Francis is, without a doubt, the most dedicated and knowledgeable CPA I've had the pleasure to work with. He charges a reasonable flat rate and encourages you to ask any and all questions you have without regarding the time. He helped me uncover several errors in my previous tax returns due to the incompetence of my previous CPA and gave me options to remedy these issues without feeling pressured to continue using his services. He makes an honest effort to save me money and I greatly appreciate his integrity. I will be following up with him on resolving my previous years' issues and will definitely continue using his services in the future! As for Anny's review below, I am baffled if we even saw the same CPA. There is another Tax Magic listing on Yelp based in Hayward so I'm guessing she must've been talking about him? Francis is the complete opposite of "irresponsible" and "uncaring", and I find him completely trustworthy. I highly recommend you reach out to Francis for your tax woes -- he's the right guy who'll fix it for you without breaking the budget! (Plus he has really good jasmine tea he'll be glad to serve you!) read more

Francis was very kind and knowledgeable. I used him after my dad passed away, all the way through when my mom passed. I miss our annual talks. read more

I feel bad leaving a bad review because Francis tries and he is a small business, but I feel others should be warned about his limitations. Francis did our taxes the past two years. Francis does not file electronically because he does not want to pay the fee to be a tax preparer, so he requires you to drop off all forms in person at his house and will not accept anything electronically. Again because he doesn't pay for the tax preparer version of TurboTax, he has you log onto his computer to access all stock transactions from any third party software like Wealthfront or eTrade, which made us very uncomfortable and need to change all our passwords. Some reading this will know that above a certain income level the IRS requires you by law to file electronically. Surprisingly Francis did not know this and was annoyed and angry when I pointed it out, and I had to argue with him to get him to figure out a way to help us file electronically (I also offered to pay him for his time and find someone else if he didn't want to do it, which he didn't want), which was very awkward. He also had never heard of a backdoor Roth and initially gave us incorrect advice, which should have been a big enough red flag not to use him. The final straw was that this year, our taxes were rejected and we are still dealing with the IRS for a claim related to our social security tax exemption being filed incorrectly. Francis is nice enough and tries very hard, but his refusal to do things electronically and his inexperience with common tax issues outside a certain income bracket would make him a poor fit for many. read more

The first year I worked with Francis I wrote him an outstanding review but that simply doesn't feel good enough anymore. This is the third year in a row that I have worked with Francis and it feels necessary to reiterate how great working with him is. I truly do not dread doing my taxes anymore because Francis makes it incredibly easy. He is thorough, competent, and works hard to ensure I save as much money as I can. In addition to his extensive tax knowledge, he is extremely pleasant to work with. I have actually been asking all my friends if they need someone to help them with their taxes because I want to refer Francis to all the people I love. read more

Such a kind soul and a master of taxes. Truly Tax Magic! After going through multiple tax preparers over the years and no one being confident in the realm of foreign income, we were lucky enough to find Francis & have finally found our go-to tax accountant Based on some poor experiences over the years, we knew we did not want to stick w/ same tax accountants we'd used in the past. For this year, we were bold enough to think our taxes would be straightforward so we tried doing it ourselves but got totally hung up on the worldwide income deductions & itemizations we needed to enter & knowing our final figures were nowhere accurate, we succumbed to the fact we needed professional support..... Francis had our issue figured out within 2 hours and we were back on track w/ what we were expecting to owe - something we could have never figured out on our own. He is truly fluent in foreign taxes, worldwide income & all the pitfalls that are out there in terms of allowable vs non-allowable deductions. We felt confident in his abilities and will certainly be using him going forward. Such a relief to be in such capable hands! read more

Francis is a life saver, plain and simple. I was trying to figure out a complicated issue involving RSUs, ESPPs, an old W2 and my current W2. It was around 9:45PM when I got fed up w T**boT*x and took to Yelp in search of salvation - how often do you see a financial professional open til 10:30PM??? After a quick call explaining my issues, Francis took pity on me and solved my problems in less than 72 hours. I was missing a form and he was able to work backwards to find a different statement, changing my status from owing on my returns to getting a ton of money back. He is the absolute best, not to much very sweet and funny. read more

TAX MAGIC holds true to its name! I reached out to Francis after receiving a love letter from the IRS... I had filed my taxes using Intuit software, leading to some major mistakes in my federal and state tax documents. My financial situation: income from W2, RSUs, ESPP, and rental income. Francis took one look at my 1040A and immediately knew why the IRS was coming for me. He explained every mistake, and how he would fix it. Within days, I had an amended return sent to the IRS and Franchise Tax Board. Francis saved me over 13k. He's meticulous and thorough, making sure every last cent adds up. Francis has spent over 30 years studying tax law and it shows. My life pro tip to all of you: Ditch the cheap software. Go to Tax Magic (in San Francisco). You'll thank me later :) read more

What a fitting name for someone who truly works magic when it comes to taxes! When I came to Francis, I had two years of taxes that were a mess in terms of amendments that were needed. Not only did Francis patiently help me work through two years of miscalculations, but he also patiently explained to me each step of the way the rationale for his changes. At the end of the process, not only did he secure me an incredible refund, but he also made sure that all of my filings for the past two years were correct. Once Francis takes you on as a client, you can rest assured that he will take care of you. I have never worked with a professional services provider who is as kind, thoughtful, and caring as Francis. He is, without a doubt, one of the best! read more

This review is definitely a little late, but I just wanted to say how great Francis is for helping with taxes! Not only is he quick, straight-forward, and honest; but he's human. By having his own business, and not being part of--let's say H&R block, he has the compassion and care to actually listen to your situation, what you're going through, and tell you the process of how your taxes will be taken care of and what to do. He doesn't just number crunch, although he is really good at it. I came to him after trying to go to an H&R block, and after they had said it would take a week or two to file my late taxes, he literally got back to me the same day I visited him, gave me an estimate on my return, and laid it all out. In the end, I would give him two thumbs up, five stars, 10/10, or whatever standard you like. Coming back here for any tax problems I may have. read more

Francis is the tax magician! We feel so grateful that he took us on as clients. His experience and expertise is such a blessing for our family. He breaks everything down for you and makes it clear and understandable. The best! read more

"He is not accepting any new clients" Surely he is good at what he does and this is the result. read more

Francis Law has prepared the tax returns for my Web design & development studio for several years. I highly recommend his services. Francis is meticulous in his work. My tax returns are expertly prepared with care. Francis is also a thoughtful person who is a pleasure to work with. Francis makes an extra effort to ensure the tax returns he prepares for me are satisfactory. When I needed an adjustment to a return he prepared a few years ago, he responded immediately and completed the revision promptly. I'll never bother again with tax preparation "factories" like H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, etc. Over the years, Francis has identified thousands of dollars in refunds that I would have otherwise missed. He's very thorough; plan on spending an hour or longer with him as he analyzes every detail of your income and expenses. read more

Francis has done my taxes the last two years. I had previously done my taxes myself using online tools but my life got complicated enough that I needed professional help. I am so lucky that I found Francis and am writing my first Yelp review to express my gratitude. As is true with a lot of people, my finances reflect very personal and emotional information about myself. Francis has handled it all with compassion and understanding. He gave me all the time I needed to explain my situation but finished my taxes quickly. He asks the right questions and accepts the answers without judgement. I feel assured that he completed my taxes with the same care with which he did his own. read more

Francis is absolutely amazing. I was overwhelmed with tax documents this year due to an inheritance, and he calmly and patiently explained to me each piece of paperwork and it's tax implications. Francis knows tax law inside and out, and the is able to share his knowledge in a way that is interesting and easy to understand. Francis' vast knowledge of tax law is only exceeded by his charming and open personality. I never, in a million years, thought I would look forward to tax time, but Francis is such a joy to work with that it is now a pleasure instead of a burden. Thank you so much, Francis! read more

I echo the other reviews. Francis has been preparing my taxes for several years and is always thorough and incredibly detailed throughout the process. He will research and exhaust all options to get you the best return. He really does go the extra mile and year after year have been pleased with the results. Always professional, attentive and personable. I wouldn't even think of going to anyone else. He is incredibly knowledgeable and well versed on relevant tax issues. read more

I wasn't the best client for Francis since I was a high risk for audit. But in the time I got to know him he sat with me for 2 hours and seemed knowledgeable about my situation. I hope I got to teach him about real estate contracts a little bit as well. My take away was he is a fair person and he also enthusiastically called me back faster than an other CPA I contacted. I wish him the best with his future clients. read more

Francis is personable, respectful, and amazing at his job. It's not often that a person looks forward to doing their taxes every year, but since I found Francis the tax process has become a pleasure rather than a burden, as odd as that sounds. I highly recommend Tax Magic CPA to anyone who wants to add a trusted advisor to their financial team. You won't regret it. read more

Update: Francis Law has helped me with my taxes for over 4 years now. I agree with other reviewers that he does go the extra miles to help you out with your tax. He is very detailed oriented and extremely careful when preparing your taxes. There is one reviewer and you know who you are. Business have the right to turn you down if they know they won't have time to help you out. Don't take it personally. It's wrong to go online and start reviewing a business when you have no interaction with. Are you going to review a hotel that you NEVER stay at? ------------------------------ This is my first time of coming to Francis Law to have my tax prepare. I'm more than satisfied with his work. He's very professional, prompt, responsive, and extremely knowledgeable in this field. I would recommend him to anyone without any hesitations. When you have the best, why go elsewhere! read more

Frances saved our financial lives! My boyfriend was desperate as a 1099er and was doing his taxes all wrong for over three years! Frances took his call two days before the tax deadline in April and worked his magic! Instead of owing, we will get a refund back! It was truly amazing how hard Frances worked on our behalf and how much valuable advice he gave. He spends the time to educate you on your taxes and goes the extra mile to file! Thank you Frances for saving us thousands of dollars and for providing a valuable service to our community! You are truly a tax magic wizard!! read more

What can i say? Francis is a licensed CPA with decades of experience doing taxes and complex ones at that. He fixed my taxes from previous years done by a tax professional at one of those well known tax services. Francis is fast, hard working, and has true expertise - especially as it relates to stocks. I don't recommend anyone do their own taxes when it comes to the complexities of navigating through our tax forms and the constant rules that change from year to year because it depends on who our president is. Depend on a professional CPA who knows how to properly fill out the forms and keeps up to date on the tax laws. Honestly I hate doing tedious taxes but they are tremendously important not only for our financial needs but our obligation as citizens or residents of this State. Do it right and you can guarantee that will be the case with Francis managing your taxes! read more

Look no further! Francis is the best CPA out there. I recently stepped into a role in real estate in which I was 1099 employee and wanted to make sure I was properly saving for my taxes / following proper protocols for quarterly payments. I sat down with Francis and my mind was put at ease. He is always professional, detail oriented and will go the extra mile to make sure he can get you the best return. As he has stated to me multiple times, tax is his passion and it certainly shows. Thanks Francis for all you do, you are the best!! read more

Francis really is magic! He is extremely thorough and easy to work with. He knows the tax law like the back of his hand and gets you the most legal deductions possible. I really appreciate all he's done for me and he would be a great choice for anyone who needs help! read more

Francis is as knowledgable as he is kind. He knows the ins and outs of Tax law and can problem solve quickly. I have dealt with other CPAs who give little time or care to their clients and Francis is the total opposite. Highly recommend his services and can't praise him enough! read more

I was impressed by his reviews, so left him a message regarding assistance with my tax return. I never got a call back.

Meeting Francis was such a life changer. We had been previously working with a different tax CPA who delegated our relatively straightforward filing to one of his analysts. The analyst then proceeded to make several major mistakes that could have had incredible financial consequences. We met with Francis and he immediately walked us through what went wrong with our filing, how to correct it, and how to communicate with the IRS. He was there for us with his tax expertise and empathized with our situation, which was invaluable. Francis has a mission to help people who have been taken advantage with his patience, kindness, and unrivaled knowledge of the industry. read more

This was my first time having my taxes done by anyone and I can't say how great my experience was with Francis! He was extremely detailed and what I liked the most is he took the time to go over and explain everything and why he did it. He did a fantastic job and definitely maximized my return this year! Highly recommend him for your taxed. Thanks again Francis! read more

Overcharged. Not happy with Francis' services. He kept talking about something else during our consultation and then ended up overcharged me. read more

I was in need of desperate help when the notice payments were not adding up. Francis immediately picked up when I called and asked me questions to better understand my situation. He opened up his schedule to see me last minute for a consultation which was great! He got right to work and spent the whole weekend on my case! He helped educate me on some of the tax laws on my tax return and throughly explained step by step on what I needed to do to fix my situation. After a few days, Francis called me for a follow up which shows that he cares about his clients' customer service experience. Overall, he went above and beyondI I definitely recommend him to anyone who is in need of tax help! (Tip: Cash only for first time consultation) read more

Francis was extremely helpful in guiding me through my taxes this year. During my consultation, he spent over an hour answering my many questions and giving me advice. He gave me a fair and competitive rate, and completed my return in a very timely manner. Francis is clearly very passionate about his job and about helping his clients make the best tax/financial decisions. What a great find! read more

I recently had an extremely time sensitive accounting emergency, and Francis did an incredible job! In the final days of closing on a condo my lender pulled out due to a technicality that had to do with my tax returns. I discovered this on a Friday afternoon and had until Monday morning to sort it out. I called every tax specialist on yelp I could find, and Francis not only picked up the phone on a Saturday (off season), he cancelled his entire day on Sunday to meet with me and process amendments for my returns. He then wrote a letter to my bank explaining the changes, and worked late to make sure everything went through ok. Without him I may have lost my condo. My gratitude is endless. He is definitely the person to turn to if you want to know you're in good hands. read more

I am a nursing student juggling three jobs with multiple tax forms (W2s, 1099s, 1098-Ts). My income had fluctuated during the tax year and my health insurance status varied as well. To top things off, my social security number was incorrectly inputted by my employers the previous tax year. Sifting through all the forms can feel like a foreign language, so I was reluctant to file on my own. I found Francis on Yelp and decided to consult with him. Francis was absolutely wonderful to work with. He went the extra step to accommodate me and saw me on a Saturday morning. When I arrived, a couple from San Jose exchanged hugs with him and thanked him profusely. They smiled and told me they drive up to San Francisco every year so Francis could do his taxes. I can see why. Francis listened attentively to my situation and made me feel respected and valued. He took the time to explain the tax forms to me and I learned quite a bit from him. He was organized, transparent, and very professional. Furthermore, he understood my financial situation and gave me a very fair price for his quality work. Thank you Francis for all your help. I am wishing you all the best in your business endeavors. read more

Francis continues to provide great work on our taxes every year. I found him initially through Yelp and we've been so happy with the results. For the first time we're getting a refund thanks to his advice last year! His work ethic and dedication are excellent. He's a keeper! read more

I found Francis while looking through the Yelp reviews. Everything I read felt positive and I wanted to reach out. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him. Much like the other reviewers, I have had a great experience. Very knowledgeable and easy to talk with. He isn't just someone you work with but someone you get to know. Overall Francis was very thorough with his work and organized. He took extra time to go over this years tax return and even strategies for my taxes in the future. On top of this he he even found a mistake in a tax return from a previous year. read more

Francis is both highly intelligent and extremely kind. He is an expert in his field, and if my (very positive) experience is any indication, he will do a great job with your taxes. So glad to have found him. Thanks Francis! read more

Francis is a bonafide tax professional. I have never used a tax preparer in my life. I have used Turbo Tax for my personal and business taxes ever since it was released. Turbo Tax does not hold a candle to Francis. His personal care and attention to detail are second to none. A long time friend recommended Francis, and after dealing with him I wouldn't even think of having anyone else prepare my taxes. He literally saved me THOUSANDS of dollars on my return. As an auditor, he knows not to be overly aggressive with deductions to risk an audit. He does however get you every deduction (even some you didn't think of) that is fair and justified. read more

It's a god bless when you found a professional you can fully trust, that's how I felt after meeting Francis. I had lots of questions about setting up my own business, but answers I got from other CPAs were very generic, which left me even more questions. Francis not only patiently listened to my plan, and answered all my questions, but also told me a lots of things that I was not aware of. Now I know very clearly what steps to take going forward, and be able to focus on my projects. read more

Francis is an amazing Tax CPA professional that is not only extremely knowledgeable, but the most important part of him that is hard to find is the fact that he doesn't view his clients as another paycheck. He views them as unique individuals and really takes the time to understand your financial situation whether you're a student or a CEO- you will be treated with equal amount of care. My 2016 taxes were a mess and I ended up having to pay thousands of dollars owed. After speaking to Francis about my situation, he took a look at my tax return and immediately spotted tremendous mistakes the last tax preparer made. He helped me with my 2017 taxes and amended my 2016 as well which was worth every penny. I can't say enough good things about him. If you're looking for a tax professional with sharp attention to detail and a love-able personality, Francis is the one to go to. I would give him 10 stars if Yelp had the option. Thank you Francis!!! read more

Francis Law is hands down the best CPA I have worked with He makes all the others look really bad. I wish that I had his expertise years ago!! Pretty much he not only simply did our taxes, he helped my husband and me out of a huge mess that was solely our fault. AND, he did it one day before he was about to leave for vacation. We owe him tremendously. I highly recommend his services which are spot and and very reasonably priced. read more

I found Francis on yelp and because of the other great reviews I decided to contact him regarding my family's 2014 tax returns. Francis exceeded my expectations and lived up to all his great reviews. He went above and beyond to ensure a that I had the best possible return. We recently closed on a house and he actually found an error on my closing documents that ended up being an overpayment of nearly two thousand dollars!! He kept in continuous contact with me throughout the process and he was always very professional and eager to do a great job. I will definitely return next year and I whole heartedly recommend him to anyone in need of a CPA. Thanks Francis! read more

If you are lucky enough to have your taxes done by Francis you will know that he went the extra yard to do it right. He has done my taxes for 15 years and he has been careful and thoughtful through those years. My taxes are complicated and need the extra care that he provides. He is a gem. I recommend him highly. Tax magic indeed! read more