ComplaintsforSuncoast Tax Advisory Group, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  08/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I am either seeking the unfinished tax documents that ***** claim she has prepared and charged me for, or a refund of the $149 I was charged to prepare the taxes. At this point, I have no proof that she even worked on the taxes.In May I met with ******* husband regarding doing our personal and business taxes. I informed him at that time that I didn't have all of my financial records but the front office told me to bring what I had. He then advised that he would not put the paperwork through until I came back with the other documents. When I brought in the other documents, I advised that my prior accountant wasn't able to reconcile the monthly transactions of the year before and that the P&L was wrong. I then presented a spreadsheet with all of expenses attached. ***** states she looked over the documents and needed more information to complete the taxes. She asked for all of the receipts, inventory, starting balance, etc. This. was fine, but she said she needed them printed instead of the *** docs I readily had access to. There's a link on their website to upload documents but instead, she wanted me to print nearly 400 pages of documents. She then advised me that they charge $75 an hour for bookkeeping and review of those documents. At that point, I stated that I wasn't comfortable with continuing the services because reviewing those documents could take another 10 hours and I could possibly be charged over $1100 for taxes when I only paid their office around $230 for the same taxes and forms the year before. ***** then told me I would need to pay for the services rendered so I can receive my documents. I sent a check for the services, the check cleared and when I received my documents, it was only the paperwork I'd given her for the taxes. I never received any of the work ***** claims she did and I was charged $149 for ************** $150 for bookkeeping/review and $25 for the extension. But, I have absolutely no proof that the taxes were done.

  Business response

  08/02/2023

  Taxpayer chose to first engaged in July of 2022 for tax preparations for the 2021 tax year which is already past the filing date.  Taxpayer had multiple  businesses documented  mostly on excel spreadsheets.   Business income is normally presented by use  of  accounting software for the financials to include income, expenses, cost of goods sold, etc.     Return was filed as prepared and client owed taxes on her business income.  It was recommended by me as well as tax preparer that she engage with professional bookkeeper to prepare her business financials. Client was also advised to perhaps start estimated payment if her business was going to grow in 2022.  Client chose to  engage with us again for her 2022 tax preparation in April 2022, just before filing or extension deadlines.  Taxpayer stated that the current financials, which were prepared by her bookkeeper, were not wholly accurate yet and revised financials would be provided.  Tax preparer began initial work on the return with provided financials.  Taxpayer provided updated information and initial return prepared.  Tax preparer advised the taxpayer of the amount of taxes owed for the business income. The taxpayer business revenue tripled in 2022 from 2021. Tax preparer expected the taxpayer to owe significantly more taxes with the data provided.  The taxpayer felt that that was wrong and too high to pay.  Taxpayer chose to engage her daughter to prepare and provide excel worksheets instead of of 'financial statements' for her businesses. Tax preparer reviewed the worksheets and entered the data which eliminated the taxpayers tax liability.  Tax preparer requested the documentation that supported such a significant change from the original financials presented.  Taxpayer became reluctant to provide supporting documents. Upon my review of the excel spreadsheets provided, there were significant errors in the excel worksheets.  I personally called the taxpayer to point out the errors and recommended a meeting.  The meeting was scheduled for Monday Aug 7 to discuss what is necessary to get an accurate final tax return completed.  Client subsequently decided (see email documentation provided), to disengage. Notice the taxpayers admission that the spreadsheets that were presented for the final return are not correct.

  We strive for excellence and accuracy of our work.  We can not prepare and submit a return with errored data. 

  A complete tax return was indeed prepared, albeit,  with errored data the  taxpayer provided. 

  Even though the work was done, I have decided to refund the taxpayers prep fee of $149 as requested. 

   

   

  Customer response

  08/03/2023

   
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  Although I will accept the refund of $149, I want to go on record that the company has told several untruths and are trying to paint a picture that I was either trying to avoid paying higher taxes or that I wanted them to file inaccurate tax records.  Nothing can be further from the truth and I do not appreciate them stating this. 

  "Tax preparer expected the taxpayer to owe significantly more taxes with the data provided.  The taxpayer felt that that was wrong and too high to pay.  Taxpayer chose to engage her daughter to prepare and provide excel worksheets instead of of 'financial statements' for her businesses. "This is a flat out lie.  I never received ANYTHING from the company to even begin to know what I would owe in taxes.  And I never said my daughter prepared excel worksheets INSTEAD of financial statements for my business. I actually provided the P&L statement from Quickbooks from my accountant and copied my accountant on the last 2 emails to ***********  

  "Tax preparer reviewed the worksheets and entered the data which eliminated the taxpayers tax liability.  Tax preparer requested the documentation that supported such a significant change from the original financials presented.  Taxpayer became reluctant to provide supporting documents."  This is another lie.  I never received anything that said my tax liability was eliminated.  Further, I have email evidence that I told ***** I would provide all of the vendor receipts and was willing to upload it to their online portal.  However, she asked me to print them all instead. It was then that I told her it was over 400 sheets of receipts and documentation.  She said it would be $75 an hour to go through those documents and AT THAT POINT, I became reluctant.  

  What a horrible way to do business.  I will make sure others know about this.

  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************

• Initial Complaint

  04/25/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Hired their tax accountant to prepare 2 years of amended tax returns because of having losses from a Ponzi scheme. They prepared them and put the losses into capital losses instead of filling the correct forms for Ponzi scheme losses under Casuality and Ponzi losses. Asked them to make corrections and resubmit the tax return and they refuse to acknowledge me or return any of my emails or calls.

  Business response

  06/08/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 10, 2022/05/19) */ The firm hires independent tax preparation contractors and the client signed an engagement letter to that effect. The engagement letter is valid for 1 year. The tax preparer completed that current years return as well as corrected previous years errors with amended returns that had the 'capital losses' in error. The client alleges it was the current preparer that made the error and that is materially not true. The client received follow up letter from the IRS and has engaged directly with the independent contractor. Further, the independent contractor has moved away to another state and has been disengaged from this firm since October 2021. The independent contractor fulfilled his duty and "finished the job" per the original agreement and was paid for the completed work. The firm nor the independent contractor has any control of the IRS and their handling of the clients 'refund' as he is requesting. The independent contractor has been in correspondence with the client. The firm has no control over the independent contractor nor the IRS regarding further outcomes. The original engagement agreement with this firm has expired. Any further engagement between independent contractor and client is between them. Consumer Response /* (3000, 12, 2022/05/22) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) Can't Acknowledge nor denied any engagement agreement-have no record of them. Can't determine when the engagement agreement started nor when it's ends no record or proof of that. Do have record of 2018 and 2019 complete on or around 4/5/21, paid for service rendered on 4/9/21. had to mail return via USPS-IRS received on 4/16/21. 1st attempt to contact tax preparer was on 2/12/22 via email, I believe that still within 1-year. Current year (2020) was paid for services rendered on 4/29/21, tax return filed electronically on 5/3/21. So, when does the 1-year start or end? The reason for the amended returns were to include to loss from a "Ponzi Scheme" under IRS that is classified as "Casualties and Theft" and should have been filed with correct documents of form 4684. Sun Coast's independent contractor filed the amended returns of classified the Ponzi scheme loss as "capital losses" when it should have been report as "theft". Since the work was not completed correctly, we are seeking a refund of payments made for the 2018 and 2019 tax returns. Not sure who's Licenses Sun Coast EIN # ********** and/or Jay Steinberg PTIN # *********, but someone should be responsible for faulty or fraudulent work of misrepresentation of reporting of taxpayer's documents to the IRS. This is why Taxpayer's hire (CPA) Certified Public Accountant to make sure they file the correct tax returns. We want to make sure that moving forward other individual that are considering hiring this firm or tax preparer that they should beware that everything is not what they make you to believe.

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