Holly C. Roundtree, CPA

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The bill was outrageous. They told me $400 to do my taxes. I had pay in full before they started. When they finished my taxes the gave me a bill for an additional $1200. No breakdown or justification. They are now holding my taxes hostage until I pay. It took them over two months to do my taxes

We’ll call this the “bait-and-switch” accounting firm. I’m a professional who is in the service arena. I fully understand the dynamic of wanting to get paid for services rendered. We just moved to Dallas last year from a smaller market. We wanted to continue working with our accountant back there but it just didn’t make sense and we wanted a faster turn around than he could provide. So, we found Holly Roundtree via Google search and saw good reviews. We met with Jennifier (yes with an “i”), a new associate, for a free consulting session where we discussed our needs and were given a price estimate. Sticker shock was apparent on my face, I am sure, as in our previous town, we paid half of that for our tax preparer. Then, I asked a very important two-part question: “How do you bill? And will we be able to pay you out of our tax return when it is received?” To which Jennifier said, “Yes, that is fine.”



Fast-forward a month (because the IRS didn’t have its ducks in a row b/c of Congress)... Tax return is ready to go. Our final bill was nearly double the original quote. Then, the big hit: that “pay upon receipt of tax return” conversation with Jennifier became “You owe the entire amount up front before we will file your return.” I called the receptionist and said, “I’m confused because I had this conversation – I very specifically asked this question because I would never have chosen this firm if the answer wasn’t what I needed – and I was told by Jennifier that we could pay after we received our tax return.” To which I was given the typical, well, that’s not how we’ve ever done it but maybe that is the case and they just didn’t tell me. Then, an email came back stating that it was not an “agreed upon” arrangement. We’d have to pay the money up front or make payments until we were ready to file by April 15 or have an extension filed so we could pay through October... Because we want to wait to file until April 15 since the whole point of our hiring Holly Roundtree was to have a faster turn around… (Sarcasm)



I asked to speak to Holly Roundtree or Jennifier. The receptionist said this is a decision that came directly from Holly. I asked a second time to speak with one of the two ladies. Receptionist said the same thing. I asked a third time to speak with one of the ladies, and receptionist put me on hold. Came back – of course, they were in a meeting and unavailable. I asked if she could have them call me back today. She said, she would try but probably not. So, I said you know what, I want to come get my tax information and not even work with Holly Roundtree at all. And, rather than focus on good customer service (apologize for confusion, explain the policy, we will work with you this one time, please pay on time, we hope you’ll be a long-time client of ours in the future, etc.), she said, “OK.” So. They wasted hours of time and did not get paid. That’s a good businesswoman right there!



Now. I am NOT against paying for work done. Were we happy the final total came out nearly double the original? No. Were we going to pay it? Yes, because we actually had a tricky 2012 that did take more time. However, I asked the question about billing to decide whether we would work with Holly or stick with our accountant back in our smaller market. Again, the only reason we looked for other firms in Dallas was for the convenience of not having to ship documents back and forth in the mail and to speed up the process. Why would I go with an accountant who was three times more expensive and charged up front when I had a guy who could do it for much less and let us pay after the fact? But, when a business tells me one thing then switches to “this was never agreed upon,” I call B.S. and will report them to the BBB for deceptive business practices.



I do not recommend this accounting firm.