BEWARE! Bait and switch pricing & excessive charges
Bait and switch pricing, excessive charges, and invoices sent years after services were discontinued made this one of the most unprofessional experiences I have ever had with a CPA firm.
I initially met with Bailes and Bates for preparation of my 2020 personal and business tax return and was quoted approximately $2,000 to $2,500 based on my prior filings. I submitted all requested documentation on time, yet my return was filed late by their office, resulting in an IRS penalty. I was then billed $6,990 for that return, nearly three times the quoted amount.
I paid for the 2020 tax preparation along with multiple bookkeeping invoices that were also significantly overpriced.
They also prepared my 2021 taxes and then took nearly a year to receive clarification on the final invoice I paid in 2023, which their office acknowledged was unacceptable on their part.
Due to what felt like a bait and switch in pricing, excessive charges, and multiple unclear invoices that were difficult to reconcile, I discontinued services after that year. Despite this, I have continued receiving invoices years later. Now I am being told that 2021 tax preparation was not paid, which raises the question of what the final bill I paid in 2023 was actually for.
I have also received an invoice that listed incorrect tax years of 2022 and 2023, despite the fact that Bailes and Bates did not prepare those returns. After finally receiving an itemized statement in 2026 for a supposed outstanding balance in 2022, I found charges such as $165 for an email, $198 for a phone call, and $132 for another email. Again, raises the question of what the final bill I paid in 2023 was actually for.
I've paid thousands of dollars and they still want more without explanation of previous payments. I've never had an experience like this with a CPA firm. Based on my experience, this was an incredibly unprofessional and frustrating situation, and I would strongly advise others to steer clear of BBA.
