Don't be surprised if they go above and beyond your expectations!! I seldom write Yelp reviews (I've only written one prior to this). When I do, it's because I've come across an exceptionally outstanding business whose level of service I truly appreciate and want others to know about. I was part owner of a business in downtown San Jose (a restaurant). Soon after starting the business, my partners and I came to the realization that many other business owners do; we didn't have the knowledge or time to do the accounting and the tax filings required for running a business ourselves. (In fact, the very idea of taking on these additional tasks ourselves was downright nerve-racking; I'd literally lose sleep thinking about it!) Rather than risk doing things incorrectly, we decided to seek outside assistance for our accounting, tax preparation and tax filing needs. This would allow us to focus on the day-to-day tasks and growing the business. There are many firms providing tax and accounting services located in my immediate area that we could have gone to for assistance (there are at least 4 on my street alone). After meeting with a handful of them, I felt they were limited on how they could assist us. Specifically, I came away from those meetings feeling that they wouldn't understand our specific situation and therefore, wouldn't be able to provide the best guidance and service we desperately needed. To us, having two-way, effective communication with someone helping us in this area of our business was of the utmost importance and up to that point, didn't feel we found the right people to help us. Then, I came across Javier Melendez, Marketing Director at Palma Financial Services, through a colleague of mine, who was also an existing client of his. My business partner and I set up a meeting with Javier at our place of business. During our initial meeting, I noticed right off the bat that Javier was very personable and professional, and learned he had been in the industry for some time. He could tell that the idea of doing the bookkeeping and taxes ourselves made us extremely nervous (we had a great fear of doing things incorrectly, and that things would come back and bite us later down the line). I had several questions for him that day in which he either addressed himself or said he'd present to the actual CPA to obtain the answers to. As the initial meeting ended, I thought to myself, "I think we've found the right person to help us". He really put a lot of my worries at ease due to his ability to listen and ask questions; I felt he had the sincere desire to help people in our situation. Because of this, we ultimately decided to move forward with him after we received a quote for the services (later that day). A few months later (earlier this year), we unfortunately had to close our business due to personal reasons. This caused a shift in what had to be done with our accounting and tax filing - instead of our focus being on planning ahead, we now had to focus on "closing the books". Javier took this change into stride and assured us we would be okay in these important areas. Fast-forward to a few weeks ago (late October) when we needed to file our business tax return. It was during this time we worked directly with Miguel Palma, the CPA at Palma Financial Services. Upon meeting Miguel, the first things I noticed about him were, much like Javier, he is very personable and displays a high level of professionalism. I really felt at ease because of his demeanor, and really began to just know we were in very good hands. We had a few follow-up phone meetings in which we discussed not only the business' taxes, but also our individual tax returns (for my wife and I), as they relate to the business. (In addition to handling the business taxes, my wife and I hired him to do our individual tax return as well). During one of the calls, he offered to speak to my wife and I to ensure we both fully understood the options. In doing so, he helped us narrow down the option we were most comfortable with. It was during these meetings that I learned that Miguel, like myself, has a family of his own, and it was apparent that his approach to helping people like me was to comprise the best options that would best suit my family's financial wellbeing. It is extremely reassuring to know, that while most people may listen to you just enough to be able to respond, there are those still around that actually listen to you in a sincere attempt to really try to understand you. With this being said, Miguel and his team are definitely professionals who take the time to comprehend your situation and concerns, then provide you with the best options and services based on your individual needs. We're grateful for Palma Financial Services' consultations, expertise and experience. We undoubtedly chose the right firm to be in our corner. I'd highly recommend them to anyone needing accounting, financial planning or tax services. read more

Palma Financial is a family business. Generally, I'm a fan of people owning and running their own businesses. I think it's better for the local economy and offers a much better standard of living. I've been consulting with Palma Financial and getting to know the family behind this company. In my dealings with them, I have found them all to be pleasant and professional. Miguel has worked on some impressive corporate cases such as taking Levi's private and negotiating large IRS settlements on behalf of individuals. Miguel is a creative and thoughtful accountant. He is not a tax preparer. There is a significant difference. If you ask your accountant for ideas on how to restructure your income or assets to maximize tax advantages, 99/100 of them will offer nothing tangible. Miguel is different. If you owe money to the IRS, every day you wake up to feel the pressure. Most people will try to hide and avoid the problem. Miguel is different. Palma financial is a family business. If you are expecting a fancy office and an organized corporate structure you will be disappointed. There are no levels of management and they can seem chaotic at times like every small business. The difference is they are working with people like me to improve, streamline, define, and perfect their services. If you are a small business owner, a contractor, Realtor, consultant, or dentist that has large tax liabilities, overdue taxes, QuickBooks issues, or would simply like to institute more complicated and beneficial tax structures, Miguel and Palma financial would be a good choice. If you are an employee earning wages from a company job and do not want to pay for strategic advice, IRS representation, or QuickBooks help, there are other places that are better suited to handle your needs. Knowledgeable and CREATIVE accountants are rare and are not the same as a tax preparer. You pay them large sums of money because they save you even larger sums. There's a big difference. www.justinfowler.com read more

In the last 5 years, my concerns about my taxes (business and professional) had become a huge burden for me. I had to change 3 CPA's in the past 5 years for various service related reasons. Then I turned to Yelp/Google, and after reading the long list of stellar reviews, I contacted Palma Financial Services. That was the best decision I have made in all of 2016. And now after dealing with Miguel @ Palma Financial Services for getting professional advice on many of my ventures and 2015 taxes, I believe my search has finally ended to find a reasonable priced world class CPA that I can rely for many decades. Miguel has been incredibly helpful in providing information, recommendations, and guidance for my accounting and tax preparation needs. What I really like about Palma Financial Services: - Miguel Palma is very knowledgeable, professional and vey friendly. Just after the first meeting, I felt like I have been dealing with Miguel forever and I can trust his advice. - He always answered all questions and explained everything very patiently. - He is very available, and communicates promptly. He has fit us into his tight schedule unplanned and on early/late weekends so many times that I had lost count now. (I had texted Miguel as late as 9 PM for some urgent financial advice and gotten a reply back in 5 minutes. Was truly amazed. That is so helpful when making decisions that could have tax implications.) read more

The 3 words I'd use to describe Miguel and his team at Palma Financial Services: Caring, Trustworthy & Experienced. I met Miguel through my husband, who hired Palma Financial Services to do his business' accounting and tax filings. In working with my husband, we had learned from Miguel that there would be losses from my husband's business (a LLC) that we could claim as write-offs on our individual returns. As a result, we decided to hire him to complete our personal tax returns this year. I first spoke with Miguel by phone in November of last year, and upon meeting him, noticed he is very personable and friendly. In addition, he was extremely knowledgeable in regards to our individual tax filings (as they relate to my husband's business). He was very concise and thorough in advising us of our filing options and I could immediately see the vast experience Miguel has when discussing tax matters. Almost immediately, I knew we were in goods hands. Earlier this week, Palma Financial just completed our tax returns for 2016 and we were pleasantly surprised at what we're getting as a tax refund! I'm grateful and pleased at the level of care and service we've received. Thank you so much, Miguel! Additional words or phrases I'd use to describe this firm: Family-oriented, Prompt and Thorough. I'd definitely recommend Palma Financial Services to anyone needing tax services. You will not be disappointed! read more

I own a small business and with the hustle and bustle of daily life I just kept putting off getting my taxes done. I was recommended by a friend (realtor) to Miguel. And I have to say this recommendation has been a life saver. He saved me so much money and the customer service is exceptional. They truly treat you like family. I had an after work appointment and was starving. They went to a nearby grocery store and brought back all the fixings for a wonderfully delicious Greek salad. We then had dessert: ice cream from Sweet Retreat! They are also really flexible and accommodatintg. Like I said, I had an after work appointment and they were able to work with my schedule to get me in at a time that worked best for ME! They schedule me at 8pm and never rushed me! He and his staff are also great at answering email. Don't be surprised if you get a response at 2 or 3am. The staff is kind and always looking to please. They will offer me coffee, coke, diet coke, sprite,water, or tea as soon as you get to the front desk! Their service is one of a kind and you definitely get what you pay for!!! I would and have recommended them to everyone!!!! read more

After searching www.calcpa.org for CPAs in the East Bay, I reached out to Palma Financial Services and a few others to help ascertain steps I should take to form a software business. Miguel and his team corresponded with me immediately and we quickly set up a meeting to answer the questions I had, which were many: What type of entity should I form? What will tax preparation look like? What questions am I not thinking of? The list went on... Miguel Palma and I met the next day and he couldn't have impressed me more. Right from the start, an emphasis on fairness set the tone for both sides of the table and I cannot highlight how relieving that was. After admitting my own ignorance about these affairs (this will be my first business), Mr. Palma patiently answered every detailed question I could come up with, and interjected a handful of answers to questions I didn't know to ask. Though our business relationship is only just beginning, and I'll certainly update this review with more information as we progress, it's clear to me that at the very least Team Palma is an honest, fair and knowledgeable firm to work with. read more

Miguel at Palma financial has been amazing. Since I had first retained his services my core competency has increased considerably. At the advice of Miguel I started a corporation. I am a 1099 employee, and was not aware of this strategy. As a result of having set that up my child became an employee. I was reluctant to this as I am conservative and it seemed aggressive. Miguel directed to the tax code and I read it myself. I funded a ROTH IRA for my child. Although the amount is relatively low, Miguel explained to me the power of compounding gains. I am most appreciative and for the first time in a long time, I feel good that I am being proactive instead of reacting too late and under duress. Miguel is an extremely compassionate person, I can tell he has a hard time saying no. I noticed that during tax time he is extremely busy. So I opted to wait until after the tax season to proceed with non tax "returns" related goals. I have referred multiple friends and family and all of the feedback as been positive. Thank you again Miguel, and the entire staff at Palma Financial! read more

After having some horrible experiences with several different CPAs in the Bay Area, I was referred to Mr. Palma through a former colleague. From Day 1, Mr. Palma and his staff treated me like family and has always been committed to help alleviate the stress of dealing with scary government agencies like the IRS and the Franchise Tax Board. After several years of doing business with Palma Financial, I feel compelled to share my experience with anyone who is seeking for a black tie service, 5 star CPA. Mr. Palma has helped guide me through personal and corporate tax returns, setting up corporate entities, personal bankruptcy, and even advising me on tax implications on cryptocurrency investing. Mr. Palma has always been flexible and fair on his fee structure and for the price, I don't think anyone could find a better CPA in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Palma, thank you so much for helping educate and nurture a young businessman navigate the murky waters of accounting. God Bless. read more

Very bad business ethics. i explain as follows: 1.- Miguel did not file my income taxes on time and i had to pay late fees to the IRS. 2.- He submitted late and told me i had to pay so much money that i was concerned about hte amount of money. 3.- i took it to other CPA and found out multiple errors and things that were not true. for example: 4.- he did not used any of my expenses for my income taxes. 5.- i sold some stock i have at a company retirement, and he did not disclose them correctly on the return. 6.- he did not use depreciation for some reason. 7.- he put on the return i owned a bank some where in East Coast. 8. when previous returns were checked, he did not use the losses on the following years, consequently had a huge impact on my income. on top of all that he charged me $800.00. i wouldn't recommend him for your accounting or tax returns. it may not be him as a person, but there is something wrong in his firm where customer service should be a priority. read more

I have been a client of Miguel's since 2004. During this time I've always known Miguel to be a consummate professional and, rare to the accountant breed, very personable and has a great sense of humor. I mean, Miguel is the type of person you would want to hang out with yet you know the guy is super busy serving his other clients. If you have followed him on social media you'll see he is always giving seminars on Financial matters and extends his knowledge and expertise way beyond his traditional CPA arena. He always keeps himself up to date on the constantly changing tax laws and ways to provide his clients optimum returns in a timely fashion. Personally, I am a client for life and have recommended him to many of my family members and friends. Thank you Miguel for the many years of exceptional service!! Larry read more

As his strategic partner, we have been working with Palma Financial Services for the last month; they take a holistic approach to their clients' finances. Miguel makes it a priority to meet with his client's and review their financial statements to maximize profits and improve their ROI. Last month we saved one of his clients $20,000.00 on their Workers Compensation which resulted in a nice boost to his cash flow. Miguel does take an interest in making his customers lives and businesses better. We believe they go above and beyond preparing tax returns and financial statements! You should contact Palma Financial Services, Inc. if you are interested in exploring options to save on your Personal Home & Auto Insurance, Commercial Liability and Workers Comp as well as Employee Benefits and Individual Insurances. read more

Mr.Palma (CPA) at first I felt like Mr.palma was being honest with me about my tax refund I paid Mr.Palma up front an also trusted him on the fact that he was going to do his job that I asked of him an cheated me for my money taking from me n my children he lied to me said I was a threat to him an also was very dissed honest It took me four months to find out that he played me and took my money thinking that he was a professional CPA.... very judge mental and also fake People like Mr. Palma is very selfish I wouldn't recommend anybody to go to him no matter what his stories or his opinion be careful mr.palma likes to win an he will if you let him all I wanted him to do was to fix the issue I had with IRS he led me to believe him and it was all failure good luck god bless read more

Palma Financial is an outstanding firm to work with. I cannot praise this company enough for all the amazing work they have done for me these past four years. Miguel Palma and his team of high performing professionals have always done exceptional work for me in personal and business financial management and accounting. He and his staff are incredibly professional, knowledgeable, courteous, genuine, responsive and dedicated to successfully lower my taxable income and assess my financial situation to increase my investment earnings. Miguel Palma's strong ethics, attention to every detail and impressive track record on increasing my investment earnings deserve all five stars. I highly recommend him to all my friends and professional colleagues. read more

I recently started managing a small family trust and found that there were substantial omissions in past tax returns. It wasnt that the CPA wasnt knowledgeable - the quality of the relationship with our family was shallow and he didnt know our finances - and things got missed. A good CPA should know what youve done, a great CPA gets to know you and what you want to do as well. You not only dont miss major opportunities for tax credits or deductions but you learn how to take a stronger tack toward your goals and dreams. Palma Financial is a great mix of a personable family business that maintains the highest professional standards. If I liked them any better Id be at the "I love you man" stage. Maybe after a few beers. read more

CPA Palma is a true profesional financial planner who can guide a family, a business to structure their financial well-being under the complexities of the IRS regulations through long-term financial and tax planning strategies. As a trusted advisor, CPA Palma is in a unique position to provide objective recommenations to his clients to make informed decisions. In addition, CPA Palma provides free financial literacy seminars to advance the knowledge and understanding of the taxpayers to better shape their decisions on retirement, taxes, investing, insurance, education, and estate planning. One is absolutely in the best hands with CPA Miguel Palma, a true success story! Carlos Figueroa read more

Miguel was very friendly, helpful and professional. I approached him to seek his advice on a potential problem I might have with my tax returns for a prior year. He confidently assured me that there was no reason for me to worry and that I shouldn't loose sleep over this. I had sought his advice for my individual tax returns, but I am sure that he is quite capable of handling much more serious tax and accounting matters and will be helpful in all kinds of situations. He can instantly put you at ease while still being honest and practical. He definitely seemed to be very knowledgeable. Over and above, he didn't charge me at all for his advice. I would highly recommend him. read more

I started using Palma Financial Services about 20 years ago. I am more than satisfied With their work. I consider Miguel his staff and his family good friends as a result. I know Miguel to keep himself updated on the changing laws and ins and outs of tax preparing. Miguel has referred me to some of his contacts when I had questions about rental properties, loans, helping me with rolling over my 401K and getting me into a IRA that I am happy with. I have referred Miguel to family n friends and will continue to do so. Some people will always be unsatisfied in any aspect of life, but I'm sure the good outweighs the bad in this aspect. Thank you Miguel and staff/family. Benny G read more

This was the first year I worked with Miguel at Palma Financial Services and his team Gabriel, Pedro and Jasmine, for tax preparation. I feel fortunate and appreciative of their professionalism on every level. I was a nervous client! It was my first time transitioning from years of salaried income to a "retiree" trying to reinvent myself creating a small educational business, with all kinds of tax issues I was unfamiliar with. They were always very reassuring and patient with the million things I had to ask and try to understand. I'm sure they show that professionalism and go the extra mile for all their clients, and I have no hesitation recommending them. Thanks team! read more