This man abandoned his offices on North Avenue in Chicago along with my mother's state and federal tax returns and all of her back up documentation. She has been calling and searching everywhere trying to get copies of her 2023 tax returns from Mr. Terrell to no avail. My mother is 83 years old and this is just ridiculous that she is being put through this. Keep in mind he cashed her check before abandoning his office. Beware. read more

I found out about Tax Station online. I wanted to find some help for my daughter and her partner. I heard that Tax Station was very helpful but that, since both my daughter and her partner had never been advised by a CPA, they could have used more upfront information about the process. And of course, this was during the pandemic, so everything seemed a little more difficult. I'm thinking they will use them again this year. Reasonable fees, too. read more

Al is the best -- I needed help with a couple years and not only did Tax Station get it straightened out, they made me feel so much better about everything -- so helpful and generally positive. I had a great experience with everyone I worked with in the office. This has been a couple years back, and I wanted to stop by and give a retroactive shout-out because they did such a good job when I really needed it. read more

Al is the best. As a professor with a PhD, I always thought I was pretty good at figuring out the taxes and between the Quicken records and tax cut programs, what was left? Well, I ran into some problems. A couple years ago figuring outsome dividends income wasabove my pay grade, and I headed to the closest tax expert near me. What a find Al is not just supersmart but just a really great person. I would give him my absolute highest recommendation. not only did he save me thousands and thousands of dollars, but may have kept me out a jail. I can't disclose any of the details of my tax return, since I am being audited by the IRS, but when I get elected president, I will disclose all the information. unless that causes a problem since I would want Al to be my secretary of the Treasury or Commerce. Lauren L read more

This is my second time. Does that make me a regular? I would dare say it does and I am a proud repeat customer at that, hence my update! Called in advance and made an appointment, brought in all my goods, and we were set to get started. I don't know what I like more about Al, his professionalism, cool demeanor, no tolerance for foolishness and those that try to seek him out to be a part of their scams. Whatever it is, I like it and I am confident that he would be like Beowulf, Dragon Slayer, against the IRS and that allows me to breathe a sigh of relief. Another positive experience and this visit was slightly different as I wanted to talk about some different options. He patiently explained the pros and cons of those decisions and even went so far as to simulate it for me so I could get a feel of how it could impact my taxes in the future. I also like that no question is a silly question. That is what I call service. I'll be back in 2014! read more

I found Al on Yelp! and, happy to say, the reviews were spot on. He is a great guy with a very nice small business, fantastic employees, and a strong moral compass. As he said to me many times, he won't take shortcuts or try to claim things that aren't 100% kosher because "that's not the way he does things". In short, Al was a pleasure to work with, flexible with my schedule, prompt, and inexpensive. read more

Worst experience ever. Spoke to this "accountant" by the name of Kevin and I thought I was going to receive some attention towards helping me out on my taxes for my business. We spoke about how much the cost would be on a Thursday, he advised to consolidate in Quickbooks so I immediately did this the following day. He didnt access my books until Saturday saying something was wrong but was never specific as if he didnt know how to use quickbooks. Fixed my issue then emailed him back on Monday and called, the man wasnt in the office on Monday. Come about Tuesday I finally reach him and Mr Kevin says he will attend to me after he works with other customers.....its 11PM Tuesday and the man never did anything nor emailed me nor called me. EXTREME UNPROFFESIONALISM. They will leave you in the dark....at least Kevin will. Hired Someone else whos more attentive. read more

These CPAs are timely, reliable, thorough, and provide excellent service. Tax Station is undoubtedly a great business.

Tax Station rocks. I've consistently used them since 2015. Kevin's been doing my taxes and has always been on point. He's efficient and thorough and you can leave confident your taxes were filed right the first time. I've come to highly value and trust Al and his team and would recommend them to family and friends. Kevin makes this yearly process an enjoyable one too. Can't speak highly enough of these guys. read more

I love Al at the Tax Station. I've been working with him for the last 3 years and he is awesome! His staff is very nice and he knows his stuff. Thanks Al and see you again next year :) read more

Al is awesome. Simple as that. Trust the ratings of your fellow reviewers...Al has all 5 stars (as of 3/29/13) for a reason. My wife and I needed some help with taxes this year since things got a little more complicated - we got married, bought a house, bought and sold some stock and also had some different types of company stock that was gifted. I used to use Turbo tax when i was single, owned nothing and only form of earnings was from earned income and that worked perfect when things were simple. The different stock scenarios were what confused me the most and prompted me to seek out help from a professional. Wen with Al because of his stellar reviews and he lived up to the hype. Very reasonably priced and can really break complicated tax lingo down to make it understandable to the non expert. I came away so much more informed than i was going in and feel like i not only was taken care of with our filings this year but also so much more informed with everything. He was also extremely patient with my millions of questions and even let me hop on my etrade account on his computer and broke everything down for me. The session was actually broken out into two days because i wanted to gather a little more information and come back the next day and he was more than happy to oblige and did not charge for two separate sessions...just one flat rate for filing your taxes. As long as Al is in business and willing to do our taxes we will be back to use his services. H&R block is hit or miss depending on the random person you get but you know exactly what you are getting with Al. Thanks Al. read more

Big Al Came to my rescue! Mr. Al worked with me on an extremely short notice, coached me on what I needed to work on, and gave me extraordinary service! If you need a professional accountant with great customer service skills, then AL is your guy! read more

I was referred to Tax Station and met with Al, who is a very knowledgeable and approachable accountant. I walked into Tax Station very overwhelmed and needed immediate assistance as I had a unique situation in filing my taxes returns. I was a little apprehensive because I had a bad experience with a different accountant who advised me to file incorrectly when receiving a 1099 form from an employer. That tax preparation and filing cost me a few thousand bucks for 1 tax year! Al took the time to understand my needs and answered all my questions. I never felt rushed during my consultation and he was able to take me step by step during the process. I walked away feeling confident instead of overwhelmed given my situation. Very highly recommended. read more

Great place! Glad we found it! Everyone in the office is friendly and knowledgeable! We usually do our own taxes but it was the first year we were filing jointly so we decided to have an experienced CPA do them for us, couldn't have had a better experience. Thanks! read more

I am a rare Yelp reviewer and I am only compelled to write a review when I am EXTREMELY pleased or unhappy. I am a CPA with an MBA. I took tax prep with H & R Block and worked there one tax season. A friend had not filed her taxes in about 6 years due to a divorce, and a dispute over who got which deductions, which the judge ultimately decided years later. She was over whelmed and went with a long time tax preparer in Skokie, who a friend recommended. I also knew someone who was very happy with this same CPA for both business and personal taxes. Since my friend had a history of people referring her to professionals that do a great job for them and not for her, and her IRS bill was approaching $40K; she asked me review the 6 years the Skokie CPA prepared. Just in glancing at them, I notice missing deductions for her personal condo for some years and not for others (did they think she bought and sold it every other year), and despite having a business that was her sole support, she had no Schedule C or related business expense deductions, just income. We literally sat down at her kitchen table for weeks and put together a spread sheet of her financial details for the previous 6 years. Since I did not have tax prep software, and it was going to be an audit situation because of the major overhaul, we are blessed to have found Al "Big Taxes" Terrell. He took over where I left off. He took my notes on what was wrong and the numbers I had crunched, and turned them into amendments that allowed her to get thousands of dollars back and avoid much of the penalties and interest she had been assessed. She has continued to us Al and he has now done her taxes from 2000-present and she trusts him completely, which is hard for her to do when she has had such bad service from lawyers and CPAs. Can I recommend Al? YES, completely and without reservations. Gather your numbers and put your tax worries in his well equipped hands. read more

Had an appointment yesterday to sort out my taxes for the past couple years. Was nervous about being in a financial mess with back taxes but Michelle took care of all of it and talked me through the process. Al reviewed all of it before she submitted. It was quick and painless and I could tell I was working with a trusting small business who was reasonably priced! I will be going back next year and will definitely be telling my friends! read more

I'm 35 and have always done my own taxes. My taxes have become a bit more complex over the years so I deiced to look for help. I found Tax Station on Yelp. Thank God for Yelp and Tax Station as I will never again be doing my taxes w/out the help of a professional like Al. I was able to meet w/ Al and in less than an hour my taxes were done and filed. Al provided excellent counsel. I would highly recommend Tax Station to anyone looking for efficient, effective help w/ their taxes. read more

I don't normally write reviews but I feel compelled to write one about this place. They were very friendly on the phone when I made the appointment. Kevin McGee did my taxes. He was incredibly helpful and spent time patiently advising me on a tax issue unrelated to last years return in addition to doing my taxes for the year. Very highly recommended. read more

My taxes are fairly complicated and as a customer of Al's for several years now, I continue to return because he is completely dedicated to completing taxes accurately, honestly, and in a timely fashion. No matter the new tax situation I throw at Al each year (and every year I seem to find something new to include), he always is professional and pensive regarding the best approach to handling it. He mentioned this year his retirement plans, and my first thought was "I'll be having him handle my taxes until that day!" read more

My return wasn't as high as it was last year and instead of brushing it off, Al took the time to go over last year's return and account for every dollar of difference (the main ones being higher contributions to 401K and having my wife on my insurance plan). I'm not an expert at tax preparation, so trust is a huge factor in this process for me, and I trust Al very much. He's professional and courteous. read more

My husband found Tax Station here on Yelp as we were looking for a new tax preparer. We needed to get our taxes done ASAP as we needed to meet a deadline for financial aid for school for our kids. Al & Frederick were able to get us in quickly and had our return completed in a matter of hours. We had a rather complicated tax situation and Frederick and Al took additional time to review our return to make sure that we had taken advantage of every possible deduction available to us. We definitely plan on using them again this year! read more

I have been using Al for the last 3 years. I thought he was doing a good job as my taxes were a little more complicated because of the bonds I own from Puerto Rico. I spoke to him each year about my concerns that I think my bonds were state and federal exempt. Al let me know that the bonds were fed exempt but not state exempt. This last year I spoke to my bond guy with my concerns and he let me know that I shouldn't be paying state tax on them and should try to get my money back from what I already paid. I spoke to Al about it and first he argued with me and then finally let me know that I was correct. He gave me the forms to fill out in order to get refunded from the state which took a long time. I thought he would refund me some of the money I paid for his services in the past for the hassle I have to go through to get refunded. After sending the information to the state twice with the first time being denied I finally got my money back. I don't recommend Al because it seems like he doesn't do his do his research before making decisions on assets that he's not 100 percent sure about. If he makes this type of mistake with you believe me it causes headaches. read more

First time reviewer, but long time recipient of sound tax advice from VIP! Always knowledgeable of the changes in tax codes as they pertain to your household; Al applies such with professionalism and verve. My husband and I regularly rely on his discernment and subsequently; have always meet with success. Craig & Shirley read more

I actually found Tax Station here on Yelp and was certainly not disappointed! I rarely review but my experience today warrants a review.... I should start by saying that taxes intimidate me to no end and even talking about the details and paperwork scares me. I went in and met Al today and within a few minutes of looking at my paperwork he had spotted an error that my previous tax guy made last year. He is clearly incredibly knowledgeable and completed my tax preparation so quickly. I thought I was going to owe money but turns out I am getting a pretty sizable return! Al explained everything to me in a way that made sense. To add to the easy tax experience, Al is about as nice as it gets! He has a very calm and welcoming energy and was very pleasant to converse with. AND he charged me less than the guy that screwed up my taxes last year! I was very pleased with Tax Station and would recommend to anyone looking for a knowledgable professional. read more

They are friendly , somewhat easy to obtain an appointment, and they are knowledgeable about your tax questions. Reasonably priced too.

Al is the Man!!! He saved me from the mistakes of H & R Block! If it weren't for Al, I would be in big trouble! He is always smiling and ready to help! I have been a client of his for 5 years and would never go anywhere else!! Al is a professional and compassionate person. He is easy to work with and he knows his business. I highly recommend him! read more

Ive been going to the Tax Station for years. Even though I've moved to the burbs, I still travel to the city to see Al. He's professional, accommodating and his service is top notch. I won't go anywhere else! read more

I did my tax in Tax Station. The service was good, what I complained is the charge. When I called them they said it was $250. But I was charged for $300. read more

The best tax preparation services i've experienced here in Chicago. Al was honest, forthcoming, extremely thorough and was very reasonable in terms of pricing. Believe me you won't be disappointed!! read more

I've been coming to Al for my taxes since 2011, and have always felt like I was in good hands! I work for myself so It's nice to know I have someone to help me navigate through all the bit and pieces of what could be a confusing pile of paperwork. I know Al is very honest, and will make sure I know of all the small things I can do each year to maximize my earnings. I never completely dread doing my taxes thanks to Al! "Giving up" your money is never fun, but he makes the process as painless as possible! haha read more

Al is efficient, knowledgeable and honest...I have been a client for 3 years and counting.

Like other reviewers, I found Al on Yelp and am so happy that I did. I had taxes to file from two states and a US territory and Al handled it without a hiccup. He's a fantastic accountant and a great guy. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to have their taxes done. Kudos to you Al and your great staff!!! read more

I transferred my accounting needs to Tax Station several years ago and have been happy with my decision ever since. Al Terrell is a thorough professional (and a delight to work with). Although my needs are not very complicated, he gives me a detailed report for every penny and treats me with the same respect that we would someone with a more elaborate financial life. This is a big change from my previous accountant who was patronizing (and a rip-off). I recommend Al Terrell at Tax Station unconditionally for his commitment to excellence! read more

I am so very disappointed with Tax station. After one great year with them, there was an error on my taxes and rather than helping me figure out what happened, they made a point to continuously blame me for the mistake and Al would not respond to my emails. Carolyn from the office responded continuously on his behalf despite my request to hear from him and she was very unprofessional and rude. read more

This is my second year going to VIP Tax Station, Al is one of the smartest people you will ever meet--that is who you want doing your taxes. Over the years my taxes have become too difficult for me to handle doing myself. This year, they were especially complex, I would not have trusted anyone else to handle them. read more

I have had my tax returns prepared and filed via the Tax Station for the last two years. Al and his team are very professional and thorough. I appreciate the ability to upload all my supporting tax documents via the Station's online portal. Correspondence and review via the portal and email make the tax prep process very efficient. When I do visit the office to sign for everything, it takes under an hour-- which I really appreciate as well. Thanks, Al! read more

Al is by far the best person to ever have prepared my taxes. Yes I too found him on yelp & this is my 3rd year with the office & each visit I am more than pleased with the service. Al is professional, knowledgeable, fast, extremely patient & polite. Humble, clam just an all around cool guy. I came in one day & the Secretary did not have any available appointments. Al over heard & opt to fit me in the following day if I could only drop off my paperwork before the day was done. Deal was done & I am more than pleased more than happy!!! Thank you Al & the VIP Tax Station Family!!!! read more

I really appreciate Tax Station and their help with our taxes this year. We had a complicated tax situation having had several life changes over the last year, and Al patiently walked us through everything, even though it was a Friday night, and it took about two and a half hours! We thought we'd have to pay in, but because of something Al mentioned (even though it was after he printed our paperwork for signatures), he re-entered the information, and re-printed the paperwork, and we ended up getting money back. I can't thank Al enough, and the money you pay for his services is well worth it! We will definitely be back! Thanks again! read more

I am as good as it gets for driving around with "to do" envelopes in my car. Well with three years of tax related paperwork in a leather zip storage container and driving east on North Ave. on the way to the APPLE Store, I passed Tax Station. After a very frustrating appointment at Apple I really needed a diversion and there it was TAX STATION. Feeling that the day could not get any more frustrating I went in and was met by the most pleasant office assistant. Mr. Al was in and agreed to see me. He explained everything to me and in a short time I was back on my way to LSD. Its been a year and I will return tomorrow. I was very pleased with the professionalism of the entire office and will be a fixture at TAX STATION for years to come. read more

I found Al on Yelp in 2012. I was new to Chicago and had to trust the reviews. Al did not disappoint and I've gone to him ever since. Even convinced my boyfriend to dump his tax accountant for Al. Now, he goes to him every year as well. Al is smart, hardworking, and trustworthy. Besides being great at his job, he's also just a great person to talk to! read more