Client Reviews of Michael D. McGowan, CPA

For all those Butte County Taxpayers out there, let my misfortune hopefully save you the same. For the past 18 years I have calculated and filed my own taxes, in their entirety, for free. This tax year, because of the sale of a house, I decided to use a local CPA - Mike McGowan - who was supplied with complete copies of previously filed taxes as reference and quoted me a total of $450 to process my 2013 State & Federal Returns. Based on this quote, I completed an extensive planner, making all my own tallies needed for the returns involving the sale of my home, business, and income. I simply needed the CPA to put it in the correct order, and specifically, make sure the reporting of income from the home sale was accurate. I never spoke once to Mr. McGowan during the process. I spoke to his asst. 3 times, for a total of less than 40 minutes. His asst. stated in these conversations she was completing my taxes, and would give to Mike for signature/review. I received a final call from her giving the amounts that I owed, and was told I would receive paper copies in the mail, along with the invoice. When I received the copies a few days later, to my shock, the invoice which was quoted to me initially as $450 now was costing me $950. There was no explanation, no line item charges listed, nothing but a total, due in 10 days from the date of the invoice, which was 6 days prior to me receiving it. Calls and emails to the office went unanswered for many days - when the explanation given via email was that the change in amount owed was due to a phone call. And that a couple changes needed to be made to the planner I submitted. Call me crazy, but as a CPA, wouldn't you naturally figure that you would need to SPEAK to your client during the process and shouldn't that be reflective of your quote for services? Also in this packet with the invoice was a 2 page letter outlining his process, and asking for my signature to agree to the fact that he, as the CPA will be charging $200/hour and his asst. will be charging $75-$150/hour. Something that should have been disclosed (and signed) PRIOR to the start of services. It's now been 6 weeks and even though I paid, in full, the total amount quoted of $450, I just received another invoice demanding an additional $500 which was never disclosed, authorized, or approved. Simply billed after the fact. As someone who does their research before obtaining services, I took the advice of my Realtor for this office, and would strongly encourage anyone reading this to steer clear.