Tax Goddess

Mr. [redacted] came to our offices on 2/10/2015 at 12:30pm. He provided the owner of Tax Goddess Business Services, PC, [redacted] , CPA, Masters in Taxation, Certified Tax Coach, with a set of facts. These facts are evidenced by the notes taken during that meeting with Ms.... Wekherlien. The facts that Mr. [redacted] presented described that Mr. [redacted] had two (2) main investments on which he had questions beyond the normal tax preparation services (wages, itemized deductions, etc.). The first investment was described, at the time, as being inside his IRA. The second investment was described, at the time, as being outside of the IRA (an investment in which he lost significant funds). With this fact pattern, as it was presented, the question which Ms. [redacted] raised was if the investment outside of the IRA could be deducted as an ordinary loss that than a capital loss under IRS regulations. Please note that no strategy was agreed on in this meeting. There are clear notes by Ms. [redacted] that show that additional research was to be performed to determine if the bad debt (described as outside the IRA) was allowed as ordinary loss or was to be a capital loss.During the process of preparing the return it was determined that the fact pattern that had been initially described by Mr. [redacted] was inaccurate. Both investments were inside the IRA. With this as the correct and accurate fact pattern according to the documentation that Mr. [redacted] provided to our firm neither the losses on the investment nor any of the rental income/expenses were reportable on his current years (2014) tax return. The Tax Goddess team informed Mr. [redacted] of this and had conversations and emails with him regarding this matter. When Ms. [redacted] took over the preparation of this return (as the 3rd CPA to work on this file), she provided him potential options which could potentially allow him to legally change the outcome of the return (speaking with his investment company, splitting the IRA investments into two portions if allowed by his IRA company, etc.). Ms. [redacted] made it clear that it was unknown if these options could work and that he would need to speak with his investment company. In a phone call dated 8/24/15 Ms. [redacted] and Mr. [redacted] discussed this matter and Ms. Wekherlien informed him that due to the fact that all investments were inside his IRA nothing could be deducted this year. Mr. [redacted] did not make any indication that he would attempt any changes or that he had any additional information that would have led to a different outcome. At that point Ms. [redacted] completed the personal tax return with all allowed deductions and expenses under the current IRS regulations and had the return prepared for Mr. [redacted] to pick up and sign.When Mr. [redacted] came to the office to pick up his files (9/2/15) he refused to take the tax return that he had paid us to prepare. He did pickup his original documents. We have no other original documents of Mr. [redacted] ’s in our office/possession. The 2014 personal tax return that our firm has prepared is still at our front desk and is available for his retrieval if he so desires Monday-Friday 9-4pm (excluding closures so announced over our client newsletter). A few things to note:- The total fee that Mr. [redacted] paid our office was exactly $1,176.96, not the $1600.00 he is claiming in his BBB complaint. We charge all of our clients either a monthly fee or fees to be paid up front. Mr [redacted] decided to pay his fee up front instead of choosing the monthly option. This is standard practice across all of our clients. We are happy to provide copies of our merchant statements as appropriate showing the fee he paid. - The total amount of time spent on Mr [redacted] ’s file at our standard hourly billable rates was (to date) $4,240.90. Per our agreement with him he was charged a flat rate based on what we perceived would be the total time necessary to prepare his file.Re: multiple CPAs on Mr. [redacted] ’s file. - None of our CPAs could be considered “underlings” and Mr. [redacted] puts it. All of our CPAs have multiple of years of experience and tax knowledge. - Mr [redacted] also appears to imply that he understood that Ms. Wekherlien, personally, would be working on his file. We are happy to provide a copy of the signed engagement letter that Mr. [redacted] signed stating that he understood that he was hiring our firm as a whole to prepare his information and that he gave consent for other individuals hired by our firm to prepare his work. This was signed and dated on 2/10/15. Ms. [redacted] only prepared Mr. [redacted] ’s return upon her return from her annual vacation once she understood that there appeared to be issues between Mr. [redacted] and the firm's other staff. It is very rare that Ms. [redacted] prepares any returns herself, although she is the final reviewer on all returns in the office and signs off as the CPA to their accuracy based on the facts, circumstances, and research that has been prepared by her team.- Mr [redacted] comments (quoted) “ [redacted] advised me it was done to HER satisfaction (not mine)”. We prepare tax returns according to the laws and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service. The returns that we prepared followed these regulations. As Certified Public Accountants, we are no allowed to prepare returns to fill the satisfaction of a client if they do not follow the laws as provided by the US Government.- Mr [redacted] comments (quoted) “I rejected the proposed tax return and prepared my own on Turbo Tax with much better results”. Since we do not have a copy of the return that Mr. [redacted] prepared on his own we cannot speak to the correctness, legality, or results which Mr. [redacted] achieved on filing his own return using the [redacted] Software.

Mr ***,
You were not promised a strategy We discussed performing research for you to determine if there were paths and opportunities that we could offer you We did the research and provided the options we felt you could best take advantage of under you situation, the current laws, and the Internal Revenue Code You determined not to pursue those optionsPer our engagement letter you knew you were hiring our firm, and not Ms*** herself You signed and agreed that you understood thisWe performed the work you requested and we agreed to in our engagement letter You declined to accept itYou refusal to accept the work doesn't mean that we shouldn't be compensated for the work you paid us to perform Again, your return is waiting for you at our front desk and you may pick it up at your convenience Monday-Friday 9-4amAgain we are more than happy to provide any information you choose to request from us to release in writing to your successor CPA firm

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID *** and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.The reply fails to answer my concernsIt is simple...I was promised a tax strategy to address simple issuesI fully discussed all the issues at length with Ms*** and completely answered all her questions as to the issues and accountsBased on her assurances I paid in full up frontI thought I was hiring herThe first underling she assigned my case to was just a "fill in the blank" nothing burgerNo idea of any strategy or varied approachI complained to Ms*** and she assured me she would handle it personally after her return from her vacationUpon her return, I was once again passed off to another associate (whom I actually liked)We had many discussions and agreed on a strategy to pursueHowever, when I viewed the return that was prepared for me, NONE of what we agree upon was includedIt was if we had never spoken or previously agreed on what was to be included.It was an amateur hour returnI declined to accept it and asked for my money backI prepared and filed my own return and received absolutely no benefit from The Tax Goddess firmAll I got was an arrogant dismissal of any responsibility on their partBy the way, I am an attorney and licensed to practice before the US Tax Court, so I was very clear in what I expected up front and what the possible options wereVery disappointedWhen I retain a business professional, I expect professionalism for my moneyAlas, MsWekhelin is either incapable or unwilling to deliver on her promises
[Provide details of why you are not satisfied with this resolution.]
Regards,
*** ***

Mr ***,You were not promised a strategy We discussed performing research for you to determine if there were paths and opportunities that we could offer you We did the research and provided the options we felt you could best take advantage of under you situation, the current laws, and the Internal Revenue Code You determined not to pursue those options.Per our engagement letter you knew you were hiring our firm, and not Ms*** herself You signed and agreed that you understood this.We performed the work you requested and we agreed to in our engagement letter You declined to accept itYou refusal to accept the work doesn't mean that we shouldn't be compensated for the work you paid us to perform Again, your return is waiting for you at our front desk and you may pick it up at your convenience Monday-Friday 9-4am.Again we are more than happy to provide any information you choose to request from us to release in writing to your successor CPA firm

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID *** and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear belowThe reply fails to answer my concernsIt is simple...I was promised a tax strategy to address simple issuesI fully discussed all the issues at length with Ms*** and completely answered all her questions as to the issues and accountsBased on her assurances I paid in full up frontI thought I was hiring herThe first underling she assigned my case to was just a "fill in the blank" nothing burgerNo idea of any strategy or varied approachI complained to Ms*** and she assured me she would handle it personally after her return from her vacationUpon her return, I was once again passed off to another associate (whom I actually liked)We had many discussions and agreed on a strategy to pursueHowever, when I viewed the return that was prepared for me, NONE of what we agree upon was includedIt was if we had never spoken or previously agreed on what was to be includedIt was an amateur hour returnI declined to accept it and asked for my money backI prepared and filed my own return and received absolutely no benefit from The Tax Goddess firmAll I got was an arrogant dismissal of any responsibility on their partBy the way, I am an attorney and licensed to practice before the US Tax Court, so I was very clear in what I expected up front and what the possible options wereVery disappointedWhen I retain a business professional, I expect professionalism for my moneyAlas, MsWekhelin is either incapable or unwilling to deliver on her promises.[Provide details of why you are not satisfied with this resolution.]
Regards,
*** ***

Mr.
[redacted] came to our offices on 2/10/2015 at 12:30pm.  He provided the owner of Tax Goddess Business
Services, PC,
[redacted], CPA, Masters in Taxation, Certified Tax Coach, with a set of
facts.  These facts are evidenced by the notes taken during that meeting
with Ms....

Wekherlien.  The facts that Mr. [redacted] presented described that
Mr. [redacted] had two (2) main investments on which he had questions beyond
the normal tax preparation services (wages, itemized deductions, etc.). 
The first investment was described, at the time, as being inside his IRA.
The second investment was described, at the time, as being outside of the IRA
(an investment in which he lost significant funds).  With this fact
pattern, as it was presented, the question which Ms. [redacted] raised was if
the investment outside of the IRA could be deducted as an ordinary loss that
than a capital loss under IRS regulations. Please note that no strategy was
agreed on in this meeting.  There are clear notes by Ms. [redacted] that
show that additional research was to be performed to determine if the bad debt
(described as outside the IRA) was allowed as ordinary loss or was to be a
capital loss.During
the process of preparing the return it was determined that the fact pattern
that had been initially described by Mr. [redacted] was inaccurate. 
Both investments were inside the IRA.  With this as the correct and
accurate fact pattern according to the documentation that Mr. [redacted] provided to
our firm neither the losses on the investment nor any of the rental
income/expenses were reportable on his current years (2014) tax
return.  The Tax Goddess team informed Mr. [redacted] of this and
had conversations and emails with him regarding this matter.  When
Ms. [redacted] took over the preparation of this return (as the 3rd CPA to work on this file), she provided him potential options which could potentially
allow him to legally change the outcome of the return (speaking with his
investment company, splitting the IRA investments into two portions if allowed
by his IRA company, etc.).  Ms. [redacted] made it clear that it was
unknown if these options could work and that he would need to speak with his
investment company.  In a phone call dated 8/24/15 Ms. [redacted] and
Mr. [redacted] discussed this matter and Ms. Wekherlien informed him
that due to the fact that all investments were inside his IRA nothing could be
deducted this year.  Mr. [redacted] did not make any indication that he
would attempt any changes or that he had any additional information that would
have led to a different outcome.  At that point Ms. [redacted] completed
the personal tax return with all allowed deductions and expenses under the
current IRS regulations and had the return prepared for Mr. [redacted] to pick up
and sign.When
Mr. [redacted] came to the office to pick up his files (9/2/15) he refused
to take the tax return that he had paid us to prepare.  He did pickup his
original documents.  We have no other original documents of Mr. [redacted]’s
in our office/possession. The 2014 personal tax return that our firm has
prepared is still at our front desk and is available for his retrieval if he so
desires Monday-Friday 9-4pm (excluding closures so announced over our client
newsletter).  A
few things to note:- The total
fee that Mr. [redacted] paid our office was exactly $1,176.96, not the
$1600.00 he is claiming in his Revdex.com complaint.  We charge all of our
clients either a monthly fee or fees to be paid up front.  Mr
[redacted] decided to pay his fee up front instead of choosing the monthly
option.  This is standard practice across all of our clients. We are
happy to provide copies of our merchant statements as appropriate showing
the fee he paid.  - The total
amount of time spent on Mr [redacted]’s file at our standard hourly billable
rates was (to date) $4,240.90.  Per our agreement with him he was
charged a flat rate based on what we perceived would be the total time
necessary to prepare his file.Re:
multiple CPAs on Mr. [redacted]’s file.  - None
of our CPAs could be considered “underlings” and Mr. [redacted] puts
it.  All of our CPAs have multiple of years
of experience and tax
knowledge.  - Mr
[redacted] also appears to imply that he understood that Ms. Wekherlien,
personally, would be working on his file.  We are happy to provide a
copy of the signed engagement letter that Mr. [redacted] signed stating
that he understood that he was hiring our firm as a whole to prepare his
information and that he gave consent for other individuals hired by
our firm to prepare his work.  This was signed and dated on
2/10/15. Ms. [redacted] only prepared Mr. [redacted]’s return upon her return from her annual
vacation once she understood that there appeared to be issues between Mr.
[redacted] and the firm's other staff.  It is very rare that Ms.
[redacted] prepares any returns herself, although she is the final
reviewer on all returns in the office and signs off as the CPA to their
accuracy based on the facts, circumstances, and research that has been
prepared by her team.- Mr
[redacted] comments (quoted) “[redacted] advised me it was done to HER satisfaction
(not mine)”. We prepare tax returns according to the laws and regulations
of the Internal Revenue Service.  The returns that we prepared
followed these regulations.  As Certified Public Accountants, we are
no allowed to prepare returns to fill the satisfaction of a client if
they do not follow the laws as provided by the US Government.- Mr [redacted] comments (quoted) “I rejected the
proposed tax return and prepared my own on Turbo Tax with much better
results”.  Since we do not have a copy of the return that Mr.
[redacted] prepared on his own we cannot speak to the correctness, legality,
or results which Mr. [redacted] achieved on filing his own return using the
[redacted] Software.

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.
The reply fails to answer my concerns. It is simple...I was promised a tax strategy to address simple issues. I fully discussed all the issues at length with Ms. [redacted] and completely answered all her questions as to the issues and accounts. Based on her assurances I paid in full up front. I thought I was hiring her. The first underling she assigned my case to was just a "fill in the blank" nothing burger. No idea of any strategy or varied approach. I complained to Ms. [redacted] and she assured me she would handle it personally after her return from her vacation. Upon her return, I was once again passed off to another associate (whom I actually liked). We had many discussions and agreed on a strategy to pursue. However, when I viewed the return that was prepared for me, NONE of what we agree upon was included. It was if we had never spoken or previously agreed on what was to be included.
It was an amateur hour return. I declined to accept it and asked for my money back. I prepared and filed my own return and received absolutely no benefit from The Tax Goddess firm. All I got was an arrogant dismissal of any responsibility on their part. By the way, I am an attorney and licensed to practice before the US Tax Court, so I was very clear in what I expected up front and what the possible options were. Very disappointed. When I retain a business professional, I expect professionalism for my money. Alas, Ms. Wekhelin is either incapable or unwilling to deliver on her promises.[Provide details of why you are not satisfied with this resolution.]

Regards,

Mr.

[redacted] came to our offices on 2/10/2015 at 12:30pm.  He provided the owner of Tax Goddess Business

Services, PC,

[redacted], CPA, Masters in Taxation, Certified Tax Coach, with a set of

facts.  These facts are evidenced by the notes taken during that meeting

with Ms....

Wekherlien.  The facts that Mr. [redacted] presented described that

Mr. [redacted] had two (2) main investments on which he had questions beyond

the normal tax preparation services (wages, itemized deductions, etc.). 

The first investment was described, at the time, as being inside his IRA.

The second investment was described, at the time, as being outside of the IRA

(an investment in which he lost significant funds).  With this fact

pattern, as it was presented, the question which Ms. [redacted] raised was if

the investment outside of the IRA could be deducted as an ordinary loss that

than a capital loss under IRS regulations. Please note that no strategy was

agreed on in this meeting.  There are clear notes by Ms. [redacted] that

show that additional research was to be performed to determine if the bad debt

(described as outside the IRA) was allowed as ordinary loss or was to be a

capital loss.During

the process of preparing the return it was determined that the fact pattern

that had been initially described by Mr. [redacted] was inaccurate. 

Both investments were inside the IRA.  With this as the correct and

accurate fact pattern according to the documentation that Mr. [redacted] provided to

our firm neither the losses on the investment nor any of the rental

income/expenses were reportable on his current years (2014) tax

return.  The Tax Goddess team informed Mr. [redacted] of this and

had conversations and emails with him regarding this matter.  When

Ms. [redacted] took over the preparation of this return (as the 3rd CPA to work on this file), she provided him potential options which could potentially

allow him to legally change the outcome of the return (speaking with his

investment company, splitting the IRA investments into two portions if allowed

by his IRA company, etc.).  Ms. [redacted] made it clear that it was

unknown if these options could work and that he would need to speak with his

investment company.  In a phone call dated 8/24/15 Ms. [redacted] and

Mr. [redacted] discussed this matter and Ms. Wekherlien informed him

that due to the fact that all investments were inside his IRA nothing could be

deducted this year.  Mr. [redacted] did not make any indication that he

would attempt any changes or that he had any additional information that would

have led to a different outcome.  At that point Ms. [redacted] completed

the personal tax return with all allowed deductions and expenses under the

current IRS regulations and had the return prepared for Mr. [redacted] to pick up

and sign.When

Mr. [redacted] came to the office to pick up his files (9/2/15) he refused

to take the tax return that he had paid us to prepare.  He did pickup his

original documents.  We have no other original documents of Mr. [redacted]’s

in our office/possession. The 2014 personal tax return that our firm has

prepared is still at our front desk and is available for his retrieval if he so

desires Monday-Friday 9-4pm (excluding closures so announced over our client

newsletter).  A

few things to note:- The total

fee that Mr. [redacted] paid our office was exactly $1,176.96, not the

$1600.00 he is claiming in his Revdex.com complaint.  We charge all of our

clients either a monthly fee or fees to be paid up front.  Mr

[redacted] decided to pay his fee up front instead of choosing the monthly

option.  This is standard practice across all of our clients. We are

happy to provide copies of our merchant statements as appropriate showing

the fee he paid.  - The total

amount of time spent on Mr [redacted]’s file at our standard hourly billable

rates was (to date) $4,240.90.  Per our agreement with him he was

charged a flat rate based on what we perceived would be the total time

necessary to prepare his file.Re:

multiple CPAs on Mr. [redacted]’s file.  - None

of our CPAs could be considered “underlings” and Mr. [redacted] puts

it.  All of our CPAs have multiple of years

of experience and tax

knowledge.  - Mr

[redacted] also appears to imply that he understood that Ms. Wekherlien,

personally, would be working on his file.  We are happy to provide a

copy of the signed engagement letter that Mr. [redacted] signed stating

that he understood that he was hiring our firm as a whole to prepare his

information and that he gave consent for other individuals hired by

our firm to prepare his work.  This was signed and dated on

2/10/15. Ms. [redacted] only prepared Mr. [redacted]’s return upon her return from her annual

vacation once she understood that there appeared to be issues between Mr.

[redacted] and the firm's other staff.  It is very rare that Ms.

[redacted] prepares any returns herself, although she is the final

reviewer on all returns in the office and signs off as the CPA to their

accuracy based on the facts, circumstances, and research that has been

prepared by her team.- Mr

[redacted] comments (quoted) “[redacted] advised me it was done to HER satisfaction

(not mine)”. We prepare tax returns according to the laws and regulations

of the Internal Revenue Service.  The returns that we prepared

followed these regulations.  As Certified Public Accountants, we are

no allowed to prepare returns to fill the satisfaction of a client if

they do not follow the laws as provided by the US Government.- Mr [redacted] comments (quoted) “I rejected the

proposed tax return and prepared my own on Turbo Tax with much better

results”.  Since we do not have a copy of the return that Mr.

[redacted] prepared on his own we cannot speak to the correctness, legality,

or results which Mr. [redacted] achieved on filing his own return using the

[redacted] Software.

Mr [redacted],
You were not promised a strategy.  We discussed performing research for you to determine if there were paths and opportunities that we could offer you.  We did the research and provided the options we felt you could best take advantage of under you situation, the current laws, and the Internal Revenue Code.  You determined not to pursue those options.
Per our engagement letter you knew you were hiring our firm, and not Ms. [redacted] herself.  You signed and agreed that you understood this.
We performed the work you requested and we agreed to in our engagement letter.  You declined to accept it. You refusal to accept the work doesn't mean that we shouldn't be compensated for the work you paid us to perform.  Again, your return is waiting for you at our front desk and you may pick it up at your convenience Monday-Friday 9-4am.
Again we are more than happy to provide any information you choose to request from us to release in writing to your successor CPA firm.