Going With A National “Brand Name” Tax Firm With Image Advertising!
This is another addition to the series “Mistakes made when choosing a paid tax preparer”.
I’m not going to name names here. But, just about everyone has heard of these brand name tax firms right down the block (no pun intended) in most cities and small towns. They spend millions of dollars every tax season on “brand building awareness” ad campaigns just so you will think of them when it comes time to file your taxes.
The problem is, a “brand name” never prepared anyone’s taxes – people do! So you can have all the famous names, fancy Super Bowl ads and catchy slogans, but when push comes to shove, it is a real person helping you. And behind that one tax preparer, there should be other people who do “return reviews” – and, a manager who is held accountable for quality work — and a support staff to proactively trouble shoot any issue that might arise – and on and on.
Getting a quality tax service from a reputable tax business has very little to do with the award winning promotion, and everything to do with the quality of the tax preparer and the organization to back him or her up. Outstanding personal service just because some smiling face says it on the TV. . .
. . . not a chance!
Better listen to what other taxpayers like you are saying. Have they already experienced that particular tax firm’s services in the past and can testify to this effect? If so, that has more credibility than some high paid ad agency putting together some commercial on Madison Avenue. (Hearing it from the “horse’s mouth” so-to-speak is better. My whole business is based on this.)
If you can listen to what other real people are saying about their tax filing experiences, and you like what they are saying — then by all means, go to that particular tax business and visit with them, if you still like what you hear/see give them a shot at filing your taxes.
So for the record, don’t be “blind” to the fact that fancy ad jingles translate into the high quality tax services. They don’t. To be blunt, usually the more imagery the promotion (nice looking models smiling in the commercial, pretending nothing would ever go wrong with your taxes — none of which ever happens in the real world) … the WORSE OFF your tax service could be. Now, what I just said is not scientifically provable, but if you’ve been around the block enough like I have, you know what I mean.
Again, I want to invite any and all guest post on this subject. I want to hear from all bloggers or just readers with their own input. Let’s see what you see I am missing. If you have some words of wisdom on this subject please let us share it with everyone, if it is something that has already been covered, so what, I am looking for others to tell what they know or have learned about finding a paid preparer. Repetition drives the point home.
© 2008, Bruce Mc. All rights reserved.
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#1 by Jeff D. on September 22, 2008 - 6:43 pm
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I am an enrolled agent with the “big boys on the block”. I agree with the gist of what is being said here, but wish to add that while not all preparers within the large companies are of high quality.
Certainly not all CPA offices are of high quality either. We find it is not all that unusual to find a CPA firm prepared a return but the CPA himself/herself didn’t really do any of the return.
To me the biggest weakness in individual preparers isn’t with their credility, it isn’t with their knowledge or lack thereof. Rather Preparers too often try to prepare tax returns too quickly and do not do a thorough interview to discover all the ways the taxpayerns tax return can be legally manipulated.
Wish someone would start a blog with preparers trying to determine the best legal tax return under various scenarios. Then persons could learn various legal manipulations they hadn’t considered.
Jeff D.
#2 by Bruce on September 22, 2008 - 9:08 pm
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Not a bad idea really.
Jeff, I don’t have time, do you? The idea is a sound one.
I am curious though, “big boys on the block”?