Pacific Northwest Tax Service

This you?
Feb 24th, 2023

They Came Through for me in a Time of Need and addressed an Issue I had.
Nov 7th, 2022

I am extremely disappointed with the service I got from this company. After feeling forgotten by them for weeks, I ended up being charged a ridiculous amount of money to file my taxes. There were mistakes made, they were unresponsive to my communications and inconsistent with the way they handled my personal tax situation... every time I actually was able to talk to my tax preparer (April), she changed her story about how to handle my taxes. I am disappointed with the way April does business and strongly recommend that you find a different service.
May 18th, 2022

Tax Ninjas!
Apr 27th, 2022

I'm just not sure if the negative issues I encountered were due to lack of staff communication, or an issue with my individual tax preparer.  Maybe both.  My taxes are relatively simple - single female, renter, basic 401k, etc.  But I had just moved here from NY in the summer of 2020, and did not want to do anything incorrectly.  I chose PNW based on Yelp reviews & convenience.   They requested the documents that they needed be dropped off - everything was done over the phone due to COVID.  Cool, no problem.  The day of my phone consult, I get a call from the staff asking about the documents required, saying they didn't have them.  I had dropped them off as requested prior to my phone consult date.  My stomach dropped - I'm thinking my main tax copies are gone.   They called me back later saying they had located them.  Phew ...I then did a brief phone call with my preparer, Ryan.  It took about 10 mins & the only sticky topic was how to address the fact that I didn't get any stimulus when I should have.   He was nice & seemed knowledgeable, so I felt good about everything up to this point.  I'm told to let him know when I'm ready for him to submit everything & it will be done right then via e-sign.  Now, to be fair - they do inform you that the cost of your taxes being done is based on the NUMBER of forms they have to fill out.  You're to look at their website & figure out what your total will be.  Unfortunately for me, I was personally not sure what I should anticipate since I had both NY & OR forms.  I will say that I was completely freaking floored when I was charged close to $600.  I had my 2019 & 2018 taxes professionally done by a CPA when in NY - both times less than $200. Moving forward - It took me 3 separate phone calls over the course of a couple of weeks to get the message through that I was ready to submit the taxes & ready to pay.   Each time I was told it would happen by whomever answered the phone, & that I would get an email confirmation for e-sign & CC payment.   Each time I waited ....waited ... called back ... waited.   Each time I had to re-explain the situation to whomever answered the phone.  Finally after the 3rd call, this got done.   I e-sign & put the (what feels like outlandish) preparation fee on my credit card. I was then told I needed to pick up my completed tax booklet & forms from the office & that I would get a call when it had arrived within the next few days.   Two weeks later I call them, as nobody had called me ... am told it's there ... so I go to sign & pick them up.  Again, lack of communication.  Next, I get my refund & it's a little under $500 of what my preparer had told me I would get back.  I called his office 4 separate times, leaving a message each time, before I finally got to talk with my preparer to ask what had happened.  I'm told he doesn't have a way to know that because he can't access my tax info.  I contact the IRS like he tells me to & get a letter about them adjusting my refund.  I was told to let him know what the IRS says & to send him a copy of any info I get from them.   I emailed him a copy & wait 2 weeks.  No response.   I then start calling the office.  Again, 3 separate messages left with no call or email back.  Seriously, guys?!!Today, I called again & explained the situation - my preparer wasn't in the office.  BUT ...  I FINALLY had the luck of speaking with a lady who actually took initiative, looked into my file, looked at the letter the IRS sent me about the adjustment, AND got back to me right away.   She explained what had happened and actually seemed like she cared and wanted to help me.  So - thank you Julia T - I almost considered giving 2 stars because of you.  To summarize, I work in a professional service industry.  It would never, EVER be acceptable to ignore my clientele after they had paid for my service.  If I have to stay hours past close to answer my client emails & phone calls, I do it.  Never in my wildest dreams could I feel okay ignoring messages or emails like this company has.    Ultimately, I have to take the responsibility for the money it cost me for my taxes - I just didn't know any better that I would be charged for both NY & OR.  Do I still feel like I got swindled?   Yes.  If you're going to charge me premium rates, I sure as heck shouldn't have to jump through all these hoops & waste my personal time begging for a response.  Only to be ignored.   I feel that I was incredibly patient & gave them the benefit of the doubt repeatedly.  I was never once told "sorry" or offered an apology when I explained over and over that I had already called or emailed, I had already left a message, no one had gotten back to me, etc.   I never became verbally upset or rude, despite how I felt.  You can do better than this place, at least until they fix what I can only guess are some serious communication issues, or a general lack of client support/care from some of their tax preparers.
Sep 16th, 2021