Goodell Porter Sanchez & Bright LLP

Hands down, excellent service – extremely knowledgeable! Beverly Sanchez — highly recommended!
Here’s our story:
From 1994 – 2012 my mom and I had our CPA file our taxes. In 2012 we contacted the office multiple times and were told that the accountant was ill and they would be in touch. 2013 rolls around we contact the office (again) and they finally notify us that he has died and they were no longer in business (because they couldn’t access his files and computers). They told us to find another accountant. We contacted Liberty Tax Preparation and were told we had missing forms and they couldn’t help and to go back to the original (deceased) tax preparer. When we contacted our former CPA’s office and asked for the missing forms, we were instructed to see H&R Block.
H&R Block had no idea where to begin and told us to go head over to Franchise Tax Board and pick up some documents and that they would assist us. After waiting almost two hours in line we were told to go back home and printout a stack of documents. After printing out the documents, we had no clue where to begin. We went back to Franchise (again another two hours in line) and were told to find a CPA (ummm, that’s what we have been trying to do this whole time!) We opened the phone book and just started calling EVERYONE. We explained our story and we kept getting the «we’ll call you» line.
Days past and our deadline was fast approaching. I told my mom to search on Unilocal and contact the person with the highest review — and we’re SO glad we did! And we’re so thankful for the Unilocal reviewer that posted their nightmare (because we didn’t feel alone). We called and IMMEDIATELY got an appointment booked! When we arrived it was like we were on another planet. A beautiful office and were warmly greeted at the front desk and asked if we wanted anything to drink. As we were flipping through the magazines, we kept praying that she would find a solution to our problem.
When we finally met with Beverly, she sat down with us and was patient and thorough. Communication was easy, straight forward and completely intelligible (for someone who is not too experienced with tax jargon!). She addressed all of our concerns and easily explained complicated tax issues. We didn’t feel rushed or like it was an assembly line, as we had with previous accountants. She took care of everything! We left the office with tears of JOY because we knew we didn’t have to be shuffled around from place to place. We knew we were in such good hands and it was such a relief!!!
We look forward to working with Beverly in the future!

What a great CPA! We went to see Beverly Sanchez after having serious troubles with an ‘expert’ at H&R Block. The ‘expert’ was known to be one of their best and most experienced tax preparers — he had been with H&R block for many years. In spite of this he made a number of mistakes on our tax returns, so we were desperate for help.
One example of a serious error was when he said I had over-​contributed to a business retirement account. I had contributed the maximum to a solo (self-​employed) 401k — since I (sole proprietor) was over 55, the limit of all qualified retirement plans in 2011 was 54,500. I, as a W2 employee of the govt, also contributed to a 457 plan. He said the 457 plan contributions should be included with the 54,500 limit. This is absolutely false. He wanted me to refile and pay penalties for supposed over-​contributions in previous years, and withdraw these amounts from my annuity and pay annuity penalties, too. But Beverly knew better. She knew that the 457 is totally separate and does not affect the section 415 limits.
She prepared our returns quickly and easily. The H&R Block ‘expert’ had us come in THREE times (one of those times we were called in error — we had to turn around and go back home) and we sat in his office for a total of about 20 hours while he struggled and fiddled with our tax returns. Beverly had us out in less than two hours. She brought up issues the other guy missed completely. After all this, we were surprised to find this firm cost less than what H&R Block wanted to charge us, too!
Needless to say, we were happy and grateful to find such a reasonably priced, competent CPA.