Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/19/2023

  Type:Order Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  We have hired Jesson, ****************************************** (JOA) for our family tax return for the last two years. Last year JOA filed our taxes in October 2022. As part of the service, JOA, which had power of attorney, was supposed to pay the balance of the taxes we owed. It did not. Due to family health issues, we were out of the country. We only realized our taxes were not paid upon the reception of a letter from the ********************** in early December 2022 asking us for the balance payment. Additionally, we incurred a penalty fee and interest payment. A week later, we received a similar letter from the **** Despite multiple attempts by phone and email, we were unable to get clarity on what happened and why JOA did not pay the balance of our taxes. The total penalties and interest incurred were more than four thousand dollars. The responsibility for the non-payment, and therefore the penalties and interest charges incurred, lies clearly with JOA. Unfortunately, JOA has remained unaccountable despite their fault and even sent us further billing. We requested multiple times JOA intervene with the State Treasurer and IRS to have the penalties and interest annulled, only to be met by silence.Further, JOA hourly billing practices are cloudy. For example, they charge for meeting time during which they pitch their side business ************************ a wealth management service. We were never provided with the hourly rate fee schedule. Additionally, after consulting with a new accountant, it came to light that the advices provided by JOA were misleading and led to an unnecessary and substantially higher tax burden. Furthermore, during one meeting, it was suggested that documents could be backdated if necessary. We tried to resolve matters amicably but only to be ignored by ***. Therefore, we are asking for the BBB to intervene in helping us settle this matter. And hold JOA accountable for their Respectfully,*****************

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/30/2023

  I have not heard from the business in response to my complaint.  I'm exploring moving one level up by getting lawyers involved

  Business Response

  Date: 02/08/2023

  This email is in response to Complaint # ******** filed by ******************

  Here are the facts as we recall them:

   Jesson, Oslin & Associates LLP (JOA) was engaged by *********** to prepare their 2021 personal Income tax returns (From **** and Mass Form 1).

   The returns were prepared and ready for pick up by ************ on or around August 29, 2022. 

   Both the 2021 Federal and ************* tax returns had significant balances due which were subject to penalties and interest beginning April 18, 2022. (Note the filing of extensions does not extend the payment due dates only the filing due date).

   As noted in the tax returns memo's provided to the ************ the returns were to be electronically filed on or October 17, 2022 by *** and payments were to be mailed by ************ to both the *** and *************.

   In reviewing this complaint with the staff involved there seems to be a communication gap as to whether the payments were also to be paid electronically when the return were released.

   It is our policy to take responsibility for any penalties which result from a mistake which we determine was the fault of the firm.

   In this particular instance we would be willing to pay the penalties which were incurred from the date the returns were filed (October 17, 2022) to the date the ************ was notified by the *** and ************* that the payment were due (December 5, 2022 and November 9, 2022 respectively).

   In response to our billing practices, all of our invoices include the professionals name, description of services and the hours incurred. Although we typically don't show the staff billing rates they are always available by request and can be computed by taking the amount of the invoice divided by the total hours.

   Additionally Mainsail Advisors is a separate entity and is not owned by or associated with JOA and as such JOA has no way of billing for their time.

   In response to back dating documents, we have no idea what ************ is referring to and there were no documents in the preparing of his return that could be back dated. 

   Based on the above we respectfully request that the unsubstantiated claims made by ************ be removed from our BBB account as soon as possible.

   If you have any questions please contact me directly: **********************************