So A few weeks ago I went to a very popular and reputable Income Tax place here in the city and asked them to complete my return for me. They told me I wasn't going to be receiving a refund, which I somewhat understood but decided to get a second opinion before allowing the company to file my taxes. After talking with a few family members and friends it was decided that I would have someone else complete and file my return as I should have gotten a refund of some sort (even if not very large).  
 
After I had my taxes redone by someone new, I was informed that my tax refund was going to be $822.19 ... WOAH. So my question is, how does someone who claims to be a tax professional just "miss" an $800+ refund ??  
 
For those of you who haven't filed yet I hope you check into who kind of refund you should receive before hand. I am glad I used my better judgment and sought a second opinion. I'd hate for someone to lose 800 dollars that they may need !!

if they had missed it, would the CRA have found it? im not sure, im just wondering as i have thought this before.  
 
that really sucks tho!! i paid big money this year to get my taxes done and they were done wrong i know how you feel! we are going to a private accountant next year as my fiance has had better luck with her then this big name place we went to this year.

All of the 'tax pros' at seasonal spots, only have to take a several week course to be considered. I personally feel more comfortable doing it myself, as I have taken this course for personal interest, with the knowledge I learnt in this course, I would not feel comfortable doing someone else's return plus think about how many returns they do complete, it would all run together.

I could go on for days with stories of tax preparers making huge mistakes and worse from my years with CRA. Now, to be fair to the good ones, there are a ton out there who do an amazing job and correct, but charge to reflect it. This is why I tout using the free Studiotax software download and letting it walk you through the process.  
 
I just reviewed a 2010 tax return for a fellow who had it prepared by one of the firms here in Brandon, and they made a $4000 plus mistake!!!! When he went back to them to say what the heck, they looked at it and said, well, if CRA says to pay it, you better pay it.  
 
There are a ton of reputable and knowledgeable people who do it as a sideline like myself, who will do them for $20 or so and do them right. Just make sure you find someone who knows what they are doing and has some references.

Often it depends on what information you bring them. They can't ask you about every possible scenario but if you are informed and bring the right receipts, slips etc., or have brought previous returns it makes a big difference.

i have had good and bad experiences with all levels of tax preparers, what i do is try to be as knowledgeable as i can be but, then sometimes i wonder if i have to double and triple check if i shouldn't just do them myself? but were all human and even the best have an off day what tells me how good they are is how they handle any mistake made.  
 
sammy- just curious, did you go with my recommendation or the other one?

That's good it was found! Where did you get your taxes done?

traveller said "i have had good and bad experiences with all levels of tax preparers, what i do is try to be as knowledgeable as i can be but, then sometimes i wonder if i have to double and triple check if i shouldn't just do them myself? but were all human and even the best have an off day what tells me how good they are is how they handle any mistake made.     sammy- just curious, did you go with my recommendation or the other one? "

i'll pm you...i was not happy at all! i have had GREAT experiences with this business in Portage but not here...

I sent you a PM. just wondering which places you used

We used bigmike and he found us a 4000 dollar return! We are more than pleased with the service he provided! Will Recommend him to anyone!! Thanks again

anywhere that a person can find out what all a person can claim on their taxes? Ie. prescriptions, glasses, etc etc. I hate hearing from people, AFTER I've gotten my taxes done that there were other things I could have claimed.

happy_gal said "anywhere that a person can find out what all a person can claim on their taxes? Ie. prescriptions, glasses, etc etc. I hate hearing from people, AFTER I've gotten my taxes done that there were other things I could have claimed. "

a good accountant will tell you those things.  
 
I don't mind paying a bit more for a good accountant who is there for me all year long not just at tax time. they will also tell you what you need to do to help get a return for next year.  
 
I strongly recommend BDO!

A good accountant with a designation (ie- CGA) is your best bet. Anyone can call themselves a 'tax professional' or 'tax preparer' but it doesn't mean they have any recognized education.

All of those things are claimable on your tax return as medical expenses. That being said, your medical expenses have to be higher than 3% of your net income before they have any impact on your taxes.  
 
If you have any further questions, or need more information, please feel free to PM me.

All of those things are claimable on your tax return as medical expenses. That being said, your medical expenses have to be higher than 3% of your net income before they have any impact on your taxes.  
 
If you have any further questions, or need more information, please feel free to PM me.

Re-do the return in order to check for accuracy and correct it.. if you Are owed will they state/give that or will they just give what was stated initially?  

msunderstood said "Re-do the return in order to check for accuracy and correct it.. if you Are owed will they state/give that or will they just give what was stated initially?   "

I have gotten small cheques from the CRA once they've completed revisions to my tax returns, but for the most part, I don't think they go through and TRY to find people more money. They more so checking to ensure that you don't owe them something. Lol.  
 
I know a few people who have had their taxes checked long after they received their returns, and found out that they actually should have gotten much more. That is what leads me to believe the CRA doesn't make any revisions that are going to benefit you. XD

so did you get a 3rd return done, or just assume the 2nd firm was right???

this was intended for Happy Girl not for Crossing fingers.... they simply quoted the initial post. My bad

msunderstood said "Re-do the return in order to check for accuracy and correct it.. if you Are owed will they state/give that or will they just give what was stated initially?   "

The system will check for obvious errors, like T-slips not matching and then cross reference for a few basic errors, but generally you are on your own. While in collections and enforcement, I was given a file of a lady who owed $106,000. While I was reviewing it for collections, I thought things didn't add up. After calling them and investigating, I found they made a HUGE error and the result was that they only owed $21,000 not $106,000. You can't imagine how happy they were. And yes, they had tried to do their return themselves with complex issues and not known what they were doing.  
 
That being said, this is pretty much the only way that larger errors get caught, is if someone actually spots its and decides to investigate it.

happy_gal said "anywhere that a person can find out what all a person can claim on their taxes? Ie. prescriptions, glasses, etc etc. I hate hearing from people, AFTER I've gotten my taxes done that there were other things I could have claimed. "

Go to your local post office and pick up a tax guide. It has a great deal of info in it or visit www.cra.gc.ca  

sammy said "if they had missed it, would the CRA have found it? im not sure, im just wondering as i have thought this before.     that really sucks tho!! i paid big money this year to get my taxes done and they were done wrong i know how you feel! we are going to a private accountant next year as my fiance has had better luck with her then this big name place we went to this year. "

When you owe them money, they know it right away and expect it right away.  
 
When they owe you money, you get lost in the system and don't get your cheque. lol.

archerreed said "so did you get a 3rd return done, or just assume the 2nd firm was right??? "

This was my thought. Do you just keep going from one place to the next till you find someone that says you are getting a return and say the others were wrong?

second time. AND I spoke with the CRA after I had them redone. You make it sound like I was wrong to seek a second opinion ... Take your posts else where.

IMO said "    sammy said "if they had missed it, would the CRA have found it? im not sure, im just wondering as i have thought this before.     that really sucks tho!! i paid big money this year to get my taxes done and they were done wrong i know how you feel! we are going to a private accountant next year as my fiance has had better luck with her then this big name place we went to this year. " When you owe them money, they know it right away and expect it right away.     When they owe you money, you get lost in the system and don't get your cheque. lol. "

Not necessarily. A few years back I didn't realize I still had tuition to claim and filed without it, and ended up getting $1500 back from CRA instead of the $700 I'd expected.

pudds said "    IMO said "    sammy said "if they had missed it, would the CRA have found it? im not sure, im just wondering as i have thought this before.     that really sucks tho!! i paid big money this year to get my taxes done and they were done wrong i know how you feel! we are going to a private accountant next year as my fiance has had better luck with her then this big name place we went to this year. " When you owe them money, they know it right away and expect it right away.     When they owe you money, you get lost in the system and don't get your cheque. lol. " Not necessarily. A few years back I didn't realize I still had tuition to claim and filed without it, and ended up getting $1500 back from CRA instead of the $700 I'd expected. "

thats good to know. i think i will have our return from this year looked over by someone else. at just a quick glance i noticed they had made a mistake and it resulted in me paying 100 less then they said i had too. i dont really want to pay the CRA if i dont have too lol

Anyone can enter the numbers of a Tslip but it is knowing what you can and cannnot claim that helps you get your return done best  
All the info is listed for anyone to read at their website:  
<:A target="_blank" HREF="http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/azindex/menu-eng.html">:http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/azindex/menu-eng.html<:/A>:  
Also keep your notice of assessment it tells you if you have something to carry forward for next year. Mine stated how much tuition etc I have left for my tax return for 2011  
Medical expenses are the biggest thing missed on returns. Paymts made to Blue Cross, or other private healthcare companies, Trips to Wpg for medical appts/hotels/meals trips over 40 km. Eye appts, glasses, dental, braces, wheelchairs, too many to name  
 
 
Edited by letmesee, 2012-03-20 13:17:18

Sokoloc said "second time. AND I spoke with the CRA after I had them redone. You make it sound like I was wrong to seek a second opinion ... Take your posts else where. "

dont be so pissy<: i was only thinking that what happens if the first return was right, and you end up in a audit.  
 
wow just tring to do a what if

a couple of years ago my fiance went and got his taxes done at a certain place in brandon and he was told he was only getting 200.00 bucks back (around that amount) a mth later we got a check in the mail for another 1200.00!!!

ajsahred said "a couple of years ago my fiance went and got his taxes done at a certain place in brandon and he was told he was only getting 200.00 bucks back (around that amount) a mth later we got a check in the mail for another 1200.00!!! "

That's exactly what i want to happen to meeeee!!!! LOL.  
 
Edited by msunderstood, 2012-03-20 16:53:11