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- Two years ago, my accountant told me that the IRS had no record of my tax estimates.
- His company’s policy for the couple was to file taxes only on the husband’s social security number.
- As the breadwinner of your family, it is important that you are respected when filing your taxes.
Two years ago, when it came time to file my taxes, my accountant called me with a problem.
I was convinced I paid thousands of dollars in estimated taxes, the quarterly payment that self-employed people are required to pay. I had been paying quarterly for years at that point, so I knew what I was doing. I asked my accountant to find out where all that money was.
A few days later he called me and said he (and the IRS) had found the payment. I had lost it because I filed it under a social security number, but my accountant was filing taxes with my husband who is listed as the primary taxpayer. “So when you pay this year, make sure you do it under his social,” the account said when the call ended.
He was very casual about it, but I was fed up. He hardly ever spoke to my husband. I was the only source of income for my family. It was ridiculous to me to use her husband’s social security number to file taxes for my business when his income had nothing to do with it.
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I tried to stay calm at first. Then I got angry.
I explained it to my accountant. The previous year he saved me a lot of tax money, so until then I was happy with his service. . I did that all the way until I hired him. Because I file taxes and make money. However, he claimed his company’s policy was to list her husband as the primary payer.
Then I got angry. There is no IRS policy for her on which spouse is listed first. In fact, best practices are: be consistentso I would argue that he should have followed my longstanding practice of putting my name at the top.
During the past year, I noticed that a newsletter from my accountant arrived at my email address, but it was for my husband. I was annoyed, but I let it slide. But I wasn’t ready to let go of being the primary payer.
I want to be respected as a female manager and earner
To be clear, there is absolutely no advantage in having one spouse as the other’s primary breadwinner. Just submitting a quarterly magazine with her husband’s Social Security number made no difference in our lives.
But in principle I could not do it. I felt neglected and angry. I couldn’t help but think the accountant would turn to me if I suggested he file business taxes in his wife’s name.
I considered the fact that I was petty. So I checked in with a group of women. We all agreed that the patriarchal and outdated system of accountants was wrong. He agreed.
I found an accountant who respected me as a manager.
My taxes were already prepared for the year, so I submitted to my husband as the primary breadwinner. I interviewed men and women and decided to be a male accountant. When he asked why I was looking for a new accountant, I was completely honest and he understood.
As a taxpayer, I want to know that I am working with someone who respects me. I don’t want to be afraid to ask stupid questions. I am looking for a professional who understands me and my business. I don’t think the first accountant was malicious, and I don’t think he was even aware of the ramifications of his policy. But that microaggression undermined my trust in him. I am proud to have stood up and found the right accountant for my business.