We are experienced in all facets of tax preparation, including individual, small business, corporation, partnership, not for profit, and estate returns. Our payroll service combines professional expertise with state-of-the-art technology that enables us to customize your specific needs. With our nonprofit proficiency, we ensure that income and expenses are being properly categorized for tracking and reporting purposes.Established in 1978, service and personalized attention is tradition with our team of highly skilled professionals; yet we continue to upgrade to the latest in today's technology.
Services
In an age of big corporations and computers, it is easy to lose your identity. Yet, the majority of businesses in the U.S. are small businesses. San Diego County is no different. In our region there is stiff competition for the consumer dollar. It is extremely important to use our profits wisely. With fixed costs (including payroll) on a steady increase, very few small businesses can afford an accounting staff. That's where Mother Lode Bookkeeping comes in and works to make your business more profitable!
Mother Lode Bookkeeping, Inc. offers a wide range of services to our individual, business, and not-for-profit clients. Because our firm is relatively small, our clients benefit by getting personalized, quality service that is beyond comparison. Below we have listed the services that we offer to our clients along with a brief description.
We are experienced in all facets of tax preparation, including the filing of individual, small business, corporation, partnership, not for profit, and estate returns. We will ensure that you consider all of your legal deductions so you realize your full tax benefit. Our comprehensive interview processes and computerized return preparation assure that your return is complete, correct, and presented to you in a timely manner.
As a small business owner you have more important things to do than to keep your own records and books. We take care of this for you, so you can get back to what you do best, the job of running your business and generating profits. These tasks form a solid foundation for your small business or not-for-profit accounting system.
Reviews (11)
Craig Mayville
Jan 25, 2022
Nothing short of awful. My taxes were filed here for several years over the course of about a decade. I thought James was the guy to go to when I needed help with filing. After an audit that claimed I owe over $13,000 in taxes, James and Richard have been of almost no help. They told me to "call the IRS" because there is nothing they can do. After telling a coworker, he suggested contacting a CPA in North Carolina who said he could help me.
I also spoke to another CPA locally who called the IRS with me, and is actively following up to submit an amended return. James has not responded with any sense of urgency to my requests for documents, often not responding or taking several days to do so. These people show a total disregard for accountability, and couldn't care less about providing follow up service for their own mistakes. What a joke.
I also spoke to another CPA locally who called the IRS with me, and is actively following up to submit an amended return. James has not responded with any sense of urgency to my requests for documents, often not responding or taking several days to do so. These people show a total disregard for accountability, and couldn't care less about providing follow up service for their own mistakes. What a joke.
Patrick O.
Apr 15, 2021
Since relocating to the San Diego environs 4-years ago, for our state & federal taxes we've been using the tax accounting services of Mother Lode (ML) Bookkeeping. ML was recommended (highly) by my daughter/son-in-law and son-in-law's brother. Here-to-fore, it's been my stereo-type that all accountants have "500 lbs brains" but are pretty much devoid of any social personality. NOT SO!
To my delight, last week over the phone I heard our ML designated tax accountant with the 500 lbs brain, actually chuckle! Our guy is "James" who, to us, looks eerily like the very talented actor John Malkovich. Similar to Malkovich, James is a MASTER at his craft. To my wife, I refer to James as "just the facts James." Can't vouch for any of the other personnel in the office, except for the always, always pleasant and courteous front office personnel (both spouses of the in-office accountants) but egads, if you want your books or, as in my case, your taxes done right then please visit ML!
As an important aside, we've never heard anything from the Federal IRS/CA Tax Franchise Board EXCEPT for one year when we received in the mail a check from the Federal IRS in the amount of $1.75. Lucky to have Jame's/the office's services!
To my delight, last week over the phone I heard our ML designated tax accountant with the 500 lbs brain, actually chuckle! Our guy is "James" who, to us, looks eerily like the very talented actor John Malkovich. Similar to Malkovich, James is a MASTER at his craft. To my wife, I refer to James as "just the facts James." Can't vouch for any of the other personnel in the office, except for the always, always pleasant and courteous front office personnel (both spouses of the in-office accountants) but egads, if you want your books or, as in my case, your taxes done right then please visit ML!
As an important aside, we've never heard anything from the Federal IRS/CA Tax Franchise Board EXCEPT for one year when we received in the mail a check from the Federal IRS in the amount of $1.75. Lucky to have Jame's/the office's services!
Linda Short
Dec 30, 2020
Scott S.
Aug 28, 2020
Casey T.
Aug 23, 2020
I've always done my taxes through TurboTax but decided to file married jointly this year. This is new for my husband and I who've always filed separately due to slightly complicated finances. Through excellent communication, James was able to guide us through our options to get us the best refund. He filed our returns and provided a written explanation of the process for our records all without ever meeting in person. I was concerned about the process during a pandemic but Motherlode proved to be a highly effective team. Motherlode has earned our confidence and future patronage.
J. W.
Jul 26, 2020
The EA, James Sherman, I was using was amazingly unprofessional. He was introduced to me by my attorney as I needed to file Form 1041 along with 1040. My attorney said James knew how to do Form 1041. James' filing fees were not cheap, more than $1000. I used him to prepare the tax returns for years 2018 and 2019. My attorney and I already informed him that all the court filing fees and probate fees were tax deductible.
He did not file them correctly for tax year 2018. This mistake could not be caught as he provided the 2018 tax return client copy at the last minute on April 15, 2019 regardless all my tax documents were provided to him at the end of Feb. 2019, 1.5 months in advance. He also did not prepare and file the ES for me. As such, it incurred penalties on me.
For tax year 2019 filing, he again did not include the deductibles for court filing fees and probate fees. I stayed up late at night, as he provided the client copy at the last minute, to review the tax return client copies and found the filing mistakes such as entering the wrong amounts and not filing the probate deductibles. When I informed James about the mistakes, he was so defensive and kept telling me that it was what it was and he did not have time.
The difference of these mistakes amount to 5 figures in dollars which is a significant amount. He got all the true copies of my 1099 forms and made the careless entry mistakes which was terrible. That means he did not check what he entered. Regarding the probate deductibles, I have to get my attorney involved again to re-address to him that he made a big mistake ignoring the deductibles for years 2018 and 2019.
He then simply dumped the deductibles from year 2018 into 2019 tax returns. I am not an accountant but simply dumping the deductibles from year 2018 into 2019 tax returns seems dubious. Because he did not prepare the ES for me last year, I had to ensure he did this time. I contacted him to confirm the ES was setup properly and he gave me lame excuses saying that I already signed the document for the ES.
The document he referred to was for the 2019 tax return payment that I signed and nothing about the ES for year 2020. I even re-attached the signed document in the email for him to re-confirm. He, of course, did not bother to look at the attachment. When I called him, he again told me he did not have time to search my signed document on file. I told him I already attached in the email. Obviously, he did not even care reading customer's email.
The only time he had and dealt with me immediately was asking me for the credit card number to charge me for his full of errors service. This was the most efficient time he did. In all, you paid this guy to prepare for the tax return and he ended up kept telling you he did not have time to fix the mistakes he made. But he had time to take your money.
This is a very frustrating experience to hire him to prepare the tax filing. Recommend not to hire James to prepare your tax return as 1) he does not time for his clients as he kept telling me; 2) unless you are willing to pay extra to IRS due to his mistakes. Unfortunately, I cannot give a rate of 0.
He did not file them correctly for tax year 2018. This mistake could not be caught as he provided the 2018 tax return client copy at the last minute on April 15, 2019 regardless all my tax documents were provided to him at the end of Feb. 2019, 1.5 months in advance. He also did not prepare and file the ES for me. As such, it incurred penalties on me.
For tax year 2019 filing, he again did not include the deductibles for court filing fees and probate fees. I stayed up late at night, as he provided the client copy at the last minute, to review the tax return client copies and found the filing mistakes such as entering the wrong amounts and not filing the probate deductibles. When I informed James about the mistakes, he was so defensive and kept telling me that it was what it was and he did not have time.
The difference of these mistakes amount to 5 figures in dollars which is a significant amount. He got all the true copies of my 1099 forms and made the careless entry mistakes which was terrible. That means he did not check what he entered. Regarding the probate deductibles, I have to get my attorney involved again to re-address to him that he made a big mistake ignoring the deductibles for years 2018 and 2019.
He then simply dumped the deductibles from year 2018 into 2019 tax returns. I am not an accountant but simply dumping the deductibles from year 2018 into 2019 tax returns seems dubious. Because he did not prepare the ES for me last year, I had to ensure he did this time. I contacted him to confirm the ES was setup properly and he gave me lame excuses saying that I already signed the document for the ES.
The document he referred to was for the 2019 tax return payment that I signed and nothing about the ES for year 2020. I even re-attached the signed document in the email for him to re-confirm. He, of course, did not bother to look at the attachment. When I called him, he again told me he did not have time to search my signed document on file. I told him I already attached in the email. Obviously, he did not even care reading customer's email.
The only time he had and dealt with me immediately was asking me for the credit card number to charge me for his full of errors service. This was the most efficient time he did. In all, you paid this guy to prepare for the tax return and he ended up kept telling you he did not have time to fix the mistakes he made. But he had time to take your money.
This is a very frustrating experience to hire him to prepare the tax filing. Recommend not to hire James to prepare your tax return as 1) he does not time for his clients as he kept telling me; 2) unless you are willing to pay extra to IRS due to his mistakes. Unfortunately, I cannot give a rate of 0.
Holly G.
Mar 21, 2018
Sara E.
Dec 25, 2017
Patricia M.
Apr 01, 2013
Robert S.
Jun 18, 2012
Ann K.
Aug 27, 2011
My husband and I have been using MotherLlode Bookkeeping for about 20 years. They have taken care of our payroll and taxes for years. Dealing with Maria and Cory has been a pleasure and always accommodating. Cal has been extremely helpful preparing our taxes over the years and really helps you on a personal level if you need advice. He also helped me prepare my parents taxes after my parents passed and made the whole process much easier. I would recommend Mother Lode Bookkeeping as an inexpensive, local payroll and tax preparation service.
