Wendy Ezell, PLLC

Not sure who this client may be, but we never want to have a client in that situation. I do not like filing at the last minute as it makes it stressful for the client and us as well! We did not have a client contact stating that they had any issues with tax returns. And if if the client did have an issue, we would have followed up on it until it was cleared with the proper jurisdictions. However we did not have that opportunity. We do have two staff answering phones at all times so that a client always speaks to a person when they call and does not get voice mail. However, I know things can get quite hectic at tax time, especial since this review was written 4 days prior to the March 15th deadline. So if there was a delay, it was not intentional on our part as we were probably assisting clients with last minute emergencies on the the March 15 deadline.

We did meet with this client and started the 2015 tax return. Between February 1st and February 17 my staff and client communicated getting additional information to calculate the 2015 tax return. Shortly after that we had the tax return prepared with all the income in the 2015 tax return. Communicated with the client through email that we had finished that part and we could start working on what the incremental effect tax effect would be if the monies had been during the 3 years vs all at once in 2015. Client did call and ask if we had completed the second part. My staff answered the phone and communicated that I was in meetings with other clients and I would have to call him back. I did respond to his email that he followed up with that Sunday. This would be March 20. That we had worked on the calculation. However the client no longer wanted the work. This is 4 weeks prior to the tax deadline. We apologized for his inconvenience as we needed time to do a 3 year calculation scenario. That was communicated through an email updating the client as to the status two weeks before he withdrew. I followed up with an email on March 20th to the client that he owed for Federal and California taxes and the amounts so that the client could take appropriate steps to complete an extension accurately and pay his taxes by April 18th. This is to keep the client from being "hung out to dry." If a client's tax return is not completed by March 31, we start offering extension to the clients so we can mitigate any penalties or interest for filing or paying the taxes based on the information received from the client. However the client withdrew prior to this date. We wish the client well and provided him with the tools to file the extension properly.