Over the last three decades, Teddie McFadden, owner of McFadden
Tax Service, has looked forward to the rush of tax season. But this
year, the challenges of getting ready to serve her clients was
almost overwhelming.
Over the last three decades, Teddie McFadden, owner of McFadden Tax Service, has looked forward to the rush of tax season. But this year, the challenges of getting ready to serve her clients was almost overwhelming.
Last Nov. 23, disaster struck. Fire raced through the building housing McFadden Tax Service on Astro Drive at the Hollister Airport, destroying almost everything but her hard copies of records.
“The official version is it was an accidental fire,” McFadden said. “After the fire I had four to six weeks to get moved and set up for tax season. That was with Thanksgiving and Christmas in the middle.”
To further complicate matters, McFadden and her husband had planned a trip, one that they take every year.
“I was ready to cancel but my husband wouldn’t hear of it,” she said. “I ended up going and having a really good time.”
McFadden Tax Service is back in business in the building across from her former office. Her office window faces the old, burned-out building, a constant reminder of her past. Still, McFadden strives into the future, one she’s literally building around her.
“Some people suggested after the fire that maybe it was time to retire,” she said. “But I love tax season. The long hours got in my blood years ago. Plus, retiring after the fire was like quitting. I don’t want to retire, and when I do I want it to be on my own terms. I don’t want to let something else make the decision for me. I also didn’t want to do that to my clients so close to tax season.
“When I looked at the big picture, I told my husband Don, ‘I can’t do this.’ He helped me narrow my focus. The first thing I had to do was find another place for my office.”
For six weeks, McFadden’s “office” was her SUV and two cell phones. Then the manager of the Hollister Airport offered her office space on Airport Drive.
“I’ve never had to design my own office before,” she said. “My old offices evolved over the 33 years I’ve been in business. I met with an office designer and spent $10,000 of my own money fixing this place up.”
Though there are still things to finish, McFadden is pleased with her new surroundings.
“When I walk in here I say thank you to God,” she said. “We’re still doing little things, but most of it’s done. I’ve made some mistakes in designing and there were certain things I had in my old office that they don’t make anymore.”
McFadden said even the purchase of a new calculator took some research. One who uses a calculator as much as a tax preparer gets used to a certain feel of the keyboard.
“The first new calculator I bought didn’t feel right. I had to take it back and get one that was close to what I was used to,” McFadden said. “Recently we put new toner in the copier and I had to read the manual to do that. We opened on Jan. 13 and I still find myself reaching for things that aren’t there. I keep wondering when I’ll know where everything is.”
Even with all the changes, McFadden is still in business, ready for the challenges of yet another tax season.
“What I do mainly is tax preparation,” she said. “I do tax preparations for individuals, small businesses and partnerships. I don’t do corporate or trusts. I’m extremely confidential. Sometimes people will see a family member in the office and say, ‘I didn’t know Teddie did your taxes too.’ They never hear it from me.
“I’ve been in business so long that this year I’m doing a fourth generation. I did taxes for this client’s great grandma and great grandpa, his grandma and grandpa, his parents and now him.”
Though coping with the fire was tough, McFadden tries to look at the positives.
“I could have lost much more,” she said. “I think God put up a fire wall and prevented more from being destroyed. The fire department did an excellent job. Everybody has been so considerate and willing to help out.”
McFadden Tax Service is located at 30 Airport Drive. For more information or to make an appointment call 637-1155.
