Santa Barbara Tax Products Group [SBTPG]
Reviews and Complaints

As someone who has been with Santa Barbara Tax Products Group for over ten years, I have had mixed experiences. While the customer service has been great and helpful, there have been instances of overcharging and delays in receiving refunds. It's important to carefully review all fees and processes before using their services.

ZERO STARS! NO TRACKING NUMBER JUST REGULAR MAIL!

This is the first year I have not done my own taxes. The tax preparer left 1 number out on our bank account number so we had to wait for a check. The account number should be able to change if the information matches the clients information. Especially if it’s a long standing bank account. Our tax preparer lied about printing the check for us and we are still waiting on check number 2 that hasn’t arrived again! I am disabled and need that money. It’s my money and this company makes it so hard to get your own money back. They don’t use customer service people in our own country that understand our mailing system. The post office runs mail 6 days a week not 5! You are making people wait for something you know isn’t mailed out. This company deserves zero stars. They are thieves and liars! They know how to use the system to keep our money and keep us stressed out. This is something that can ruin everything I have worked for and this company doesn’t care. Oh and if your tax preparer orders the checks for them to print your money in their office it will only take 1-3 business days. So why is it 10 business days for us and NO TRACKING NUMBER! THIS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL!

August 2nd I was approved for my refund for $46,709 Santa Barbara said it was suspicious activity so they sent it back to IRS and said I had to wait 12 weeks before calling. I waited almost 6 months IRS have no reason to lie but now I loss my car my home and job do I’m definitely going to the news and I’m during them if I knew they worked with green dot I would have never trusted them . But when I’m finish with them they won’t keep messing over hard workers

My name is Billie Branham. IRS approved my taxes and sent it to them they lied and said they send my refund back to IRS on Aught 4th 2023 I just talked this is Sending 2023 they said Santa Barbara has your refund . Someone better send me my money or I will pick it up . I’m calling my Attorney first thing in the morning then we will hinve the news I work hard I’m about to loose everything and if I do I will sue them for millions I have children enough is enough but they won’t keep my $46,700

This company has had my money for over a month and have not paid me I’m currently on the phone with the irs that said I’m not going through an audit a rival department they don’t know what a lead number is it’s all bs and they know it I’m am seeking legal counsel in this matter and tpg with have a set time to respond before I sure respectfully a very pissed off tax payer

I have been following my tax refund since the day I filed. I checked my IRS online account and WMR daily for updates. I did a verification through the IRS. My refund was approved and sent out by the IRS 8/9/23. SBTPG has had my refund since 8/8/23 in their bank and will not release the already approved funds to me. They never answer their phone and tell blatant lies. They take out their fees and then put your refund "under review" and claim that they have to send it back to the IRS per the IRS's request, but I spoke with the IRS and they have no knowledge of this and haven't made any request. They approved the refund already and sent it out, if it would have come directly to my personal account there wouldn't even be this issue. But because I chose to have Tax Slayer's fees come out of the refund, it got sent to SBTPG's bank who Tax Slayer uses and they were supposed to send me my DD the same day they received it which was 8/8/23 and I still have not got it. They are doing fraudulent business and should be shut down and closed. Worst Company I've ever dealt with. I will never use any company for taxes that uses this company to do business with.

I filed my tax return June 27th 2023, it was accepted and says issued to be sent out by aug 9th 2023 from the IRS to my bank account. I never received my refund and was told that it was issued to Sbtpg bank august 8th 2023 instead. So I checked with Sbptg online bank and it’s says Funded in green with the dollar amount but also says “Under Review” and has been saying it’s for 3 entire days now. If I was suppose to receive my refund that date then why is Sbtpg holding my tax refund?

My name is Safia Stephens, and I submitted my 2022 taxes through Turbo Tax on January 29th, 2023. The website states that my taxes were sent to me on February 8th, 2023, so I contacted to let them know that it was not reflecting, and that's when I was told that Santa Barbara bank had my refund. I called about a million times and each time they said they tried to send it to the IRS back they were unable to send it to me and this will take 6-8 weeks then they said they tried again and it will take 10-12 weeks before the IRS sees it. I waited, but there was still no evidence of my reimbursement. When I contacted them back, I discovered that I couldn't reach anyone. The machine keeps telling me that they delivered my refund and that I should call again in 10-12 weeks, even though that time has past.

I'm saddened for a variety of reasons, but none more so than the fact that I had plans for my refund. I am a single pregnant girl without a job who is unable to work due to my circumstances. I simply want to be able to provide for my baby before she arrives. I have no one, and I worked very hard for that money, and it was taken by someone who doesn't even need it as much as I do. I'm hungry right now, and I'm begging you and whoever is behind this to release my money because I deserve it. I worked hard for it, and now I need it more than ever. @[protected]@gmail.com

If you just did a quick search of “TPG tax reviews” you’d find exactly what my issue is, alongside the plethora of other unhappy and confused customers!

Company is a TOTAL RIPOFF! Holding my tax refund hostage claiming to send it back to the IRS yet, and I’ll reiterate, EVERYONE LISTED when you do a google search like I previously stated, says THEY NEVER SEND THE MONEY BACK for the IRS to issue a deposit or a check! They’re holding MILLIONS OF DOLLARS in hard working Americans tax refunds; seemingly without ANY IMPUNITY!

My tax refund for over $12,000 was sent through this bank and was stolen by my tax preparer. I called and told them to hold my payment. It was not to be issued to her because it was supposed to go direct deposit but they allowed the taxpayer to change the information and steal my refund. It’s been over a year and they still have not refunded my money back.

My name is Ralph Muntz, A retired military personnel

i'm filling this complaint because of my tax refund was already funded and was ready to be disbursted into my account suddenly i see it was placed under review. i want this to be sorted because i did an acurrate tax and i verify my identity and also my ip pin so i don't think i should be having this kind of problem. i need my funds and i will be happy if this can be resolved quickly.

Used "pay with my refund", so my refund (full amount) was sent to this company. Can't get ahold of a human at this company, and Civista Bank, the sister bank, won't help, so I will file against them as well. The website tracker says that they have received my refund but are holding it. From their FAQ they make it sound like they are waiting to verify my identity, but no attempt has been made nor instructions given on how to do it.

I filed my return and i have been approved my the irs and a payment is scheduled for the 12th day of July 2023, upon checking the tpg track my refund website, it says my refund as been funded but that its under review, i am confused as all of my refund is correctly filed and accurate it seems that a lot of people are also going through this, what do i do about this problem?

Santa Barbara Tax Products Group [SBTPG] has essentially stolen my tax refund. It's been almost two years, and I still haven't received my 2021 tax refund. Turbo Tax says it's not their responsibility to get me my refund even though that is the bank they do business with.

I called SBTPG a few times last year, and their response was always the same "There has been some anomaly in your account and we've placed a block in your funds." Thy then said they' put a trace on the funds and send it back to the IRS when I asked them to. Months passed and nothing. I called the IRS a few times, who said they'd put a trace on their end as well, but interestingly they cannot demand that the money be returned to them.

In my last ditch effort, just yesterday I called the IRS as well, who said they still had not received the money. When I try to call SBTPG now, the only way to get thru is to start by entering your SS#, but it says my social in invalid, meaning they do not have any records of it.

Hello, I am trying to get my stimulus money that I never received from 2021, I had a total of three that I never received one being the middle class stimulus. I waited and never got it so I did a lot of calling around and found out that, that stimulus check went to TPG Bank in Santa Barbara after many phone calls with the tax franchise and my tax preparer I was able to get help from the tax franchise after waiting a few months I was able to get my middle class stimulus, as I was in the middle of trying to get my middle class I found out I had two more stimulus is Golden State stimulus number one and Golden State stimulus number two that were also sent to TPG bank back in 2021, I then did the same thing call tax franchise they told me to wait 120 days as they were going to send a form out so TPG would release my funds as of a few weeks ago. Tax franchise called me to let me know they sent three separate letters out with zero communication from TPG I’ve called several times and every time I’ve called I’ve spoke with someone who is not very professional doesn’t seem to understand what I’m asking them or they told me they don’t have my money and they don’t know what I’m talking about, I I’m very surprised how unprofessional this company is they seem like scam artist they don’t want to help you they don’t want to hear what you have to say they just tell you know they cannot help you going between them my tax preparer no one is helping me, I talk to Kevin which is a higher up at TPG he gave me an email because my stimulus is from 2021. They can’t help you with that. The support team would have to help me with that. He told me they would get back to me within 72 hours after I emailed them regarding my payments. No one‘s emailed me back, haven’t heard anything and when I called tpg I’m on hold for a very long time and then the phone disconnects and then I called again and the phone disconnects again like they’re hanging up on me on purpose. Extremely frustrating I do not like this company at all. They seem like they’re up to no good. I’ve been told by the tax francise that my stimulus money is in there account they have proof and tpg denies having my stimulus money.

I filed my income tax online through turbo tax on 3/17/2022. I never received it. When I called the IRS they said my refund was send to Civista Bank account # was some random numbers with my social security number at the end. on 3/30/2022. I called Civista Bank and they informed me that they don't handle Federal Tax refunds. They said that Santa Barbara Tax Product Group handled them. I tried to call them but my Social Security number was not recognized. I have been calling IRS since 7/26/2022 all they can say is " They have not received a response from Civista Bank" The phone numbers given on the letter from the IRS are not in service so I am getting no where. Please help!

Jamie L. Durgin

I used TurboTax for many years to file my tax returns and I never saw the refund issued by TPG PRODUCTS SBTPG LLC.

There is exactly $60 less than the amount I should receive.

NOWHERE in TurboTax, it was mentioned that this company is used and also nowhere was mentioned about any fees.

This is extremely frustrating. I never used this company services for anything, I used only TurboTax.

This is FRAUD and I am requesting my money back

Hi,

I am Turbo Tax client for years, this is the first time Turbotax used Santa Barbara tax group. I am missing $896 from my tax return! Is this a scam company? Can anyone help? I suppose to receive a total of $3,734, and instead received $2838. Federal return suppose to be $2002, only received $1388.50. CA state franchise tax return suppose to be $1732, only received $1,450. This is extremely frustrating. Please RETURN the money. Contact me directly for any details.

Thanks!
Tomas

As concise as can be this company is fraud stolen my taxes my identity and has an account in my name ! The irs said they never received my money from them SBTG ,I never used there services only TurboTax once my bank account was close that was the perfect way to send my money else where and not back to irs ! I have $7000 wrapped up in taxes from 2021 and my family is suffering because of it; I made that money and depend on it for my family now it's 2023 and still no money sent they lie and said they sent it to irs they sent out a check 3 times I never received nothing I've been trying to get lawyers I have no one to help me with this I don't even have money to afford a lawyer it's really bad im in distress and disbelief that the government would let this happen to me

My deposit was denied due the account being closed so I was told a first check was mailed out and i never received it, so I filled out the paperwork to get another one mailed which was mailed out on March 28, 2023, per their website, well today is April 11, 2023, and I have still not received my check. I need my money and the reps are very rude, don't help.

I received a deposit to my bank account for my Federal Tax refund in the amount of $2788.85 which is &55.15 less than the expected amount of $2844.

I did not authorize an electronic ruturn nor the service fee of $55.15.

I expected a return by mail as I have already done in the past.

Please return this unauthorized amount service fee.

Charles Terry

[protected]@yahoo.com

[protected]

my name is sharon sweat i have also been trying to get my return from TPG who is holding onto my money and lieing about it. My refund date was April 6th 2022 and I had closed the account that my money was going to for my understanding TPG was supposed to send my money back to the IRS since they were unable to deposit the funds in my account, They never did that. I live in Arizona City where everyone that lives here has to have a P.O box No one has mail going directly to their house because we do not have a mailing system. When I tried to submit my taxes through Turbotax it did not allow me to do so with the P.O box, since I elected for direct deposit I didn't see that being a problem at the time. only when I had closed that account did that become a problem.

I contacted the IRS immediately and they updated my information with my P.O box They said that there shouldn't have been an issue trying to submit my return with it in the 1st place So I don't know if that's an error with Turbotax but that definitely needs to be updated. So when TPG tried to send the money to the address on my taxes which was my physical address Of course it got sent back No one has mail going to the physical address I explained that to them and I also explained to them that the IRS already had my P.O box on file when I made a complaint at the better business bureau telling them what was going on TPG's response was that they tried to mail me out of cashier's check and it came back to them and that they were investigating, and could not change or update my address to my p.o box and funds would go back to IRS.

they claim that they sent the money back to the IRS oct 7th and they never did. I'm under the impression that they thought that that they could do this to me because the money went back to them after trying to send it to an address where I told them numerous times we do not have a mailing system. This company is a complete fraud someone needs to investigate them for their practices they need to be audited on their accounting And I'm sure that discrepancies would begin to pile up...

I've been calling and contacting the IRS since the very beginning of this and I just literally got off the phone with the IRS again just now... It is March 30th 2023 It is 1132 AM the IRS and the Department of the Bureau of physical services have all told me the same thing They've done two traces on my money and each trace has cameback every time with the same result which is that TPG has never sent it back.

Now according to TPG they sent my money back October 7th with an external lead number of [protected] the IRS continues to tell me that that external lead number means nothing to them and they have not received anything back. after reading hundreds of reviews on different complaint boards including this one, as well as the better business bureau I see that this company has done this to a lot of people And I don't know how they are getting away with it.

This is definitely against the law for them to fraudulently hold on to our money and lie and say that they've sent it back knowing that they have not. this company needs to be out of business This is ridiculous I got off the phone with TPG about an hour ago right before I had caught the IRS yet again And they continued to lie and say the same thing that a supervisor is not available that they will put in for a call back which could take up to 72 hours which no supervisor ever calls back They refer you to a green dot email that that no one ever responds back to and they know that what they're doing is against the law They have thousands of dollars from from fraudulently stealing from customers Anyone reading this Please do not use this company It's fraudulently processing returns and keeping the money and putting it in the system as if we received it or that they've sent it back And it's not true...

i have numerous recorded calls from each time ive called the irs and TPG but it wont let me upload them, but i do have them saved.