I receive spousal maintenance (alimony), which IS taxable in Washington. The tax advisor I was given did not know this, and asked other advisors if I really needed to file. That is strike one. Next, Todd Gress, "Senior Tax Asvisor 1" and Office Manager came into the cubicle to ask if my alimony was indeed taxable (strike two, he should know it is). I said yes, and he told Nancy I did indeed need to file. Then I was "asked" (more like interrogated) about my health insurance - Humana Military. He'd never heard of it, Was I DoD? How was I even eligible? Not really any of their business, but I stated a couple of times that I am a former spouse of active duty military (strike three I had to keep repeating myself). Brusquely told (again) that he'd never heard of it. I told him that I know, no one has, but it's what I have. Again, he turns to Nancy (my assigned tax advisor) to tell her I needed to file because of the alimony. At this point told him that the only thing I am not required to claim is my part of my ex's annual bonus, because the divorce paperwork states as much. He informs me he doesn't know anything about that (strike 4). I told him he would need to know because my ex claims it and I'm expecting to be audited for it, and I always purchase the audit protection coverage so they will represent me in the event of an audit. He (Todd Gress, Office Manager) said that he doesn't know anything about it. At this point, I did not appreciate that professional tax advisors don't know if I need to even file or not, his grilling me about my insurance and how was I even eligible (none of their business), brusque and dismissive "never heard of it" for my insurance, and then not knowing enough about tax laws that there is no way anyone in that office would be able to represent me when I get audited. I ask if he would like me to go to a different office, and he gave a resounding "Yes," and tossed my paperwork onto the desk in front of me. This is when I informed him that I was giving them a bad Yelp review because they don't really know tax law, and Mr. Gress attitude toward me.
If your taxes involve anything more than the most basic 1040-EZ form, do not go to this office. read more