RBS Taxes Sucks, IMHO

moondogg · #1 03-31-2005, 08:44 AM

Being the first year I've had significant gaming income, I decided to hire the pros to do my taxes. I have suggested RBS Taxes to people in the past, but boy was I wrong. I hereby withdraw that endorsement.

I called them up, described exactly what was on my returned, and they quoted me a price. I agreed, they sent me a questionaire, I filled it out and sent it back with all my forms. Everyone's happy.

They received the forms from my over a week ago. Then these [censored] clowns call me yesterday, and say "we can't do this return for the price we quoted you". Apparently having a few mutual funds, and a single sale trade during year (all of which I disclosed to them before they quoted a price) is too damn complicated for these people. As a lot of you know, either you are filling out a schedule D or you are not, in reality it makes little difference if you have 2 or 6 long-term mutual funds. When I asked how much it would be to get it done, they price they quoted was now double the original price.

I especially loved when she said "well, you're filing as a professional gambler...". WTF!?! "No, I am not, I filled out that I am a software developer, and my gambling income is 'recreational'". "Oh, well we never got a W-2". WTF!?! "Well I sent one, so you had better damn find it immediately."

Their book may be good, I really don't know, and I really don't [censored] care. But, I strongly suggest that you do NOT hire these tools to prepare your return.

otctrader · #2 03-31-2005, 09:42 AM

Turbotax baby; if you can import last year's return (did it on the computer), it takes me half an hour to an hour tops, and that's with 1099 income, lengthy Schedule C deductions, and a sad looking Schedule D (the last few years anyway).

Oh, and you can still keep a few tables going on your 2001FP as you file away.

Acesover8s · #3 03-31-2005, 12:00 PM

Curious. What price did they quote you?

moondogg · #4 03-31-2005, 12:07 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Curious. What price did they quote you?

[/ QUOTE ]

$350 quoted upfront, "at least $700" quoted later, and I don't think they had even looked at my deductions and self-employed consulting income yet.

They called back seeing if we could negotiate another price. I quit smoking last week and I've been dying to tear somebody a new [censored]. We did not negotiate another price.

Keith Fellmy · #5 03-31-2005, 12:21 PM

man I have dealt with the clowns at many of those so called tax prep places. Finally I settled on an asian college student who is working toward his finanace degree. 100 bucks and it's done in two days. How did I meet him? Sitting at a Cryptologic table. He and I were cleaning up. If I didn't win the hand, he did. So I looked up where he was from. It said "North Fort Myers" which is where I am from. So we talked at the table and found out his office is six blocks away. Nice guy, math whiz, and a struggling college student (though with all the people I saw in his office-he is making a killing.)

MD2020 · #6 03-31-2005, 12:24 PM

[ QUOTE ]

They called back seeing if we could negotiate another price. I quit smoking last week and I've been dying to tear somebody a new [censored]. We did not negotiate another price.

[/ QUOTE ]

Congrats. I hope you make it.

moondogg · #7 03-31-2005, 12:34 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

They called back seeing if we could negotiate another price. I quit smoking last week and I've been dying to tear somebody a new [censored]. We did not negotiate another price.

[/ QUOTE ]

Congrats. I hope you make it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Go [censored] yourself.

[img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Nightwish · #8 03-31-2005, 02:47 PM

I second the TurboTax recommendation. Get the Premier version, and it'll be able to file just about every form you can think of. In fact, I have yet to find something that this program cannot do, though it's possible there's some esoteric tax thing that it doesn't support.

I was also considering dealing with RBS. I called them around September of last year and asked for a quote. They told me $250, which right away is more than I'm willing to spend. You can get TurboTax Premier for $50 on eBay.

TheMetetron · #9 03-31-2005, 03:03 PM

Thread hijack:

I need to file quarterly taxes this April, but I only used the Turbo Tax right below Premier. Should I just use the Tax Liability / 4 method and then get Premier for next tax year or what should I do? I assume Turbo Tax for this tax year isn't available yet.

moondogg · #10 03-31-2005, 03:55 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Thread hijack:

I need to file quarterly taxes this April, but I only used the Turbo Tax right below Premier. Should I just use the Tax Liability / 4 method and then get Premier for next tax year or what should I do? I assume Turbo Tax for this tax year isn't available yet.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thread Re-jack:
I want this answer to. It's my thread [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] and I say it's on topic. From what I've seen/heard, the estimated quarterly taxes are a walk in the park paperwork-wise, but I'd like to hear any tips people have who have done them before.

PS Thanks for all info about Turbo tax. I still may end up doing it by hand (I'm a math geek and kinda like the exercise in a sick way), but I'll definitely look in it.