CPA hasn't filed 2019 taxes. Anything I can do?

[Chelsea Ross]

In 2019 I decided to start using a CPA that specialized in REI to help me with tax planning. The CPA was actually recommended on the BP forums. I paid in late 2019, and handed over my documents in March 2020. Despite many emails and phone calls my 2019 return still has not been filed. I keep getting promises of "by Friday" and then nothing. She claims she filed an extension, but I'm really concerned. Is this normal? Is there any recourse I can take?

[Linda Weygant]

In most situations like this, it's going to be a case of miscommunication.  You may think you've given her all the documents needed.  Your tax pro may think you haven't.  Or there's a question that's gone unanswered.  

In the meantime, there's cross talk and perhaps attempts at communication that are going unheard by one party or the other or, as is actually more common, both.

Or, as just  happened to me this week, a client reached out and asked for a status update and I said "I'm still waiting for X" and they said "I sent you X 2 months ago".  And after a total Oh Crap! moment, I realized they were right.  I'm human, I apologized profusely and I'm hopeful that all will be forgiven, particularly if I make any hardship they've experienced right.

We're all human and nobody is out to give deliberately poor service.  I'm confident you and your tax pro can work this out to everybody's satisfaction.