How can i go about backbilling someone?

Factual Questions
1

I posted something like this a few weeks ago, but now im completely fed up as more things have gone wrong.

The accountant i hired for my company forgot to file my 2010 sales tax. Three different times the accountant has “fixed” the problem. They have admitted guilt, but this is ridiculous to keep messing up like this, not to mention the costs of the interest and penalties.

I don’t really want to hire a lawyer as i am talking about recovering ~ $300.

How should i go about backbilling the accountant for the amount of the fines and penalties?

2

Ummm… send him a bill?

(I obviously don’t understand the question.)

3

Is there a standard way to legally go about it? Can i just send a bill? Send him a bill plus copies of the penalities?

4

IANAL

Did the accountant agree to the penalties? If not, you could get accused of false billing.

Imagine the following circumstance:

[QUOTE=Your Cable Company]

This is a bill.

Cable Service : $45.33
HBO Package : $14.44
Penalty for not responding to our phone calls about signing up for high speed Internet: $32.21

[/QUOTE]

You can’t just tack on junk fees just because you feel like it.

5

No, but you can refuse to pay the bill, he’s going to send you, and attempt to recover it that way.

6

Couldn’t you take him to small claims? Seems like this is what it’s meant for.

7

Sadly you have little recourse when accountants are incompetent. Refusing to pay their bill is your best bet. You can bill someone for anything, as long as it’s something real. But they don’t have to pay, and accountants will know that. Small claims court will get you an unenforceable judgement. Just get a new accountant, $300 is a small price to pay for a lesson in due diligence. It cost me much more than that to learn that lesson.

8

By all means send the bill, it costs you little. Send it certified, return receipt so you know he’s got it. Tell him you intend to file in small claims court if you don’t receive payment.

You don’t have to go to court, $300 may be small enough to this guy to pay it to you and forget it, or at least cough up some of the money.

9

Wouldn’t an accountant be sufficiently concerned with financial appearances to desire avoiding a lien being placed against their house or vehicle?