Do I have Indiaphopia?

[GVan]

My wife and I have used the same small firm (and same person) to do our business accounting and personal taxes for 15+ years. Two years ago, she informed us that they were joining a larger, American accounting firm that would provide us with much better services. Been very happy with their last two years of performance.

Received an email yesterday from the large accounting firm asking me to sign a document allowing my personal information and tax forms to be done by their new associates in India. A full paragraph explaining how well their new associates have been trained. Thought about it for a day, discussed with the wife to ensure I was thinking correctly, and sent back a polite email refusing to sign the document and asking for assurances that my personal information will not be shared with personnel in India. Of course, I asked if that meant I had to find a new accounting firm? Awaiting their reply ....

Thus, my question above. Am I being irrational?

[Nevrknow]

Not in my mind. You have a very established and trusted relationship with your current firm. For them to want to use others (understandable in some cases) is their prerogative. But, there's always a but, you as a customer do not have to agree. Your choice. Been there. My attorney for years, I trust with my life. He knows better than to transfer me to someone else. Personal preference. He knows it and abides by it. We go way back. Like Yellowstone back. His state senator duties forced him to lighten his load at home a bit. But he's still mine. And will stay that way until one of us dies. ( Him first LOL )

If all else fails, trust your gut. You're never wrong there.

[JohnS]

@GVan, deep down I think you know that this is not an issue of race. It's an issue of dealing with a firm outsourcing their core business because it's cheaper and done with less care in regard to your privacy.

Do you really want to deal with a company like that? The real question is: "How can I find a reputable company to do my accounting services as soon as possible?"

[BrightonCorgi]

I would step back and take a larger look at a similar question. Regardless the country of residence of your new accountant; how is your personal data being stored?  

 

[LordAnubis]

If they’re outsourcing (which is an extremely proven across multiple disciplines cost effective approach for businesses) then they must be doing it to save. And so you should be getting cheaper costs. Put that to them. If you get significant discounts then what’s the harm? If you’re not getting any savings then might as well change to someone else who you can deal locally face to face for convenience. 
 

As a data security question. I’d be more scared of my information being in western hands than third world hands. 
 

From a software point of view I’ve had incredible programming support from the Philippines, India, Indonesia and paid well above the local market rate for the services. Not used any accounting services but I wouldn’t imagine there’d be any fundamental differences. Only thing comes to mind is India is very subordinate structure community. You will be almost guaranteed that no pencil pusher will flag anything erroneous as a white man probably would. In Indian culture it’s more so as your told and keep quiet. So maybe something to keep in mind. 

[BrightonCorgi]

I dropped my CPA last tax season. What started out as a $500 a few years ago to do taxes became $800 and last season he would not even quote me how much it was going to cost for taxes. Over $1000. I don't have a complicated return. W2, mortgage and some 1099 work.  

Ended up using Turbo Tax for like $300 and got a similar refund as the CPA.

[garbandz]

Phopia ? A new and unusual affliction, previously unmentioned in literature?

 

[ha_banos]

Outsourcing to whom? Might get a lot more done https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/18/infosys_workaholic_founder/

 

[Chitmo]

I don’t understand what not wanting your personal info outsourced for someone else’s benefit has to do with race?

[BrightonCorgi]

23 minutes ago, Chitmo said:

I don’t understand what not wanting your personal info outsourced for someone else’s benefit has to do with race?

It's more the locale of the data processor and not under any jurisdiction of US data protection laws.

[Chitmo]

1 hour ago, BrightonCorgi said:

It's more the locale of the data processor and not under any jurisdiction of US data protection laws.

I got all that, but how does not wanting that make it a race issue. The two have nothing to do with each other. Seems to me to Op is more worried about the perception of others than he should be IMO. Unless he’s make the news for switching accountants, I see it as a non issue. 

[BrightonCorgi]

2 hours ago, Chitmo said:

I got all that, but how does not wanting that make it a race issue. The two have nothing to do with each other. Seems to me to Op is more worried about the perception of others than he should be IMO. Unless he’s make the news for switching accountants, I see it as a non issue. 

Where did the op mention anything related to race? He could've said their moving their operations to the Cayman Island; same concern.

[Chitmo]

25 minutes ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Where did the op mention anything related to race?  He could've said their moving their operations to the Cayman Island; same concern.

Indiaphopia?!

[BrightonCorgi]

1 hour ago, Chitmo said:

Indiaphopia?!

Is Americaphobia racist? There are many races, religions, and ethnicities within India.  Is he scared of Hindu, Jain, Sikh, or Tamil? 

[JohnnyO]

No to the original question but I do have SubicBayphobia. John

[Chitmo]

4 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Is Americaphobia racist? There are many races, religions, and ethnicities within India.  Is he scared of Hindu, Jain, Sikh, or Tamil? 

Nobody said anything about being racist, more so that the OP was concerned folks may get that impression. Anyways, this is a dead horse...I’m out. 

[GVan]

10 hours ago, Chitmo said:

I don’t understand what not wanting your personal info outsourced for someone else’s benefit has to do with race?

You're right -- nothing. Not a single thing in the post about race. Was not even thinking about that with the post. As others have said, India has many "races" - Indo-Aryans, Dravidians, Negritos, Prot-Austrloids, Iranis, too many tribal groups to name...India is one of the most racially diverse countries on the planet.  

I guess if I was going to put any other additional words to the post it would be "business ethics" and "information protection laws". In my past I've done business in the USA, France, China, Germany, Korea, UAE, Poland, Russia, Bahamas, and what's now the Ukraine. All of these different cultures approach business differently and have different ethics about sharing information or gathering information (being polite with those last two words). More pertinent to the post, I've never done business in India, do not know their laws, and do not know what to expect.

Interestingly, we are on business day number 2 and I've not heard back from my accounting firm.

[Lamboinee]

86, pick up sticks. Time to find a new accountant IMO. 

[El Presidente]

19 hours ago, GVan said:

Interestingly, we are on business day number 2 and I've not heard back from my accounting firm.

I am not saying this is what has occured but it is a modern day trend. 

Split your clientele. top 20% (by fee load) receive the premium service. The rest get outsourced to a tier "B" service. If they move on, so be it.