Tax Masters reviews and complaints
The good, the bad, and the ugly - discover what customers are saying about Tax Masters
Welcome to our customer reviews and complaints page for Tax Masters. We understand that making informed decisions about where to invest your time and money can be challenging, which is why we've created this platform for our community to share their honest feedback about their experiences with Tax Masters.
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Fraud/Theft
The following message I sent to a TaxMasters rep after 9 months of dealing with lie, after lie, negligence, false representation, and much more. I have been strung along with the hopes that "any day" my tax issue would be resolved. I kept telling myself these are professionals, they deal with this kind of thing all the time, they know what they're doing, they even have a commercial on TV promising to resolve and releive people of their tax problems. Plus, I had paid them over 7, 000. 00 and can't afford to hire anyone else now. The IRS has garnished my wages for over 6 months now, their is a lein on my home, and now they are attempting to levy my husband's wages, and I'm starring forclosure in the face. The only service I have received from TaxMasters other than distress and many sleepless nights, ... Returns prepared. 7000.00 Returns. And theyre still holding some of them b/c they say we owe additional money. They claimed they were working deligently and efficiently to resolve my crissis; however they were only making matters worse. And stringing me along to see how much money they could STEAL from me before the well ran dry. Today I finally had had enough and broke down and called the IRS to beg forgiveness and mercy and to see if this so-called Tax "resolution" service was doing all they claimed to be doing. They contacted the IRS TWICE over 8 months. One to file a Power of Attorney, (in November)and the other...two days ago. Day before yesterday was the last time I spoke with anyone at Taxmasters, havent been able to get any one to return call, emails nada- Of course thats been the norm. with them throughout this whole experience. Yesterday I sent an email demanding answers to specific questions. Of course I have not heard a word back. The email describes the events that have taken place over the last 8months.
Nicole,
My husband and I spoke this evening and after our discussion we both decided we have questions that need to be answered/addressed specifically and in detail. Please have the the following questions answered and provide supporting documentation if available.
1) When Tax Masters was initially hired to handle our case we were told appropriate measures would be taken to prevent a levy, but if a levy was in fact put on our wages or other property TaxMasters would work diligently to have the levy removed efficiently and timely. We sent the notices we received stating the IRS was going to place a levy on my wages.
A) I want to know what actions were taken to have the levy prevented?
B)Was th RO contacted? and if so when? Who contacted her? and what was discussed? I need to know exact dates a specifics on conversations held. (My payroll dept. has informed me that when they were notified of the levy and spoke to the RO she had told them that no one had contacted her, nor had she received any response or correspondence from me or any outside agency representing me.
C) We were charged fees for negotiations/discussions with RO, if these services are not being rendered why are/have we had to pay them?
2) We were also told initially by your firm ( John Thacker and others) that if a levy was placed Tax Masters would work "efficiently and timely" to have the levy removed. I would like proof of any measures/procedures taken to remove levy. I.e. Documentation sent, date, time of phone calls made and who was spoke to and their badge numbers?
A) I contacted TaxMasters after the RO contacted me to inform me the levy was about to be issued. She had told me if I didnt want the maximum amount levied from my wages or would like to prevent the levy from happening she needed me to fill out some paperwork and send it back immediately. I forwarded the documentation to TaxMasters conveyed to them what the RO had stated and still nothing was done by TaxMasters to my knowledge nor has the notice of my hardship been sent to the IRS in efforts of even reducing the levy. I want to why? And if actions were taken I want to know what, who, when, how, and need documentation supporting those facts.
3)When we were preparing the worksheets needed to prepare our returns I had specific questions which needed to be answered in order to complete those worksheets. I called Robert Lipin several times and so did my husband, to have those questions answered, we left several voicemails, and never once received a call back. (in fact I had to call a local cpa to have my questions answered b/c your representatives told me they couldn't answer the questions I had and that I needed to speak to Robert Lipin personally) - Why were our calls never returned, questions never answered? Is that not the complete opposite of "efficiently and timely? His neglect to call return my and my husbands calls and messages delayed the preparation of our returns immensely! We're talking months!
4) You told me Several correspondences were sent to us from your billing dept via email (matters that needed immediate attention to be handled "efficiently and timely") When those notices sent by your billing dept were returned "undeliverable" why were we not contacted by another method? Especially since the sup. agreement that needed our attention and signatures was the reason for our returns not being sent to me!
A) also I stated and requested for my account to be notated that given the severity of this issue and situation please send all future correspondences from your firm to the email address I'm sending this letter from, along with a phone call @ the [protected] to inform me of any action, documentation needed to proceed with our case in a "timely and efficiently" matter. That as well has still not been done.
5) I have informed Taxmasters on numerous occasions of the strain and hardship this levy has created for me and my family and never was I told by your firm that if the levy applied to wages and was causing a personal hardship could we request to have it lifted, stopped, or reduced. (recently informed by an IRS Publication) Why was I not informed of this? And how is that not a form of negligence in handling my case? And how would such negligence considered "efficiently and timely''?
6) Due to the hardship the levy has caused I have called TaxMasters several times to see what was being done to resolve the issue and what could I do to speed up the process. On several occasions I was given false information from your service reps. I.E.
a) I was told not to communicate with the IRS in any way prior to my levy being put on my wages----I didn't, and neither did your firm-- which I'm told now if the RO would have been contacted by me or TaxMasters prior to the levy being issued, the levy could have been prevented.
b) I was also told once Tax Masters received our worksheets/ documentation for our return preparation, steps/actions would be made/taken; the RO/ IRS would be informed the proper documentation was in hands pf your firm and that the returns were soon to be filed...Which I was told at that time the levy would be lifted. (That was in August Melody Johnson was the Rep. that stated these false allegations and misrepresentations)
c) I was told after I sent all nec. docs and worksheets for return prep. that our returns would be overnighted to me. (which I requested) They weren't, instead they weren't sent to me at all so I called to check the status after waiting for their arrival for well over 2 weeks and was told Tax Masters was needing an additional payment made for additional schedules that were completed for tax yrs 02-05. Why was this notice not brought to my attention in an expedited matter given the circumstances? Especially after your firm knew the severity of the issue and hardship I was experiencing due to the wage garnishments?
D) I was then told yet again, after the prior issue was resolved, that the returns would be mailed to me and once again, they were not. Why? And why were they sent standard mail after I had Requested they be overnighted?
E) I was misinformed again when told I did not need to file for the yrs 00-01 because the IRS was showing those years to already have been paid. Therefore those yrs weren't sent to me, 02-08 were filed, stamped and faxed to RO. Then shortly after that I was told I did need to file those years but TaxMasters wasn't going to send them to me until an additional sup. agreement was signed.. I signed the requested agreement, sent it back (this was wed last week and I still havent received the return. Why?
F) I was also mis-informed once again that once I had the returns filed/ stamped by the IRS and sent back to your office or to the RO the Levy would be lifted immediately. (granted I didn't have them emailed to you, but that was because i received a fax confirmation stating they had been received by the RO) How does a fax go through a phone line that when a building is vacant and there's no one/machine there to receive it? And if that is the case and the prior RO is no longer handling my case should I not have received notice of that?
7) If Tax Masters had been in contact with the RO intitially and throughout, shouldn't someone at your firm been informed in some way that my case was now being handled by the ACS?
8) who was contacted today, Dec. 1, at the IRS/ACS. What are their bage numbers, Who said we have ingaged in a payment plan with the IRS and what steps are being made to proceed and get this levy lifted?
Please dont take my questioning personal Nicole, like I've said before your continued patience and diligence is appreciated greatly. And though, the majority of the noted altercations and issues in this letter have not been a result of your actions or guidence or verbal instructions, however, these instances have occurred due to the continual neglect, insufficient/incorrect instruction, mis-guidance awful and unprofessional customer service/ representation (or lack there of rather) that we've received from others in your firm. And due to the service we've received I feel that our issue w the IRS has worsened severely since we hired Taxmasters, It definitely hasnt relieved or resolved our tax Issues like the commercials and website promise. In fact when it comes to the customer service you have been the one and only shinning star w.i that entire organization that we've dealt w/ so far. I hope you understand my concerns and reasons for my questions.
I would like for my entire case to be reviewed by the "higher powers that may be" and would like to know what if any compensation will be given for the the services that have been provided (or lack there of), the poor customer services received, and the additional tax issues that we are now incurring due to no representation or action on your firm's part?
Please return as soon as possible.
Thanks,
I've still not heard from them! Nevertheless, I've contacted the IRS Sent the Power of Attorney Revocation, and after a couple hrs. of speaking with an Agent and sorting through all the mess, I was told who to call First thing tomorrow and the levies should be lifted by end of business day tomorrow. I went through 8 months of agony and quite frankly poverty, they charged me a fortune for nothing but return prep. and now I have assumed more penalties and interest due to their negligence. My tax problems are not completely resolved yet, thanks to the giant hole TaxMasters was digging for me, but for the first time in 8 months I feel I'm finally headed in the right direction, and may be able to sleep tonight.
Please let me know if any class-action suit is in the works. Any help would be a blessing.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
The worst company I have ever dealt with
Do NOT do business with this company! They are crooks!
I hired them stop a wage garnishment that was about to take place, they assured me that they could stop it within a couple of weeks. They took my money out of my bank account every two weeks and no one from their company even called me to keep me up to date or even to say hello. I finally called them 4 weeks later and learned that they had not even started working on my case. They told me that they needed more information from me - for some reason no one from their company thought to call me. I was so mad I told them that I wanted to cancel my service and get a refund. They told me I would need to write a letter and mail it in and someone would review it and get back to me. Of course no one called me. I finally got in touch with someone there who told me to give her a couple of days to review my request and to call back. I called back, of course she didn't answer or return my call. I called my bank to explain everything and they were good enough to pull the funds back from them and give it back to me. I went to a local tax firm who was able to help me right away for a fraction of what Tax Master wanted to charge me. The local firm told me how they get so many complaints about Tax Masters and what they do and charge people is criminal, they told me that Tax Masters blatantly lies about what they can do for people and how they NEVER follow-through.
When you call their customer service department you wait on hold for 15+ minutes to get someone who treats you like garbage. Their customer service is so terrible, all of the reps are rude and do nothing to help you. Stay far away from Tax Masters!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
there are now 4 federal lawsuits against TaxMasters, for varied reasons:
8 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-02373 710 07/02/2010
9 Taxmasters (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-02373 710 07/02/2010
10 TAXMASTERS, INC. (dft) paedce 2:2010-cv-03331 480 07/07/2010
11 TAXMASTERS (dft) paedce 2:2010-cv-03331 480 07/07/2010
14 TaxMasters Inc. (cnflck) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
15 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
16 Taxmasters (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
17 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03330 190 09/16/2010
Apparently there is a US Treasury investigation into TaxMasters.
---
US Treasury Department
Attention: Agent Farwell
1919 Smith Street
Suite 2270
Houston, TX 77002
----
And a potential class-action suit:
Pam Mitchell
[protected]
Pat Cox is currently a Certified Public Accountant licensed by the State of Texas (http://www.tsbpa.state.tx.us/macros/OD007.ndm/DETAIL?ID=055358 ). Your complaints about his deficiencies can be filed with the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy to get him sanctioned and and possibly shut down for discreditable acts against the profession.
Fraudulent
Tax Masters is a bogus company many round arounds and don't answer your calls, they withdrawl funds immediately then process on a monthly basis keep taking funds from your account even when you attempt to not deal with them anymore...they don't send any paperworks neither return calls after they take your money, but when you first speak to them ...its another story they keep hounding you with phonecalls all day and evening...then...they charge you a fee of 4, 000 and rip you off like a flash...with all that speech lines...they are not attorneys...they are just a small company that is not registered with BB, because they are not monitored they can rip peoples life earning in a heartbeat! DO NOT USE THIS FIRM, AS YOU NOTICE THEY ARE NOT ON TELEVISION COMMERCIALS ANYMORE...
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
Hello Everyone:
POTENTIAL CLASS ACTION:
I am trying to forward information to the attorney who is reviewing our potential Tax Masters class action suit. Please forward the following for our preliminary summary:
Name
Contact Information
Summary of Your Issue with Tax Masters
Amount Loss
Please forward this information to me at your earliest convenience (triplejassoc@aol.com) in order for me to compile and forward to the attorney. I will keep you abreast of the status.
Thanks,
Pam Mitchell, Sr. Paralegal
[protected]
Pat Cox is currently a Certified Public Accountant licensed by the State of Texas (http://www.tsbpa.state.tx.us/macros/OD007.ndm/DETAIL?ID=055358 ). Your complaints about his deficiencies can be filed with the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy to get him sanctioned and and possibly shut down for discreditable acts against the profession.
Scam, Fraud artists
They sent me the paper work after inital phone conversation for signing. I decided not to use there service after reading over everything and called back to say so, I was told I had entered a verbal agreement and couldnt back out.
I told the idiot supervisor that Im not wasting my time with him, I will just dispute my credit card payment that he submitted without my authorization. I submitted the dispute and the charge was removed from my CC card and scam masters got nothing.
HAHA ! just dispute that CC payment folks, dont even deal with tax masters, they are con artists, scam artist rip offs.
and If I ever happen to be in the Houston area I will go visit them and I gaurentee they wont forget me.
awesome, keep updating us, like yourself, Im not going to rest until the Fatman goes down...
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
The PA class action suit has made it around the arbitration clause in the contract. TaxMasters filed a motion to compel arbitration, which was denied on 3/17/11.
I too was tricked into the verbal agreement. I called the next morning to put it on hold. They did an electronic check overdrawing my acct. Now they say i must write a letter to get my money back. In the mean time I have worked out my IRS problem . Do not use these scammers go to the IRS and do it yourself.
there are now 4 federal lawsuits against TaxMasters, for varied reasons:
8 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-02373 710 07/02/2010
9 Taxmasters (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-02373 710 07/02/2010
10 TAXMASTERS, INC. (dft) paedce 2:2010-cv-03331 480 07/07/2010
11 TAXMASTERS (dft) paedce 2:2010-cv-03331 480 07/07/2010
14 TaxMasters Inc. (cnflck) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
15 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
16 Taxmasters (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
17 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03330 190 09/16/2010
** FILE AN SEC COMPLAINT AGAINST TAXMASTERS HERE **
Tax Masters can't be trusted
Tax Mmasters should be shut down. How come they can't pay their health insurance premiums when they reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission that they took in over $11 million dollars through March 31, 2010 AND had CASH to the tune of over $4 million during that same period. I wonder whether the numbers Tax Masters gave the SEC are correct. Could it be that Tax Masters has committed stockholder fraud by not disclosing accurate financial information on their SEC documents. If you feel the same way as I do and want to complain to the SEC as well as the Texas Attorney General and joining the class action lawsuit, you can file a complaint with the SEC by using the following website: http://www.sec.gov/complaint.shtml
Have you seen the commercail Tax Masters promising to help reduce your IRS debt? Well they are SCAM...
This is in reference to a business based out of Huston Texas that is miss representing them selves as attorney’s and taking customers money after service has been canceled. I will make this brief. It started when I responded to a commercial on television promising to reducing your IRS bill. I could hirer an attorney that previously worked as an IRS agent. I didn’t realize I was hiring an ex-attorney. I called in and was pressured to give my account information over the phone by a very agressive sales rep that assured me I was doing the right thing. I reluctantly did however, I canceled the service the very next morning before they had done any work for me. After canceling, a few weeks later I noticed they tried to take the $500 payment out of my account but there was no money in the account at that time.
I sent them an e-mail and called to remind them to not charge me, as I was assured they would not. Two months later they charged my account $500.00. I was alarmed as this came out of my $800.00 pay check (for working two weeks.) I called them again and they said “yes they see I canceled the payment.” She connected me to billing where they informed me I have a verbal contract with them and they will not refund my money and in fact I’m being told I’m obligated to pay the total $6, 000.00
After doing some research on the company I found out that they are not a member of the BBB and after "goggling" them I find out they have had multiple complaints against them. There are a lot of desperate people that are being hurt by this company.
I learned a valuable lesson but now I don't know what to do about paying my bills as they took $500.00 out of my account today. It really sucks because I work as a public servant for 20 years and military member for many many years. You would think they would show some compassion to someone that has spent their life giving back to the community.
1. There used to be a huge blog filled with TaxMasters stories and complaints. The sued the guy and he took it down. Here's an archive of it though:
http://web.archive.org/web/20080621192338/www.enormousincongruities.com/2006/02/22/tax-masters/
Apparently there is a US Treasury investigation into TaxMasters.
---
US Treasury Department
Attention: Agent Farwell
1919 Smith Street
Houston, TX 77002
----
And a potential class-action suit:
Pam Mitchell
[protected]
I am in need of tax help for a number of years and when I saw a Taxmasters commercial I thought that might be the way to go. My experience with these types of companies has taught me to check them out so I Google'd "taxmasters complaints". I am glad I did!
I wish I knew of a company that has a good reputation.
I truly sympathize with anyone who has gotten ripped off. You are already in a mess and to have it become even worse is so unfortunate and the people who take advantage of others paying for help should rot in jail.
Pat Cox is currently a Certified Public Accountant licensed by the State of Texas (http://www.tsbpa.state.tx.us/macros/OD007.ndm/DETAIL?ID=055358 ). Your complaints about his deficiencies can be filed with the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy to get him sanctioned and and possibly shut down for discreditable acts against the profession.
Is there a group or organization out there helping to deal with this horrible company?
I've been ripped off too. I would join a suit if one was filed, I don't have the time, money, or health to deal with one by myself. I can be reached at antkojm1 [at] gmail [dot] com
Total Fraud..Scam
Do not use Tax Masters. They are a fraud. I hired them to take care of an IRS lein on some property I was wanting to purchase. It has been over a year now and they already took $2800.00 from me. When I call I never get the same person or I get voice mail. Over the last 12 months I have made over 200 calls to Tax Masters and they have returned my calls only 4 times. They have lied to me many times telling me they have filed my papers then when I call back a week later the new person tells me nothing has been filed. If you get upset and demand to talk to someone they just put you on hold forever. I waited 2 hrs one time until I just hung up again. I have ask to speak to a supervisor many times, I only get voice mail or put on hold forever. I have asked for my money back and they have not returned it. I will file with the BBB too. DO NOT USE THE PEOPLE. I think they just scam people out of their deposites and that is how Tax Masters makes their money.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
there are now 4 federal lawsuits against TaxMasters, for varied reasons:
8 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-02373 710 07/02/2010
9 Taxmasters (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-02373 710 07/02/2010
10 TAXMASTERS, INC. (dft) paedce 2:2010-cv-03331 480 07/07/2010
11 TAXMASTERS (dft) paedce 2:2010-cv-03331 480 07/07/2010
14 TaxMasters Inc. (cnflck) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
15 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
16 Taxmasters (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
17 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03330 190 09/16/2010
1. There used to be a huge blog filled with TaxMasters stories and complaints. The sued the guy and he took it down. Here's an archive of it though:
http://web.archive.org/web/20080621192338/www.enormousincongruities.com/2006/02/22/tax-masters/
----
2. Apparently there is a US Treasury investigation into TaxMasters.
US Treasury Department
Attention: Agent Farwell
1919 Smith Street
Suite 2270
Houston, TX 77002
----
3. And a potential class-action suit:
Pam Mitchell
[protected]
----
4. Additionally:
If you've been a victim of TaxMasters, below is a good starting list of everyone you should send a letter to, detailing your experience. Signed and mailed letters are often still taken more seriously than an emailed or faxed one. You should also include any/all supporting documentation/evidence.
This really is needed. The sooner these agencies receive more complaints about this company, the more they will investigate.
1. Your state's Attorney General
2. All of your state's Senators and Representatives (Federal and State)
3. All of the following:
U.S. Treasury Department
ATTN: Special Agent Farwell
1919 Smith St.
Suite 2270
Houston, TX 77002
Texas State Board of Public Accountancy
333 Guadalupe, Tower 3, Suite 900
Austin, TX [protected]
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
Hotline
P.O. Box 589
Ben Franklin Station
Washington, DC [protected]
Office of the Attorney General of Texas
PO Box 12548
Austin, TX [protected]
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Attorney General
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20530
Internal Revenue Service
Office of Professional Responsibility
SE: OPR, Room 7238/IR
1111 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20224
Better Business Bureau of Houston
http://houston.bbb.org/
Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
Mayor Annise D. Parker
City of Houston
P.O. Box 1562
Houston, TX 77251
Pat Cox is currently a Certified Public Accountant licensed by the State of Texas (http://www.tsbpa.state.tx.us/macros/OD007.ndm/DETAIL?ID=055358 ). Your complaints about his deficiencies can be filed with the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy to get him sanctioned and and possibly shut down for discreditable acts against the profession.
As I see on the Internet, I and many others have been taken for a ride by this company. We have lost almost $10, 000 as well as many sleepless nights and frustrating phone calls and emails. Our situation is very complicated and I thought these guys were reputable. Saw the ad on CNN, Patrick seemed so reassuring and trustworthy. Now every time I see the commercial I want to shoot my TV! We tried to cancel when we found out they only worked with us over the phone or through fax or email and they sent me a bazillion pages of worksheets to fill out for them. I still had to do all the work so they could just plug in the numbers and for that they want $250 to $500 per tax year! WOW! I wish I had seen these complaints before I called them but I was scared and under threat from the IRS Revenue Agent. I found someone local who was willing to work with us face-to-face, guide us through everything and really help us but couldn't hire him when I found out that Taxmasters was going to take all our money anyway. I wish I could go back in time and do this all over. I'd rather shoot myself than go through this! I want to know if anyone knows of a class action suit I could join or if anyone knows a lawyer willing to get all of us together and start one. I understand the US Treasury Dept and the TX Attorney Genl. are investigating them so it should be a slam dunk! My regular email is kathijo@gmail.com. Please let me know. I'm desperate. Now they want more money! I can't do this anymore!
I also am so pist with Tax Masters ..they should be called Tax Rippers...they withdrawl funds and continuously do it monthly even though you call to cancel and even that they give you the round around with transferring fom one to another department. and to top it off never ever return your call. the only time they return is for money...I cannot imagine how they could have the guts to advertise a commercial ad on TV...they are soooooo sick, money hungry company and always full of crap
Check out www.naea.org for someone who can help with IRS issues.
What I have read about this company totally upset me.
If I had IRS issue I would only contact a United States Treasury Enrolled Agent.
They are the only private individuals that are authorized to represent taxpayers before the IRS.
Their website is www.naea.org.
I hope you find this information useful and that it saves you money and heart break.
connie
Service
Left High and Dry.
I hired Tax Masters to file some old returns I hadn't handled. I was ind of in trouble. Hadn't filed for a couple years and the IRS finally got ticked enough to go after my pay. I called TaxMasters to fix this porblem. They got the three returns done they were supposed to and got the garnishment suspended, but then seemed to fall off the face of the earth when it came time to trying to negotiate the debt I owed down.
So while TaxMasters is not calling me, the IRS officer or agent or whatever literally calls me and asks where my payment is for the old returns. I go through it over and over witht he agent, telling her that TaxMAsters was my representative and she said there's no record of a power of attorney even in my file.
Well, that can't be right. I mean I know I did what TaxMAsters told me to get those old returns filed. The agent just insists that I'm lying and I can't believe it. So I call TaxMAsters and they say everything's just like they left it and they're waiting on a response from the IRS.
I DON'T know who to believe? Do I call the revenue agent back or trust TaxMAsters or what? The IRS says they haven't done anything on my account. At this point, the amount of money I paid taxmasters doesn't matter as much as getting me back in the system with the IRS. And if taxmasters hasn't done anything for me, I don't know what I'm going to do. I can't go to jail for this. I'm not the suing kind. I don't have the money or the connections to do that. And then there's all these references to http://www.enormousincongruities.com and I go there and get nothing. No longer exists, like it's been nuked off the planet. WTF?
Any help from anyone is welcome. I can't believe this company got me in this situation. If there is a class action suit, I'll send everything I have to nail these ###. If I'm not in jail.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
I just got through my tax nightmare! I had a consultation with Tax Masters and handing over a ridiculous amount of money was our next step with some very hefty promises. This made me very uneasy. Thank goodness too. I avoided this company by doing research before deciding on someone to represent me. The problem is they take your money before getting a clear picture on your situation with the IRS. Companies like Tax Relief Foundation conduct an investigation first. This is the only honest way to conduct business in this arena. Both you and your representation should have realistic expectations before fully committing
I signed on with Tax Masters after contacting them and they told me that they could help me. I was informed that if I did not get help that even if I had a payment plan with the IRS they would still try to double my payments every 5 years or so. I signed up and stayed in close contact for the first three months. Then nothing no one would call me or return any form of reply. The last reply I had at that time was the employee said it should be settled in about a month, After a couple months I called back and he was no longer there and I was transferred to another person who informed me that I still had a lot of paper work to do so he emailed it we filled it out and sent it back. Then the next thing was the power of atty we filled it out sent it back and within a month or so we was informed that they could not help us and the best thing to do was to close our case and ask for a refund that was in April of 2017, We contacted quality control and we was given the employees name that would be handling out case, We have called more 1-2 times a week for 5 months and have never ever received a call, I have had 3-4 calls of people asking if we want to sign up and why did we quit? We would tell them because they told us to close our account, I see their commercial every day on TV and it is infuriating because they are not what they claim. I would suggest everyone to save your money before tax masters steals it.
After the BIG crash in Real Estate a few years ago I didnt think that there would ever be any way out of the mess that I had created with the IRS. My problem actually goes back much futher then that start a good seven years ago with personal problems here at home. I have always been self employed and do pretty well for myself. But with the problems here at homes things really started to take a turn for the worse. Not file one year turned into 6 years of not filing and then the letters started to poor in from the IRS. At first I thought I could take care of this on my own. I tried to talk to the IRS and work something out wiht them. Even wrote a check to them to try and chip away and the huge mess I created but that wasnt enough. The most recent letter I received from them really scared me. So I saw a add for Tax Masters and thought I would give then a call to see what they could do. The rep seemed really nice and after a hour long conversation with him then being put on hold for several minutes he came back on the line and told me what it would cost to get out of my mess. $10, 000! Since I didnt knwo any better and didnt research much I thought that was normal. So I agreed to it and set up a payment plan. A few days later I thought that I should go online and just check them out a little more to make sure that I was really doing the right thing. Boy was I shocked at what I found. Many websites with stories about people paying WAY more then they should to get help with there taxes through Tax Masters. I ALMOST fell for the same thing that many of these other people's stories I read about.
Then I came across a complaint that I read and how they to almost fell for the same thing but was referred to Charles with Us Tax liberty. So I decided to look them up first before I called them to make sure I wasnt making the same mistake twice and waste any more of my time. I could not find anything negative about them so I decided to give him a call and get a second opinion. Boy am I glad that I did. The conversation I had with him was night and day. He gave me information that I didnt get from Tax Master. Told me step by step exactly what the process was. Was totally porfessional and sensitive to my situation. It was handled very quickly. Saved me thousands of dollars that would have otherwise been wasted and I even got money back from the IRS for a couple of years that I didnt file. Being a business owner for years now it is good to know that there are still companies out there that are Honest and Care about there clients. Why would Tax Masters try to RIP ME OFF of my hard earned MONEY? Whatever you do please do not go to them and get a second opinion. They WILL over charge your for there service.
We saw the commercial for Tax Masters and thought they could help us. Once we hired them they started adding more and more fees for supplements and additional services. In one month we paid $1300 only for them to process tax returns but could not release them until an additional $800 was paid for additional supplements. If we would've continued their services we would've paid a little over $6k only to find out from the IRS that they cannot negogiate anything more than we can as tax payers.
Everyone please be aware and call the IRS prior to engaging with Tax Masters. You will first get the sales guy who is nice and empathetic but once you hire them you will be bounced around from one person to another with no resolution other than you need to pay more.
After I finished my time with the Navy i started my own construction company back home. We did very well for he past ten years up until the housing market crash. I kept my business pretty well under the radar, but i really shot myself in the foot ( didn't pay the payroll taxes for the since we started). *** i know, but that in the past. So the IRS started Levying my Bank accounts.
I mean all My bank accounts: Checking, savings, CD's the list goes on. So i pulled everything out. I contacted Tax Masters to see if they could help me. A man named Lexington Steele with a funny accent got on the phone with me and after speaking to him all of ten minutes he wanted 10, 000 right then and there to handle my tax issue. NO WAY. That should have been the end of it right there... But a manager by the name of Andrew called me up from TM and after talking to me for a while scared me into thinking that i was going to go to federal prison for tax evasion. I know that it does happen, but i should not have gone with TM!
I paid them a "one-time-fee" of 10k. a LOT i know, but they told me that through offer and compromise they could reduce my tax debt to only $1, 500 which is what i wanted. IF IT'S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE THEN IT IS! These B*****ds DID NOTHING! I doubt they even contacted the IRS. Contact settlewiththeirs.info.
Through searching for help i actually stumbled upoun these guys from a complaint blog. David at settlewiththeirs.info actually told me that i am not even qualified for an Offer In Compromise because i have too many assets. He explained that for someone in my situation the IRS will actually file a substitute return on the years i didn't file and *** what my Tax Liability is. ( Tax Masters Did none of this for me, they just scared me and lied to me into paying). But these guys ran a Tax Investigation for me to see what the government assessed and what could be done about it.
and they didn't charge a dime to do. Daves # [protected]. Obviously Tax Masters is the biggest RIPOFF they charged me so much before they could have possibly contacted the IRS or even know what it is they could have done for me. Such a waste of my time an money! if anyone is interested in filling a class action lawsuit PLEASE let me know! TAX MASTERS IS A SCAM DO NOT USE!
I have been trying to get my money back from TaxMasters since June! They took my money and never provided the booklet they promised. I have called them for 4 1/2 months only to get the run around and to be put in voicemail everyday! They stole my money! DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY! I was told i would be contacted with an update on my refund but they just say that. My file has been in the refund department since july! It's mid October! I am pissed. I filed a c omplaint with the BBB. Let's hope that works.
This company is non responsive to telephone messages or e mails. They give you expension #'s but no one ever answers the phone or left messages. We were finally informed that "any representive" could help us - they would just bring up our file on the computer, even though we were given a specific person in which to communicate. We are out approx $3, 000 and now they send us IRS forms to complete - without explaning what they are for or which tax year they cover.
I am currently dealing w/ the IRS on an installment agreement. While I was home on vacation I decided that I would try and resolve my existing debt w/ the IRS quicker through Tax Masters. I saw there commercial on the TV and quickly called to inquire about their services. I spoke w/ a representative who I told I would like to resolve my debt of 8k with the IRS. I started at 19k but now I had paid down to 8k. He suggested they normally take cases from 15-10k and up so they would only charge me $3000.00. After he told me that I told him that I would have to wait in order to access my finances in order to meet the $3000.00 requirement. He proceeded to tell me that I shouldn't wait and he would just me set up in the system and we could work the payments / adjustments out later after I signed the contract if I couldn't meet the payment requirements. Initally we talked about a $500.00 downpayment after I had succesfully signed the paperwork it would begin. So I gave him my Debit / Credit card info to set up the account. WRONG IDEA! We discussed what the program would consist of and what the payments would be and that he would send me the documents and was trying to pressure me to sign the documents / contracts ASAP. I told him I would look them over and send them back in the morning. Not even 2 hours later I was looking at my bank account to pay other bills and they had already debited $500.00 dollars out of my account without authorization or a signed contract. I looked in my email to see if I had received any paper work and INDEED I hadn't. Scared to death and feeling overwhelmed, I proceeded to call the Billing Department to look into this. I called and was put on hold for over 20 mins and then had to call back and finally someone answered. When I spoke with the lady I asked, " I just spoke w/ a rep concerning my tax issues and I haven't even signed any paper work or contract for that matter and you have already withdrawn over 500 dollars out of my account w/ out authorization. She proceeded to tell me that I had given verbal authorization for them to debit my account over the phone which I hadn't. She said they couldn't refund me because I had. MIND YOU I still hadn't received any paperwork concerning the contract! I began to panic and told her, I no longer wanted to do any business w/ them and don't plan on doing this service w/ them and I wanted my Money back. She told me I could send a letter to the Quality Assurance telling them I wanted to suspend service...WHAT FREAKING SERVICE? Really, I didn't sign anything or authorize service. Anyhow, then she proceeded to tell me at that time once Quality Assurance received the letter at that time they would determine if I deserved the Refund. I was SCAMMED and ripped off in a matter of 2 hours w/ out authorizing this. No I am going through hell w/ my bank trying to dispute this matter. Tax Masters should be shut down and I don't understand how they continue to get away with this behavior. I am appalled.
To begin with, my wife was already pissed that i hadn't saved up enough to pay our taxes for that year. I file 1099 every year so that means i have to save my own money to pay my taxes every year, and well 2017 i fell short. i only came up with 30k which was only half of what i owed for that year. in '08 i managed to come up with the full amount of 70k to the IRS, but they applied 40k of that to my back taxes. so with penalties and interest i was falling even further behind. This didn't help the matters at home at all! so when i paid up my '09 the debt i owed the IRS was up to 50k. And the $900/month payment plan the IRS put me on was not helping.
So i contacted Tax Masters. After speaking to one of their "Tax Advisers" on the phone i felt much better, they told me what i wanted to hear. I was told that Tax Masters would reduce my debt to only $1, 000. HA! WHAT A LAUGHBLE LIE! i should have know that it was to good to be true. But I BOUGHT IT! and it was only going to cost me 9 GRAND!
At the time that seemed more than AMAZING! only ten grand to pay off everything!
THAT is when i had to start sleeping in the office.
Tax Masters advised me to stop my payment plan because now they had contacted the IRS and were handling everything for me. Not only did i constantly receive letters from the IRS, but 3 months later they slapped a lien on my home and my wife slapped me in the face.
YES i messed up in the first place being late on my Taxes, but Tax Masters took my money and DID ABSOLUTLEY NOTHING. EXCEPT RUIN WHAT WAS LEFT OF MY RELATIONSHIP.
I was still hopeful however, maybe Tax Masters would be able to get me out of this mess. I called them up and guess what, they said there was nothing they could do for me. After frantic searching and calling multiple firms who all seemed to promise all these great things up front, just like Tax Masters then i came across settlewitheirs.info who explained to me that there was never any way that i was close to being qualified to an Offer In Compromise. But they did get me back into my house when the removed the lien from my house! My wife cooled down after that. They did a Tax Investigation Immediatley and let me know that my Tax debt could be reduced, but only to about 20k. Currently i am on a monthly payment plan of $400/month. That is more than reasonable and don't worry, i already have everything saved up to pay my 2017 taxes.
The rep at Settlewitheirs.info suggested it try to get at least a partial refund back from Tax Masters. So i called them. do you know what they told me?!?! They said that i was not entitled to a refund because of all the work they did for me. WHAT WORK?!?!?!?! they filed an OIC and that was their COst. Bull F@#&king S**T filling ONE FORM! does not cost NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS! Does anyone know how i can get some of this money back? I have my tax issue resolved a THANK GOD. But i want my money back! I've seen some people on here are trying to file a class action suit. How do i get involved in that?
Hey Guys, Here is a number of someone who WILL answer the phones at Tax Masters. This idiot has been calling me as I said NO to the $5, 000.00 the wanted to charge me up front to resolve a $24, 000.00 tax bill (of which $6500.00 is still being disputed with the IRS)[protected].
Anyway, my complaint with tax masters is that the call me at all hours (I work nights so actually, the call all day when I sleep), after I told them I would NOT use their service unless they guarentee results. They told me I could put $500.00 down to get the ball rolling, but, as I have been screwed many times before, told them unless I read a contract prior to paying anything and I can change the terms to suit us both, then leave me alone.
They have called me approx 8 times (a few times hanging up right away, so I figure it is a sales rep trying to log calls).
Anyway, don't use tax masters. I got a BAD feeling and haven't even paid them 1 red cent!
Tax Assistance
I never signed a contract and I gave them some pertinent information and authorized $500.00 to be paid to them. Less than 24 hours later I called Tax Masters back to cancel and was assured that this would be done. 10 days later without a contract signed from me and after canceling the whole transaction, this check cleared my bank! I called them back to reverse this per our conversation and they told me I didn't cancel, but called and authorized them on the 15th to cash an unauthorized check and with out a contract I was never going to sign. I went a different path instead. I still have not been refunded, this company is negligent, unorganized (or worse)...they are all about scamming anyone who calls them. They advertise on CNN and FOX, the big fat man with a mouth FULL of lies. I have notified the Attorney General in Houston Texas (Harris County). I have been diligently using different phone numbers to even call and get through to them. My significant other, even called as a potential client and they told him if he decided to cancel, there is a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. This company needs to be widely exploited as FRAUDULENT on National News! Is anyone out there in the quest of a Class Action Law Suit and shut them down.
It's my fault for the tax situation; however, when you pay for representation, you expect to get representation. Tax Masters provided none. The tax penalties and interest continued and I've now received a tax bill from the IRS...for more than 5 times what is owed.
Tax Masters is a fraud. Texas Attorney General has a $119 million judgement against them. They have well over 1000 complaints on the BBB and are rated "F". The Federal Government has filed several cases against them.
Tax Masters cost me over $4000 and have done nothing. Even though their "Tax" person who called me, they never asked for enough information to fill out a decent return...and they charge $500 for each one. They called to do the financial interview but I told them I needed to see the tax returns first. The representative courteously told me that they would...but they've never did. Repeated requests still yielded no tax return.
Comment by Glass House is false and is probably by someone in the Tax Debt Relief business. Joe Mastriano is rated A+ by BBB. He has 2 complaints registered and shows 1 as resolved. He's been in business over 30 years. I am not a client but am researching so that I can get my tax problem fixed...because Tax Masters was more interested in collecting money than actually doing anything.
I should have done more research before committing such a large amount based on a TV ad. It's my fault. However, I hope whoever reads this will learn from my mistakes and seek out a CPA or Enrolled agent instead of answer an ad on TV like I did.
The PA class action suit has made it around the arbitration clause in the contract. TaxMasters filed a motion to compel arbitration, which was denied on 3/17/11.
www.TaxProblem.org suggests to do a little homework before hiring a company to help you.
The site's IRS Killer boast a lot of experience and ethics, but spends a lot of time discrediting other tax firms.
I found that the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy has listed a History of disciplinary actions; Violation(s) Regarding Competence for CPA Joe Mastriano and he also has a F rating with the Houston BBB for accounting service companies.
Probably a good firm and capable, but should stick to own accolades and not malign other companies
Anyone considering tax representation should independently investigate the firm's credentials and ability, and not rely upon advertisements or self-proclaimed expertise.
there are now 4 federal lawsuits against TaxMasters, for varied reasons:
8 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-02373 710 07/02/2010
9 Taxmasters (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-02373 710 07/02/2010
10 TAXMASTERS, INC. (dft) paedce 2:2010-cv-03331 480 07/07/2010
11 TAXMASTERS (dft) paedce 2:2010-cv-03331 480 07/07/2010
14 TaxMasters Inc. (cnflck) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
15 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
16 Taxmasters (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
17 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03330 190 09/16/2010
For years I've been reading complaints people file against companies they've hired to represent them before the IRS. It's unfortunate that people often don't select a professionally licensed firm. A licensed CPA or law firm will minimize the chance your case will be left unattended. I have wrote a guide to help people out on selecting IRS tax advisors or representatives, you can read it on my site www.taxproblem.org along with a lot of other information that will help you deal with your IRS and tax problems. It pays to do a little bit of homework before tackling your problem.
www.TaxProblem.org
1. There used to be a huge blog filled with TaxMasters stories and complaints. The sued the guy and he took it down. Here's an archive of it though:
http://web.archive.org/web/20080621192338/www.enormousincongruities.com/2006/02/22/tax-masters/
----
2. Apparently there is a US Treasury investigation into TaxMasters.
US Treasury Department
Attention: Agent Farwell
1919 Smith Street
Suite 2270
Houston, TX 77002
----
3. And a potential class-action suit:
Pam Mitchell
[protected]
----
4. Additionally:
If you've been a victim of TaxMasters, below is a good starting list of everyone you should send a letter to, detailing your experience. Signed and mailed letters are often still taken more seriously than an emailed or faxed one. You should also include any/all supporting documentation/evidence.
This really is needed. The sooner these agencies receive more complaints about this company, the more they will investigate.
1. Your state's Attorney General
2. All of your state's Senators and Representatives (Federal and State)
3. All of the following:
U.S. Treasury Department
ATTN: Special Agent Farwell
1919 Smith St.
Suite 2270
Houston, TX 77002
Texas State Board of Public Accountancy
333 Guadalupe, Tower 3, Suite 900
Austin, TX [protected]
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
Hotline
P.O. Box 589
Ben Franklin Station
Washington, DC [protected]
Office of the Attorney General of Texas
PO Box 12548
Austin, TX [protected]
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Attorney General
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20530
Internal Revenue Service
Office of Professional Responsibility
SE: OPR, Room 7238/IR
1111 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20224
Better Business Bureau of Houston
http://houston.bbb.org/
Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
Mayor Annise D. Parker
City of Houston
P.O. Box 1562
Houston, TX 77251
Pat Cox is currently a Certified Public Accountant licensed by the State of Texas (http://www.tsbpa.state.tx.us/macros/OD007.ndm/DETAIL?ID=055358 ). Your complaints about his deficiencies can be filed with the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy to get him sanctioned and and possibly shut down for discreditable acts against the profession.
Yeah, I am!
They need to be stopped immediately and sued for unethical business practices. They have $500 of my money and I canceled all within less then 24 hours and told the fax department to tear up my fax.
I filed a complaint with the Houston BBB and the FTC.
I too am curious as to whether anyone else is interested in doing something about Tax Masters. It took me six months to get a response on my refund request. When I finally received a response I was sent to their collections department and after being on hold for 20 minutes I got a voicemail account. Tax Masters has done none of the things that were stated when decided to work with them. No one there ever seems to know what is going on with my account and getting a response requires pain staking effort on my part. To date I have given them $1800.00 and I have nothing to show for that, other than the repeated filling out of the same form due to repeated loss of said form by Tax Masters. It has been over a year since I have paid for unrendered services. I know that there are several others out there who have had or are currently having a similar experience with Tax Masters. Rather than sit back and let this company take advantage of consumers we need to stand up together and stop them from making victims out of families who are desperate for help. If anyone has any ideas on how to acomplish this please post.
TAX Service
I called Mr. Cory McAllister Certified Tax Consultant™ on Thursday March 13, 2008. I told him that I was currently filing Form 656; which is an “Offer in Compromise", with the I.R.S. and that I only had 2 months to submit the form. Mr. McAllister stated “no problem the first thing Tax Masters will do is contact the I.R.S. and put a freeze on my account and...
PATRICK COX
I hired this company(what a joke) back in August 21, 08 I have talked with over a dozen reps and I gave them $1000.00 in which they wanted $3000.00 to help with my taxes. Every time I called I got a different rep on the phone and the only thing I was told is that my case is up for consultation. Two months later still no consultation, at that point I...
Read full review of Tax Masters and 5 commentsPatrick CoxFraud
Patrick Cox, the owner of TAX MASTERS is a complete FRAUD! Please make all complaints to the BBB and District Attorneys office!
FRAUD VICTIMS CONTACT ME! DO NOT USE TAX MASTERS OR PATRICK COX! SCAM
If you are a victim, please email me right away! Taxmasters and Patrick Cox are crooks and scam artists!
I am starting a website just to collect all people who have been ripped offed, scammed, lied to, cheated by Patrick Cox and Taxmasters!
Including:
Alex Clamon, Vice President TaxMasters
Fred Hackett, General Counsel TaxMasters
Patrick Cox, President TaxMasters
Search the Better Business Bureau for taxmasters 1 word to see all the complaints from innocent victims like myself, a 65 year old Vet!
http://houston.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=148&bbb=0915&firm=60000056
contact me immediately from the contact button up top!
The PA class action suit has made it around the arbitration clause in the contract. TaxMasters filed a motion to compel arbitration, which was denied on 3/17/11.
Two federal lawsuits have been filed against TaxMasters and Patrick Cox personally:
Wells et al v. TaxMasters, Inc et al, filed 7/2/2010 regarding Fair Labor Standards
Antkowiak v. Taxmasters et al, filed 7/7/2010 regarding Fair Debt Collection
Well it finally happened -- government action against TaxMasters:
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagnews/release.php?print=1&id=3328
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2010
www.texasattorneygeneral.gov CONTACT
Press Office at
[protected]
Houston-based "Tax Resolution" Firm Charged With Unlawful Conduct, Misleading Customers
Texas Attorney General files enforcement action against TaxMasters, Inc.; cites nearly 1, 000 complaints about defendants’ conduct and business practices
HOUSTON – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today charged Houston-based TaxMasters, Inc., and its chief executive officer, Patrick Cox, with multiple violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and Texas Debt Collection Act.
According to the state’s enforcement action, the defendants unlawfully misled customers about their service contract terms, failed to disclose its no-refunds policy, and falsely claimed that the firm’s employees would immediately begin work on a case – despite the fact that TaxMasters did not actually start to work on a case until its customers paid in full for services, even if that delayed response meant taxpayers missed significant IRS deadlines.
“In the midst of a national economic downturn, TaxMasters used a nationwide marketing campaign to offer services for distressed taxpayers who needed help dealing with the IRS, ” Attorney General Abbott said. “A state investigation and nearly 1, 000 customer complaints indicate that the defendants routinely misled customers about the nature of their tax resolution service agreements – and worse, attempted to enforce those improper agreements through unlawful debt collection tactics. The state’s enforcement action seeks to prohibit the defendants from continuing to violate the law and seeks restitution for the financially struggling taxpayers who were harmed by the defendants’ unlawful conduct.”
The defendants advertise a tax resolution service for federal taxpayers who have received notice from the IRS of an audit, garnishment, lien, levy or tax deficiency. Citing a self-styled “national advertising campaign” and high-profile “endorsements, ” TaxMasters purports to have “one of the most effective tax relief teams in the tax representation business.” However, a state investigation – and nearly 1, 000 complaints submitted to the Office of the Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau of Houston – indicate that the defendants have unlawfully misled their customers and failed to disclose material facts about their service agreements.
TaxMasters’ advertisements encourage taxpayers to call its toll-free number for a “free consultation” with a “tax consultant.” Court documents filed by the state indicate that callers are not connected to an employee qualified to give tax advice, but rather with a TaxMasters salesperson who recommends a “solution” for between $1, 500 and $9, 000 or more.
According to court documents, many callers were offered an installment plan so that they could pay the defendants’ fee over a specified period of time. However, callers who asked to see written terms and conditions prior to making a payment were informed that a credit card or bank account number is necessary to generate a written TaxMasters service contract. As a result, TaxMasters customers were unaware – and the defendants’ personnel did not have a practice of disclosing – multiple aspects of the TaxMasters service agreement that were harmful to taxpayers.
For example, the defendants did not disclose that all customer payments submitted to TaxMasters are non-refundable. Because customers were not provided written contracts and sales personnel did not reveal the no-refunds policy, customers did not know that they would not be able to recover any installment payments they submitted to TaxMasters – even if they ultimately decide to cancel before TaxMasters actually did any work on their tax case.
The state’s enforcement action also cites TaxMasters for failing to reveal that it would not begin work on a case until all installment payments had been remitted and the entire fee was paid. Multiple complaints indicate that customers entered into an installment agreement with the understanding that TaxMasters would immediately begin work on their case – only to discover later that no action was taken. Customers often learned that there was a problem when they received a notice from the IRS indicating that an important deadline had been missed or that additional fees and penalties had accrued.
Court documents filed by the state also indicate that the defendants failed to disclose TaxMasters’ requirement that customers pay the entire service fee – even if they opt to cancel their contract. Because customers are not provided a written contract, they were not properly informed that agreeing to make a single payment over the telephone obligated them to pay the entire fee quoted by sales personnel. Further, not only did TaxMasters attempt to obligate its customers to a fee in the absence of a signed contract, the defendants used unlawful debt collection tactics to enforce the unauthorized obligation.
According to the state’s enforcement action, the defendants not only failed to disclose material terms and conditions governing its services, but also failed to properly provide the “tax resolution” services that were advertised. Customer complaints obtained by the Attorney General’s Office cite TaxMasters for failing to contact and consult with the IRS on the client’s behalf; failing to appear on the client’s behalf at an IRS audit or hearing; failing to postpone or stop a wage or bank account garnishment; and failing to stop a levy or lien against a client’s property.
When customers who were unhappy with the defendants’ services sought refunds, TaxMasters refused to return the customers’ money. Court documents indicate TaxMasters not only refused to honor refund requests, it also pursued debt collection efforts against clients who cancelled their contracts. The state’s enforcement action charges TaxMasters with unlawfully threatening to pursue customers in Harris County courts, even if those customers did not reside in the county. Under Texas law, entities seeking to enforce a consumer contract can only do so in a county where the agreement was executed or where the consumer resides.
The state's enforcement action is seeking restitution for each TaxMasters customer who was financially harmed by the defendants’ unlawful conduct. In addition, the state is seeking civil penalties of up to $20, 000 for each violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
There used to be a huge blog filled with TaxMasters stories and complaints. The sued the guy and he took it down. Here's an archive of it though:
http://web.archive.org/web/20080621192338/www.enormousincongruities.com/2006/02/22/tax-masters/
Hi,
If you've been a victim of TaxMasters, below is a good starting list of everyone you should send a letter to, detailing your experience. Signed and mailed letters are often still taken more seriously than an emailed or faxed one. You should also include any/all supporting documentation/evidence.
This really is needed. The sooner these agencies receive more complaints about this company, the more they will investigate.
1. Your state's Attorney General
2. All of your state's Senators and Representatives (Federal and State)
3. All of the following:
U.S. Treasury Department
ATTN: Special Agent Farwell
1919 Smith St.
Suite 2270
Houston, TX 77002
Texas State Board of Public Accountancy
333 Guadalupe, Tower 3, Suite 900
Austin, TX [protected]
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
Hotline
P.O. Box 589
Ben Franklin Station
Washington, DC [protected]
Office of the Attorney General of Texas
PO Box 12548
Austin, TX [protected]
U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Attorney General
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20530
Internal Revenue Service
Office of Professional Responsibility
SE: OPR, Room 7238/IR
1111 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20224
Better Business Bureau of Houston
http://houston.bbb.org/
Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580
Mayor Annise D. Parker
City of Houston
P.O. Box 1562
Houston, TX 77251
Pat Cox is currently a Certified Public Accountant licensed by the State of Texas (http://www.tsbpa.state.tx.us/macros/OD007.ndm/DETAIL?ID=055358 ). Your complaints about his deficiencies can be filed with the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy to get him sanctioned and and possibly shut down for discreditable acts against the profession.
ALWAYS check with the Better Business Bureau FIRST...that's what I did and discovered that these scamming jerks have a file of hundred s and hundreds of unresolved complaints against them. Honest, hard-working people with real IRS challenges have been hoodwinked by the slick radio and TV commercials from these vultures. Thank God I was not one of them, and I ended up with a legitimate company with an excellent BBB rating. My program of resolving my IRS difficulties is now legitimately under way, and I am tremendously relieved that I checked with the BBB FIRST.
fraud and theft
We hired these idiots back in Feb 08 and it has been 8 months with NOTHING done! We paid them 3600.00 I have contacted the BBB and there are to date 169 complaints about this theiving company! I have contacted others who have written on this site and if you just google tax masters there are a whole lot of other people as upset as we are! There is always a fight just to talk to someone and they NEVER want to help...they have referred us to 8 different people in the company and most of them claim they are our financial analyst and that we are in the last stages of getting the taxes taken care of. They even LOST our tax returns and paperwork that was sent! If anyone is interested in a class action lawsuit please email me!
there are now 4 federal lawsuits against TaxMasters, for varied reasons:
8 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-02373 710 07/02/2010
9 Taxmasters (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-02373 710 07/02/2010
10 TAXMASTERS, INC. (dft) paedce 2:2010-cv-03331 480 07/07/2010
11 TAXMASTERS (dft) paedce 2:2010-cv-03331 480 07/07/2010
14 TaxMasters Inc. (cnflck) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
15 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
16 Taxmasters (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
17 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03330 190 09/16/2010
** FILE AN SEC COMPLAINT AGAINST TAXMASTERS HERE **
Tax Masters can't be trusted
Tax Mmasters should be shut down. How come they can't pay their health insurance premiums when they reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission that they took in over $11 million dollars through March 31, 2010 AND had CASH to the tune of over $4 million during that same period. I wonder whether the numbers Tax Masters gave the SEC are correct. Could it be that Tax Masters has committed stockholder fraud by not disclosing accurate financial information on their SEC documents. If you feel the same way as I do and want to complain to the SEC as well as the Texas Attorney General and joining the class action lawsuit, you can file a complaint with the SEC by using the following website: http://www.sec.gov/complaint.shtml
1. There used to be a huge blog filled with TaxMasters stories and complaints. The sued the guy and he took it down. Here's an archive of it though:
http://web.archive.org/web/20080621192338/www.enormousincongruities.com/2006/02/22/tax-masters/
Apparently there is a US Treasury investigation into TaxMasters.
---
US Treasury Department
Attention: Agent Farwell
1919 Smith Street
Suite 2270
Houston, TX 77002
----
And a potential class-action suit:
Pam Mitchell
[protected]
Pat Cox is currently a Certified Public Accountant licensed by the State of Texas (http://www.tsbpa.state.tx.us/macros/OD007.ndm/DETAIL?ID=055358 ). Your complaints about his deficiencies can be filed with the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy to get him sanctioned and and possibly shut down for discreditable acts against the profession.
I guess I will also be placed on this list of people disgusted with taxmasters. I am ready to join a class suit! 8-31-09
TaxMasters ripped me off as well. They now have over 300 BBB complaints and an F- rating, which I should have checked first.
I would join a suit if one was filed, I don't have the time, money, or health to deal with one by myself. I can be reached at antkojm1 [at] gmail [dot] com
Trying to find a lawyer who is willing to eat their own is a challenge. However, I believe under the states Fair Practices Trade statute there may some hope. I have even contacted my congressmen. The money I paid Taskmasters could have been paid towards the IRS and I could have negotiated the same payment schedule. The IRS wondered why we did not talk to them first. Unfortunate that is even a worse scenario...
ALWAYS check with the Better Business Bureau FIRST...that's what I did and discovered that these scamming jerks have a file of hundred s and hundreds of unresolved complaints against them. Honest, hard-working people with real IRS challenges have been hoodwinked by the slick radio and TV commercials from these vultures. Thank God I was not one of them, and I ended up with a legitimate company with an excellent BBB rating. My program of resolving my IRS difficulties is now legitimately under way, and I am tremendously relieved that I checked with the BBB FIRST.
Horrible Negligent Service
Tax "Masters" While the State Attorney of Texas gets their ducks in a row, we are trying to help out other unassuming people who are looking for tax help so that other people don't get into the same problem as myself and possibly as many as 150 people who's complaints I have found on different blogs. Tax Masters is the most irresponsible and negligent tax...
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The PA class action suit has made it around the arbitration clause in the contract. TaxMasters filed a motion to compel arbitration, which was denied on 3/17/11.
there are now 4 federal lawsuits against TaxMasters, for varied reasons:
8 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-02373 710 07/02/2010
9 Taxmasters (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-02373 710 07/02/2010
10 TAXMASTERS, INC. (dft) paedce 2:2010-cv-03331 480 07/07/2010
11 TAXMASTERS (dft) paedce 2:2010-cv-03331 480 07/07/2010
14 TaxMasters Inc. (cnflck) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
15 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
16 Taxmasters (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03055 710 08/25/2010
17 Taxmasters, Inc. (dft) txsdce 4:2010-cv-03330 190 09/16/2010
Two federal lawsuits have been filed against TaxMasters and Patrick Cox personally:
Wells et al v. TaxMasters, Inc et al, filed 7/2/2010 regarding Fair Labor Standards
Antkowiak v. Taxmasters et al, filed 7/7/2010 regarding Fair Debt Collection
** FILE AN SEC COMPLAINT AGAINST TAXMASTERS HERE **
Tax Masters can't be trusted
Tax Mmasters should be shut down. How come they can't pay their health insurance premiums when they reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission that they took in over $11 million dollars through March 31, 2010 AND had CASH to the tune of over $4 million during that same period. I wonder whether the numbers Tax Masters gave the SEC are correct. Could it be that Tax Masters has committed stockholder fraud by not disclosing accurate financial information on their SEC documents. If you feel the same way as I do and want to complain to the SEC as well as the Texas Attorney General and joining the class action lawsuit, you can file a complaint with the SEC by using the following website: http://www.sec.gov/complaint.shtml
Well it finally happened -- government action against TaxMasters:
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagnews/release.php?print=1&id=3328
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2010
www.texasattorneygeneral.gov CONTACT
Press Office at
[protected]
Houston-based "Tax Resolution" Firm Charged With Unlawful Conduct, Misleading Customers
Texas Attorney General files enforcement action against TaxMasters, Inc.; cites nearly 1, 000 complaints about defendants’ conduct and business practices
HOUSTON – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today charged Houston-based TaxMasters, Inc., and its chief executive officer, Patrick Cox, with multiple violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and Texas Debt Collection Act.
According to the state’s enforcement action, the defendants unlawfully misled customers about their service contract terms, failed to disclose its no-refunds policy, and falsely claimed that the firm’s employees would immediately begin work on a case – despite the fact that TaxMasters did not actually start to work on a case until its customers paid in full for services, even if that delayed response meant taxpayers missed significant IRS deadlines.
“In the midst of a national economic downturn, TaxMasters used a nationwide marketing campaign to offer services for distressed taxpayers who needed help dealing with the IRS, ” Attorney General Abbott said. “A state investigation and nearly 1, 000 customer complaints indicate that the defendants routinely misled customers about the nature of their tax resolution service agreements – and worse, attempted to enforce those improper agreements through unlawful debt collection tactics. The state’s enforcement action seeks to prohibit the defendants from continuing to violate the law and seeks restitution for the financially struggling taxpayers who were harmed by the defendants’ unlawful conduct.”
The defendants advertise a tax resolution service for federal taxpayers who have received notice from the IRS of an audit, garnishment, lien, levy or tax deficiency. Citing a self-styled “national advertising campaign” and high-profile “endorsements, ” TaxMasters purports to have “one of the most effective tax relief teams in the tax representation business.” However, a state investigation – and nearly 1, 000 complaints submitted to the Office of the Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau of Houston – indicate that the defendants have unlawfully misled their customers and failed to disclose material facts about their service agreements.
TaxMasters’ advertisements encourage taxpayers to call its toll-free number for a “free consultation” with a “tax consultant.” Court documents filed by the state indicate that callers are not connected to an employee qualified to give tax advice, but rather with a TaxMasters salesperson who recommends a “solution” for between $1, 500 and $9, 000 or more.
According to court documents, many callers were offered an installment plan so that they could pay the defendants’ fee over a specified period of time. However, callers who asked to see written terms and conditions prior to making a payment were informed that a credit card or bank account number is necessary to generate a written TaxMasters service contract. As a result, TaxMasters customers were unaware – and the defendants’ personnel did not have a practice of disclosing – multiple aspects of the TaxMasters service agreement that were harmful to taxpayers.
For example, the defendants did not disclose that all customer payments submitted to TaxMasters are non-refundable. Because customers were not provided written contracts and sales personnel did not reveal the no-refunds policy, customers did not know that they would not be able to recover any installment payments they submitted to TaxMasters – even if they ultimately decide to cancel before TaxMasters actually did any work on their tax case.
The state’s enforcement action also cites TaxMasters for failing to reveal that it would not begin work on a case until all installment payments had been remitted and the entire fee was paid. Multiple complaints indicate that customers entered into an installment agreement with the understanding that TaxMasters would immediately begin work on their case – only to discover later that no action was taken. Customers often learned that there was a problem when they received a notice from the IRS indicating that an important deadline had been missed or that additional fees and penalties had accrued.
Court documents filed by the state also indicate that the defendants failed to disclose TaxMasters’ requirement that customers pay the entire service fee – even if they opt to cancel their contract. Because customers are not provided a written contract, they were not properly informed that agreeing to make a single payment over the telephone obligated them to pay the entire fee quoted by sales personnel. Further, not only did TaxMasters attempt to obligate its customers to a fee in the absence of a signed contract, the defendants used unlawful debt collection tactics to enforce the unauthorized obligation.
According to the state’s enforcement action, the defendants not only failed to disclose material terms and conditions governing its services, but also failed to properly provide the “tax resolution” services that were advertised. Customer complaints obtained by the Attorney General’s Office cite TaxMasters for failing to contact and consult with the IRS on the client’s behalf; failing to appear on the client’s behalf at an IRS audit or hearing; failing to postpone or stop a wage or bank account garnishment; and failing to stop a levy or lien against a client’s property.
When customers who were unhappy with the defendants’ services sought refunds, TaxMasters refused to return the customers’ money. Court documents indicate TaxMasters not only refused to honor refund requests, it also pursued debt collection efforts against clients who cancelled their contracts. The state’s enforcement action charges TaxMasters with unlawfully threatening to pursue customers in Harris County courts, even if those customers did not reside in the county. Under Texas law, entities seeking to enforce a consumer contract can only do so in a county where the agreement was executed or where the consumer resides.
The state's enforcement action is seeking restitution for each TaxMasters customer who was financially harmed by the defendants’ unlawful conduct. In addition, the state is seeking civil penalties of up to $20, 000 for each violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
1. There used to be a huge blog filled with TaxMasters stories and complaints. They sued the guy and he took it down. Here's an archive of it though:
http://web.archive.org/web/20080621192338/www.enormousincongruities.com/2006/02/22/tax-masters/
Apparently there is a US Treasury investigation into TaxMasters.
---
US Treasury Department
Attention: Agent Farwell
1919 Smith Street
Suite 2270
Houston, TX 77002
----
And a potential class-action suit:
Pam Mitchell
[protected]
I to fell victim to Tax Masters but fortunately it has only been 2 months! I started doing my research on them when I received another notice from the IRS stating I had more penalties & interest after Bill from Tax Masters said the month before that all of that would stop once I made the first down payment of $2, 000 to them and filled out all the necessary paperwork (which I did)! Then they wouldn't return my calls or emails and then I thought something wasn't right so I googled them and I couldn't believe the complaints they have! I contacted the IRS and the agent actually chuckled when I mentioned Tax Masters and told me good luck! But I did find out from the IRS that TM has not made 1 attempt to contact them and that I should fill out the forms myself and work directly with them. I think TM tells you not to contact the IRS because they don't want to get busted right away for not doing their job...they just want to take a whole slew of money before that can happen! I have put out $3, 625 and it just pisses me off because I could have put that towards my tax debt instead of those rip off artists! I did cancell my credit card so they can no longer take money from me and I too sent a notarized form revoking power of attorney along with the original poa form with REVOKE written on top in black marker AND I made sure that I sent it via UPS so they have to sign for it! I also contacted the Better Business Bureau, Texas Attorney General, The IRS Inspector Generals Office, Federal Trade Commision & like it's mentioned above Texas State Board of Public Accountancy...I think that everybody who has fell victim to TM should put complaints in with all of these agencies...if we don't they will continue to get by with their Scam! I hope Mr. Cox is exposed soon for the crooked operation he is running! You don't mess with peoples lives like that it is unfair, unethical & unjust!
Pat Cox is currently a Certified Public Accountant licensed by the State of Texas (http://www.tsbpa.state.tx.us/macros/OD007.ndm/DETAIL?ID=055358 ). Your complaints about his deficiencies can be filed with the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy to get him sanctioned and and possibly shut down for discreditable acts against the profession.