Columbia, MO
January 24, 2024
I recently had a highly disappointing experience with Ms. Bettye Patton of BJP corp, a tax preparer that I cannot recommend to anyone seeking professional assistance with their taxes. She demonstrated a complete lack of professionalism, overlooked crucial forms, displayed a startling lack of knowledge, and, to make matters worse, adamantly refused to correct the mistakes made.
She filed my LLC return in 2022. I had spent a lot of time correcting her mistakes on getting all information right despite sending all the needed information. She made numerous grammatical mistakes and when I pointed out that some entries are not made, rebuffed me saying every tax prepared has their own way and she will ensure that my returns are filled to the letter. Since my experience was not good, I learned about tax filing for this year and started preparing my own taxes. That is when I discovered that in 2022, she overlooked a crucial piece of tax returns- she did not depreciate my business property and told me that she had done everything that needed to be done. When I emailed her to look into it and file an amendment, her first reply was lack of understanding as if I mentioned something she was unaware of, then she said that its there behind the software and I am getting depreciation but it’s just not visible on 1065. I asked her to show me the evidence and told her that I can’t see any entries on 1065, no 4562 form and no line 14 entry on form 8825, she went offensive on me and flatly refused to address this saying “I would like for you to seek another preparer to assist you going forward. I decline to continue to work under these conditions and do not have any time available to support the unfounded matter you are creating.”
I thought that tax preparers have a duty to acknowledge and correct their mistakes and she refuses to do so. This negligence resulted in incomplete and inaccurate submissions, exposing me to potential legal and financial repercussions. Despite my attempts to rectify the situation, the preparer was unapologetic and dismissive of their oversight, demonstrating a clear lack of accountability.
Because of this I did not claim all my depreciation, now must file amended 1065 with new K1 that will result in amended personal return. I do not have access to her software, so I have to reduplicate all she did on my own from scratch or pay someone dearly to do so.
Equally concerning was the her apparent lack of knowledge. Basic tax concepts and regulations seemed to elude them, raising serious questions about their qualifications and competence in handling complex financial matters. It was disconcerting to realize that I had entrusted my financial information to someone with such a fundamental lack of expertise.
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of this ordeal was the tax preparer's refusal to correct the mistakes made. When presented with evidence of their errors, they stubbornly insisted that the filing was accurate, further eroding any trust I may have had in their abilities. This lack of willingness to acknowledge and address their mistakes is inexcusable and reflects a profound disregard for the well-being of her clients.
In conclusion, my experience with this tax preparer was nothing short of a disaster. From unprofessionalism to overlooking crucial forms, coupled with a lack of knowledge and a refusal to correct mistakes, this individual fall far short of the standards one should expect in a professional service provider.
