Any tax return experts or accountants here?

[Dutch]

last year I had an accountant do my taxes - this year I bit the bullet and took the time to do my own -.

so I was looking at last years federal tax return and found a mistake that he made that looks like it cost me a few hundred bucks. ( I know- I should have looked it over before signing it last year and sending it in, but I didnt - I just trusted that the accountant would know what he was doing)

so is there any thing I can do to get my money back from the feds at this date?

[Norman Bernstein]

You can file an amended return.

To find out how... hire an accountant.

[Dutch]

thanks to the judge- very helpful article

[wardd]

a lot of accountants will err on the side of the gov so they don't have to appear if you are audited

the chain tax stores are noted for this

[Paul Pless]

so is there any thing I can do to get my money back from the feds at this date?file an ammended return, if they do indeed owe you money, you will get about a third of it in 18 to 24 months. . .

[Paul Pless]

a lot of accountants will err on the side of the gov so they don't have to appear if you are audited Regardless of who's favor an accountant error is in, if your return is audited the accountant who signs your return is on the hook the defend his calculations. Roughly 100,000 audits this year will be random of various types, only a few thousand of those will be line by line. If you've never had a line by line audit, let me assure you its a special kinda hell to go through. I came out clean with the IRS owing me money on mine after I appealed a modification they made of one my returns. What they don't pay for though is the fooking lawyer and accountant you have to hire to defend yourself. Bastards!

[wardd]

Regardless of who's favor an accountant error is in, if your return is audited the accountant who signs your return is on the hook the defend his calculations. Roughly 100,000 audits this year will be random of various types, only a few thousand of those will be line by line. If you've never had a line by line audit, let me assure you its a special kinda hell to go through. I came out clean with the IRS owing me money on mine after I appealed a modification they made of one my returns. What they don't pay for though is the fooking lawyer and accountant you have to hire to defend yourself. Bastards!

clarification the tax return will be less likely to trigger an audit

[Dutch]

Well after going through it all line by line myself and downloading last years forms and instructions - turns out my accountant was right - oops :o

thanks anyway

[Mad Scientist]

Hey, it's a win-win!

You verified that your accountant was correct, and proved that you don't need an accountant's services.

Tom

[bob winter]

Accountants normally are right when it comes to filling out a tax return. If they do make a mistake and are made aware of it, they will take corrective action. It has happened to me and I have done whatever is required to fix the problem.