09/20/09

Rick Birnbaum is a horrible accountant and has no ethics!!!!

by Birnbaumisacriminal

Rick Birnbaum is a total fraud, he will do your taxes by making up numbers and in most cases not even taking the time to check the financial documents which you have provided him. He also has a nasty habit of disposing of tons of clients paper work (most of which contain private information) by simply tossing them in the trash without so much as shredding them. This man has no morals and most of the "positive" reviews which you read here are written by his own employees or fellow crooks for whom he comits tax fraud for.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Everything about the man and firm.

09/10/09

Great CPA

by Sharon C

I've been a client of Rick's since 1984 and he has done a great job of getting me all of the deductions that I'm entitled to. I have been audited 2 times - the first time the IRS gave me a zero basis (apparently I bought a townhouse for free) and fined me for taxes on the full sales price - Rick represented me - the IRS corrected THEIR error and I even got more money back. The second time the IRS didn't give me credit for income taxes that I had paid - again, Rick represented me and the error was corrected.

There's a saying - GIGO garbage in - garbage out - if these so-called disgruntled former clients gave Rick garbage then they are fully responsible for their errors not Rick.

He keeps current with continuing education and completes the returns in a timely manner.

• Pros: Knows what he is doing!

07/13/09

Worst accountant ever!

by odabyanumber1mom

I was audited twice and watched by the government for years because of Birnbaum's mishandling of my affairs. Do not ever let him have an opportunity to handle your money directly or you just might find it missing!

• Pros: none
• Cons: you will be sure to audited

04/29/09

Rick Birnbaum has been my account for over 6 years

by businessessentials

my dealings with rick have been nothing but a check up at a children's doctor. The man has a certain demeanor about him, no matter how bad u think u are off, he does this thing that makes u calm with in seconds. i saw a post about "auditing". I tell u this its almost offensive because rick is conservative. Thats why he is so great i don't think its in him to bend or break rules .the man will never tell u anything other than is going to be ok and not to worry . I really get upset at this yearly coment, Rick Birnbaum is a man that believe still does this job because of his obligation and relationships with his clients. since i met him i refer any one to him and believe me he never plays debt collector and he will never turn away a walk in customer. I have seen alot of accountants and this one is extraordinary any one that has an issue probably has and will always have issue this man just did 3 years and fixed a lump sum of money the irs was taking for a past llc i was the ceo of. mean i went to him confused didn't know where to start and he did what he always doesn't say to much ask you simple questions and always gives you his theory of the importance of making all the right moves to benifet from our irs infrastructure. If it wasn't for rick i would have to move this month and thats the truth cuz times are tough and no being in line and uncontrollable circumstances are a day to day thing

I don't know anyone that doesn't use Rick why would u go anywhere else. for 100 plus dollars why should he even sped the time thats the mystery about taxman.

2 thumbs up.

just Google birnbaum and 818 make yuor appointment for 1 month later its ok everyone waits happily

• Pros: man is a machine works around the clock for pennies i knoow
• Cons: getting an appoinmnet. but he will never leave u out to dry

04/24/09

I don't recommend using his firm

by LeBourreau

I have used Rick's firm for 5 years for my personal and business tax returns. For the first four years I would have given them a 5 star rating. However, they completely screwed up my 2006 taxes. They put the incorrect EIN number for my company, resulting in a large fine by the IRS. Rick was able to fix this issue so I went ahead and gave him the benefit of the doubt. When I filed in 2007, I wrote notes with the correct EIN EVERYWHERE in the documents I provided them. They still screwed it up, AGAIN. In addition, they have been receiving letters from the Franchise Tax Board for my company for a year saying that I owe additional money; they never let me know, so the fines and penalties just continued to add up. I have switched to a new accountant for my 2008 taxes, and spent upwards of $5000 to get the 2007 mistakes corrected and refiled as well as paying the additional penalties that the Government and California levied against me... I feel betrayed. Do not use Rick Birnbaum....

• Cons: Unreliable and not accurate

01/21/09

Rick has always done right by me.

by edgewise

I've been a client of Rick's for 9 years and after reading these reviews it really seems like some people are being a bit harsh and most of the complaints appear to stem from the 2004 tax audit. Some things to consider:

<br>

1) 2004 was a massive tax audit year. I personally knew over a dozen people that were audited that year. Not all Rick's clients, not all in Los Angeles, but nationwide. For all of us, it was our first year being audited and that strongly suggests the impetus for the audits was increased pressure to generate more Gov't revenue and not shoddy tax prep work.

2) Rick was able to reduce the tax payment for the 2004 audit by 85%, free of charge to me. Do I wish it were 100%? Sure, but Rick has always done a wonderful job keeping my initial payments lower than expected, so I wasn't disappointed.

3) I have always been able to see Rick for appointments. Not always right away, but within a week or two. That said, you can't expect a long meeting in late March or April, and you have to be flexible in your scheduling, but I have never been turned away. I work in an industry where busy practices often defer visits for months, so I don't expect to be seen right away. I have received replies by email as well.

4) Every year Rick is able to minimize my tax burden well beyond what I would expect. Except for 2004, I have never been audited and I have never seen an outrageous claim or deduction on my returns.

5) Who cares about his staff? I don't hang out at the accountant's office. I couldn't care less if they gossip. The waiting room is and should be tiny in an accounting office, so I don't really see why this matters at all. They call me when my return is ready and either mail it to me or have it ready for pickup when they say it is.

6) 4 stars because 5 stars means perfect and perfect is impossible in a supremely busy practice. I have and will continue to refer my friends to Rick Birnbaum.

• Pros: He's a great accountant.
• Cons: He's got alot of clients.

01/19/09

Birnbaum, CPA

by kb3817

I have been a client of his for 10-years or so. The front office staff are not always the most considerate, but Rick does a great job and I trust him completely.

Overall: very pleased with the service - I recommend him to all of my family and friends.

12/12/08

Rick Birnbaum, 25 years of spectacular service, simply the best, 5 STARS ... A++++

by MichaelinLongBeach

My wife and I have been with Rick Birnbaum for over 25 years and not once have we had a single problem with Rick or his office. We were referred to Mr. Birnbaum under difficult circumstances. having left our previous accountant where we were being audited by the IRS. After several weeks, a few meetings, and many phone calls Rick and his office straightened out everything to our complete satisfaction. That was a long time ago and we have grown with Rick and his Tarzana office. Twenty-five years later, and we couldn't be happier! Anyone who really knows Rick knows this, too. Rick is a good man and a great CPA! Anyone writing anything else is straight out of Aesop's Fables ... sour grapes! Here's to another twenty-five years with Mr. Rick Birnbaum ... should we be so lucky! Cheers, Michael K. in Long Beach, CA

• Pros: Kind, caring, courteous service.

09/14/08

Very satisfied

by cannonball123

Rick's done my taxes for 6 years. I have been very satisfied with the service he's provided and I recommend him without reservation.

In addition to returning all phone calls and emails, Rick also assisted my wife and me in setting up a legal structure to support my wife's new day care business.

FWIW, I was audited once due to an IRS error (2005)--in the end, I owed nothing, and Rick's office handled the issue professionally, thoroughly, etc.

He's clearly busy, but has always gotten back to me... I can see where someone who needs a lot of handholding might get antsy.

• Pros: A real expert & trusted advisor
• Cons: Busy office

07/02/08

One Truly Knowledgeable and Caring Accountant

by JSCWriter

Rick Birbaum has been my accountant for the last 20 years, and I hope he never retires. About 15 years ago, I was audited once. I did the preparation work and Rick met with the IRS. We won. The audit was caused by a deduction that I claimed so it was my fault. The process was not at all painful. I would ask the complainants in these posts to examine their own roles in their tax issues. As a business administrator, I am very demanding and critical but I know that my taxes have been accurately and properly prepared for the past 20 years, as have those of some highly qualified individuals, including investment bankers and mathematicians, I have introduced to Rick. None of them have been audited and there have been no complaints.

I have also worked in the now defunct Birnbaum and Glucksman. Birnbaum carries the weight of the entire practice on his shoulders and this is most apparent from January 2 to April 15. He works 15 to 16 hours a day. Truth is, his office is an unceasing whirl of motion to complete all the tax returns, and calls, depending on the timing of and the reason for them, often do not get returned until after April 15. The clients are well taken care of because Rick automatically files extensions for the regular clients who cannot get in to see him by April 15. I filed extensions for the past two years, and find it so much more relaxing to work with Rick later in the year. I liked his ex-partner, David Glucksman but there is no doubt that Glucksman's demeanor - rude, abrasive, confrontational, loud and demanding - was no asset to the firm.

I have come to know Rick as a decent, quiet, caring and unassuming gentleman. It is true that he sometimes does not convey all the minutia when explaining an issue but his advice is always correct. There will always be unhappy clients but some of these posts border on slander. I wonder if there are motives other than professional reasons for such vitriol.

• Pros: Expertise on tax laws and money management tools
• Cons: Hard to get appointments by April 1.