How shall I deal with this piece of sexism?!

[momnipotent]

It's my first time posting in this section, hello everyone!

I'm in Canada, and we have to file an income tax return every year. I am also self-employed, so I use an accountant to do our taxes to make sure I can claim everything I am entitled to and I can claim the cost of the accountant as a business expense. Win-win! DH must file his taxes with mine since some claims must go to the lower earner, etc. DH has a regular job and very uncomplicated tax situation.

We moved towns a couple of years ago so I was unable to use my usual accountant, so last year I found a new one in town. I met with the accountants, summarized the situation and itemized all the expenses, dropped off the information, answered questions that arose, etc, etc. The only part DH played in all of this was to sign his name on the form at the end.

Fast forward to this year and it's tax time again. The accountant sent us special envelopes to fill with all our information slips, and the entire package was addressed to DH.

AIBU to be furious about this?! I feel like phoning them up and telling them I won't be using their sexist service this year and then finding another firm, except there are very few firms in town and everyone knows everyone, plus, this firm has already set everything up to do our taxes quickly so I wouldn't have that administration cost again. So finding another one feels a bit like cutting my nose off to spite my face. How shall I handle this?

Ouch.

You don't want to cut off your nose to spite your face. I'd be livid too though.

The letter will presumably have been put together by an admin person rather than the accountant? Or is it a single-handed place.

Yes, I am assuming that it is an admin person that put the packages together to send them out. The (female) accountant probably doesn't deal with that, and indeed when I was answering questions last year it was clear that she had a student-type doing the actual taxes and she was checking them over afterwards.

Drop them an email, point out that this is very sexist and expect them to repost the information addressed to you personally?

I feel so silly about it really. There isn't even a personalized letter, it is a form letter not addressed to anyone, two envelopes for us to put slips in, neither of which is labeled, and the only 'personalization' is on the address label, which is addressed to DH. It feels like I would be kicking up a great big fuss about nothing, but when I took the envelope out of the mailbox and saw it addressed to DH I clearly remember thinking WTAF!

Email them. Tell them they made a mistake in addressing your package, and could they check your details are correctly entered on their system.

It isn't silly. What if your husband was out of town on business and unable to open 'his' mail.
I'd contact them though and point out their error, without getting angry. The fact that your accountant is also a woman you'll probably find that she would be embarrased by the mistake.
If, however it is their policy to address to the man of the house THEN i'd take my business elsewhere.

But it's your tax return. They have sent it to the wrong person.

Do what chocladoodle said

I had to go in yesterday and drop everything off so I pointed out to the lady behind the counter that the envelope needed to be addressed to me as it was primarily my taxes and I was met with 'oh'. But the intonation of it was . I guess I'll see who the next letter is addressed to!

OP you should do it over email if there's a next time, so there is a written request to change details.

You could do it anyway now - email to accountant, not admin person -

Dear X,

Just wanted to follow up on something - I was a little concerned to see that my tax returns were addressed to my husband. We don't typically open each other's mail and I'm worried that in future important or confidential information might get overlooked. I mentioned it to your admin numpty assistant verbally, but could you please check that my details are correct on your system?

Thanks.

OP

If you frame it as an issue of confidentiality/ info security the acct is not likely to be happy with her asst raising that kind of Q about her business - I imagine most accts are very precise about stuff like that!

what would you know about canada SWG.

I was there for a fortnight once

Sorry OP totally pointless contribution to your thread - and in-jokey to boot. there was a thread on here ages ago when someone set themselves up as an expert on Canada after being on hols there and still tried to trump SGM about it. I still giggle.

Anyway do as RevoltingPeasant suggests

It may be a better idea just to ring and say 'you've addressed this to the wrong person' it may be enough to make them think.

If In worked in admin an recived an email , letter fuelled iwith sexism serious bizness I would just close it and think what hysterics. I'm not doubting your point but perhaps being calm and diplomatic is better and I think youd get further.

What about the poor brother-in-law at Christmas who committed the twin crimes of not being an alcoholic and also a Canadian to boot. (I put boot in there to have a larf at the way Canadians are meant to say 'about' like 'aboot').

Anyway, I would second the others and say a calmly worded email to the accountant to point out the error and ask if they need you to nominate a 'lead' person for the name on the address label. It'll be very hard for them to reply by email 'oh no don't worry, we always default it to the husband' ...