Do CPAs typically file an extension without telling you? Is this normal practice?

This is actually pretty common practice among CPAs, especially for clients with more complex tax situations like K-1 income. Many tax professionals file automatic extensions for all their clients as a protective measure, even if they expect to complete your return before the deadline. The extension gives you and your CPA breathing room to gather all necessary documentation and file accurately. It's especially common with K-1s since those often arrive late. The extension only extends the filing deadline, not the payment deadline, which is why you still needed to pay estimated taxes by the original due date. That said, good communication is essential in any professional relationship. While filing an extension is standard practice, your CPA should have informed you they were doing this on your behalf. This lack of communication might be a red flag about their client service approach.

I had a similar issue and discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) was super helpful for sorting out extension confusion. My CPA had filed an extension without telling me too, and I was completely in the dark about my filing status. Using taxr.ai to analyze my tax transcript actually showed me not only the extension but also some issues with my estimated payments that my CPA had missed. It gave me documentation I needed to have an informed conversation with my accountant instead of just being confused.

Update: I tried taxr.ai after commenting here and whoa - it was actually really helpful. I uploaded my wage and income transcript (which I got from the IRS website) and it immediately showed me that my CPA had filed extensions for the past THREE years without telling me. Even worse, it flagged that I had a potential penalty situation brewing because while the extension was filed, I had underpaid my estimated taxes each year. My CPA never mentioned this! Now I'm switching tax pros and have actual documentation about what happened rather than just being confused. Honestly worth checking out if you're in a similar boat.

If you need to talk to your CPA but they're not responding (which happens A LOT during tax season), you might try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I had the same extension surprise last year and couldn't get my CPA on the phone for weeks. I needed to know if he was still handling my return or if I needed to find someone else. Claimyr helped me actually get through to the IRS to confirm my extension status and check if there were any issues I needed to address. They have a demo video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. Saved me hours of phone frustration.

I owe everyone an apology - I was totally wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I've been trying for WEEKS to reach the IRS about a notice I received. It actually worked! I got a call back in about 2 hours with an IRS agent on the line. I was able to confirm my extension status and resolve my notice issue in one call. So yeah, it doesn't "skip the line" but handles the hold time so you're not chained to your phone for hours. For anyone dealing with trying to reach the IRS, this is definitely worth it.

Former tax preparer here. Filing extensions automatically is standard practice at many firms, BUT good CPAs absolutely inform their clients about it. Here's what typically happens: 1) In February/March, firms send engagement letters to clients that often include language about automatic extensions 2) Around March, they send specific extension notices to clients 3) Some firms require client signatures for extensions, others don't if it's in the engagement letter The lack of communication is the real issue here. Even if you're switching CPAs, they should have closed the loop properly.

This happened to me too. My CPA filed an extension without telling me and I only found out when I tried to check on the status of my refund. My CPA said they do it for everyone because "it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it." But I was still annoyed they didn't at least send an email letting me know!

Check your engagement letter! Mine clearly states they automatically file extensions for all clients. I didn't realize this until my 3rd year with them when I actually bothered to read all the fine print. Reading yours might tell you if this was actually disclosed somewhere you missed.

As someone who's dealt with similar CPA communication issues, I'd strongly recommend reaching out to your CPA immediately to clarify the situation. The fact that they filed an extension without informing you, especially after you had a frustrating experience with them in 2019, is concerning. Here's what I'd do: 1) Call or email them today asking if they're still planning to prepare your 2019 return and request a timeline, 2) Ask for a copy of any engagement letter or agreement for 2019 services, and 3) If they can't provide clear answers or you're not satisfied with their communication, start looking for a new CPA now while you still have plenty of time before the October deadline. The extension itself isn't bad - it actually protects you from penalties. But the lack of communication suggests this might not be the right professional relationship for you. Trust your instincts here.

This situation highlights exactly why clear communication is so important in the CPA-client relationship. While filing extensions is indeed standard practice for many firms (especially with K-1 clients since those forms often arrive late), the complete lack of communication from your CPA is unprofessional. I'd recommend taking immediate action: contact your CPA today to confirm whether they're still planning to handle your 2019 return and request a clear timeline. If they don't respond promptly or you're not satisfied with their answer, you have plenty of time to find a new preparer before the October 15 deadline. The extension actually protects you from late filing penalties, so that part worked in your favor. But going radio silent for months after filing it on your behalf? That's a red flag about their client service standards. You deserve a CPA who keeps you informed about important actions taken on your behalf.

I went through something very similar last year and learned the hard way that this kind of communication gap is unfortunately more common than it should be. While automatic extension filing is standard practice at many CPA firms, the complete radio silence afterward is definitely not acceptable professional behavior. Here's what I'd suggest based on my experience: Send your CPA a written email (for documentation) asking three specific questions: 1) Are you preparing my 2019 return? 2) What's your timeline for completion? 3) What's your fee structure for this year's services? Give them 48-72 hours to respond. If they don't respond promptly or give vague answers, start interviewing new CPAs immediately. You have until October 15, which gives you plenty of time to find someone who actually communicates. When you do interview new preparers, ask them directly about their communication policies - how they notify clients about extensions, estimated payment deadlines, and filing status updates. The silver lining is that the extension does protect you from late filing penalties, so even though the communication was poor, they did technically do something beneficial for you. But you deserve much better client service than this.

I've been a CPA for over 15 years and can confirm that filing extensions without explicit client notification is unfortunately more common than it should be, but it's definitely not best practice. Good CPAs should always inform clients when filing extensions, even if it's mentioned in the engagement letter. The concerning part of your situation is the complete lack of communication since January. If there's no signed engagement letter for 2019 services and they filed an extension without your knowledge, you need clarity immediately. They may be assuming you're continuing services based on your 2018 engagement, but that's not how professional relationships should work. My recommendation: Send them a written request today asking if they're preparing your 2019 return, what their timeline is, and what fees they're charging. If they don't respond within 2-3 business days or give you unsatisfactory answers, start looking for a new CPA. The extension gives you until October 15, so you have plenty of time to make a switch if needed. A good CPA will welcome your questions and provide clear answers - that's basic client service.