Tax Accountant doesn't disclose rate and suddenly charges $350 after phone consultation

As a longtime preparer, this situation raises some red flags. While it's standard practice for tax professionals to charge for consultations, not disclosing the rate beforehand is poor business practice at minimum. Most reputable accountants and tax professionals will clearly state their fee structure before any services begin - whether that's an hourly rate or flat fee for consultations. This transparency builds trust and prevents exactly the situation you're experiencing. In terms of what to do now, you have a few options: 1) You could pay the bill but express your dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency and indicate you won't be using their services again. 2) You could propose a reduced payment that you feel better reflects the value received and the actual time needed to address your specific questions. 3) If you feel strongly, you could formally dispute the charge, especially since no fee was disclosed prior to service. Whatever you decide, I'd recommend documenting your communication thoroughly. This includes noting that no fee was disclosed prior to the consultation.

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I've worked with several accountants and the good ones ALWAYS discuss fees upfront. What happened to you is unfortunately becoming more common as tax season gets busier. Ask them to provide their fee disclosure policy in writing. If they can't provide documentation that you agreed to their fees beforehand, you have a strong case to dispute the charge. You could offer to pay a reduced amount ($100-150) for the consultation as a compromise, but I wouldn't pay the full $350 for information you didn't need. Also, check your state's CPA board requirements - many states require written fee agreements before providing billable services.

My accountant charges $275/hr but she tells EVERYONE this rate when they first call to make an appointment. She also sends an engagement letter before doing any work. What happened to you sounds really unprofessional.

This is exactly why I always ask about fees upfront now, even if it feels awkward. I learned this lesson the hard way a few years ago with a different service provider. For your situation, I'd document everything - the lack of fee disclosure, the unnecessarily long explanations of basic concepts you already understood, and how the call could have been much shorter if focused on your actual questions. Then I'd send them a written response (email works) explaining why you feel the charge is unreasonable and offer a partial payment that reflects the actual value you received. Something like: "I'm willing to pay $125 for the consultation, which I believe fairly reflects the 15-20 minutes of relevant advice I received. The remainder of the call consisted of basic tax concepts I already understood and wasn't necessary for my specific employment situation questions." Most small firms will accept a reasonable settlement rather than deal with the hassle of pursuing the full amount. The key is to be professional but firm about why you feel the original charge is unjustified due to their lack of transparency.

This is completely unethical behavior from that tax firm. As someone who's dealt with multiple CPAs over the years, I can tell you that legitimate professionals ALWAYS disclose their fees before providing any services. The fact that they waited until the end of an hour-long call to mention a $350 fee is a huge red flag. It sounds like they deliberately padded the consultation with unnecessary information to justify a higher bill. Any competent tax professional should be able to address your specific employment tax questions in 15-20 minutes without going into basic concepts you already understand. I'd strongly recommend disputing this charge. Send them a written response explaining that no fee was disclosed prior to the consultation, that much of the call consisted of irrelevant basic tax information, and that you're willing to pay a reasonable amount ($100-125) for the actual relevant advice you received. Don't let them intimidate you with the "we're very busy" response. Being busy doesn't excuse poor business practices or lack of transparency. Professional service providers have an ethical obligation to disclose fees upfront, and most state licensing boards have rules about this. Document everything and consider filing a complaint with your state's CPA board if they won't work with you on a reasonable settlement. This kind of behavior gives the entire profession a bad reputation.