings PA & NY.The sale of his residence caused his first time home buyer's credit to be repaid in 2014, Due to this reason, we had to obtain and review his tax returns from to so that we could properly account for it in If we had known about this issue at the time of the quote, we would have informed him of the additional cost.Our current rate for tax work in addition to regular tax preparation is $per hour, We charged [redacted] a discounted rate for all the additional work that was involved in filing his tax paperworkWe spent many additional hours filing his return over and above what it takes to file a return[redacted] states that he was very happy with the services that we provided to him in filing his tax paperwork for It is upsetting to us that after providing good service to him, charging him a discounted rate for all the extra work involved with filing his return, that he disputes the charges and reports us to the Revdex.com.It is common practice in tax preparation that when additional work is involved with filing a tax return for an individual or a Company, extra charges may apply over and above the quoted price of preparing a tax returnWe do not feel that [redacted] is entitled to a refund for the additional work involved with his returnWe itemized the additional charges for him on his bill and charged him a reduced rate as well [redacted] stated that he is happy with the services provided to himHe even stated to me that he really appreciates all the work we did with assisting him with his complicated tax return, multi-state returns, and the sale of his house

August 19, 2015Response to alleged engagement letter dispute: [redacted] signed an engagement letter with Core Financial to prepare his 2014 Annual Tax Preparation in the amount of $475.00. At that time, [redacted] did not disclose that he had a first-time home buyer's credit...

in 2010.A normal tax return Consists of W-2 income & 1099 income, interest & dividends, itemized deductions for real estate taxes, mortgages, charitable contributions and one (1) state tax filing.Once we received [redacted]s's information, his return consisted of {2} W-2's, (2) retirement distributions, student loans, Roth conversions, 1095 Health Insurance exchange, vehicle contribution which required Form 8283, and a ** trust. In addition [redacted] had the sale of the house, moving expenses, etc. and two (2) state tax filings PA & NY.The sale of his residence caused his first time home buyer's credit to be repaid in 2014, Due to this reason, we had to obtain and review his tax returns from 2010 to 2013 so that we could properly account for it in 2014. If we had known about this issue at the time of the quote, we would have informed him of the additional cost.Our current rate for tax work in addition to regular tax preparation is $135.00 per hour, We charged [redacted] a discounted rate for all the additional work that was involved in filing his tax paperwork. We spent many additional hours filing his return over and above what it takes to file a normal return.[redacted] states that he was very happy with the services that we provided to him in filing his tax paperwork for 2014. It is upsetting to us that after providing good service to him, charging him a discounted rate for all the extra work involved with filing his return, that he disputes the charges and reports us to the Revdex.com.It is common practice in tax preparation that when additional work is involved with filing a tax return for an individual or a Company, extra charges may apply over and above the quoted price of preparing a normal tax return. We do not feel that [redacted] is entitled to a refund for the additional work involved with his return. We itemized the additional charges for him on his bill and charged him a reduced rate as well. [redacted] stated that he is happy with the services provided to him. He even stated to me that he really appreciates all the work we did with assisting him with his complicated tax return, multi-state returns, and the sale of his house.

August 19, 2015Response to alleged engagement letter dispute: [redacted] signed an engagement letter with Core Financial to prepare his 2014 Annual Tax Preparation in the amount of $475.00. At that time, [redacted] did not disclose that he had a first-time...

home buyer's credit in 2010.A normal tax return Consists of W-2 income & 1099 income, interest & dividends, itemized deductions for real estate taxes, mortgages, charitable contributions and one (1) state tax filing.
Once we received [redacted]s's information, his return consisted of {2} W-2's, (2) retirement distributions, student loans, Roth conversions, 1095 Health Insurance exchange, vehicle contribution which required Form 8283, and a ** trust. In addition [redacted] had the sale of the house, moving expenses, etc. and two (2) state tax filings PA & NY.
The sale of his residence caused his first time home buyer's credit to be repaid in 2014, Due to this reason, we had to obtain and review his tax returns from 2010 to 2013 so that we could properly account for it in 2014. If we had known about this issue at the time of the quote, we would have informed him of the additional cost.
Our current rate for tax work in addition to regular tax preparation is $135.00 per hour, We charged [redacted] a discounted rate for all the additional work that was involved in filing his tax paperwork. We spent many additional hours filing his return over and above what it takes to file a normal return.
[redacted] states that he was very happy with the services that we provided to him in filing his tax paperwork for 2014. It is upsetting to us that after providing good service to him, charging him a discounted rate for all the extra work involved with filing his return, that he disputes the charges and reports us to the Revdex.com.
It is common practice in tax preparation that when additional work is involved with filing a tax return for an individual or a Company, extra charges may apply over and above the quoted price of preparing a normal tax return. 
We do not feel that [redacted] is entitled to a refund for the additional work involved with his return. We itemized the additional charges for him on his bill and charged him a reduced rate as well. [redacted] stated that he is happy with the services provided to him. He even stated to me that he really appreciates all the work we did with assisting him with his complicated tax return, multi-state returns, and the sale of his house.

First and foremost, I am not disputing the fact that my returns were difficult. However, after doing my own taxes with [redacted] for the past 4 years it’s not like I woke up with the sudden urge to spend almost $500.00 for a tax return that I could have done myself for $100.00. Of course it was a difficult set of returns, that’s why I sought professional tax help!!!
Next is this notion that I didn’t disclose everything that I needed done, first I did list all the things I needed done in passing by phone and in person to the sales rep (sadly not by e-mail). I’m not sure of any person that would enter into an agreement like this to get their taxes done and not provide the preparer with any and all relevant paperwork or supporting information unless they enjoy IRS audits. Also this information was present in each of the tax returns that I provided to them, 2010-2013 pdf files, that they supposedly looked at.
This last item is what really steams me though; their timeline of events is a fallacy. I have e-mail documentation that I am more than willing to send to the Revdex.com to substantiate that this is the actual timeline (Inset with excerpts from the e-mails):
1) March 4, 2015: After playing phone tag, the sales rep contacts me about having my 2014 tax returns done. “Bart asked me to reach out to you regarding your 2014 tax return. If you can call me on my cell at ###-###-#### I have a few questions.”
2) During that phone call I was asked to send Core Financial my last two years tax returns.
3) March 16, 2015 I sent them the last 4 years of tax returns in pdf form via e-mail, “I have included the last 4 years just in case you have the need to go back farther then the two previous.”
4) March 18, 2015: The files are reviewed and a price is set. “I spoke with Ed and the cost to file the 2014 taxes will be $375. Do you want to meet to sign up for the services?”
5) Within the following few weeks my tax information and documents are picked up by the sales rep.
6) April 9, 2015: Sales rep comes to pick up the engagement letter and informs me that after looking over everything that $375.00 will not be enough to cover the cost and I agree to the new proposed fee of $475.00 as evidenced by the signed document.
7) April 13, 2015: I get an e-mail confirming that my returns are done. “Ed Knell reached out to me I regards to your Birth Date. For some reason we can't find it. Your tax returns are completed. Ed left you a few messages. If you could email me your Birth Date that would be great.”
8) Via phone I talk with Ed and it’s then that I correct them on the issue of the first time home buyers credit. I am told at that time that they “will have to look into it and get back to me.”
That is the true timeline which I can back up with e-mail upon request.
What this really all boils down to is that they breached their own contract. They now want to dictate, after the fact, what is covered and what isn’t when that clearly should have been on the agreement from the beginning. Same applies to the “common practice in tax preparation” of charging more than is quoted; this should be on the contract as well even if it’s fine print. I am sympathetic to them for having to do more work than they anticipated but that is why they had all my tax information to review BEFORE giving me a price for tax preparation and as I can show after reviewing my tax info they determined that a jump from $375 to $475 would be sufficient to cover the cost.
Lastly I do not dispute that I am happy with their services and would like to point out that my reporting of Core Financial has everything to do with this overcharge and nothing to do with the quality of the product that I finally received. I remain appreciative of their effort; this however doesn’t justify a breach of contract. A business is only as good as the contracts they write and honor; this includes both the good contracts AND the bad contracts!