TaxBrain.com— NEVER EVER use this company.
In the past 4 years I have used TaxBrain to service my tax filing needs. I have had issues each year from errors on my anticipation loan, to incorrect mailing address being updated on return. This year has by far been the worst. It takes a lot to chase me away as a customer as I know companies make mistakes and there are humans working there that can make a mistake. This year would have been no different had someone acted like a human and owned up to their mistake... Here's the situation.
On January 5 I prepared my tax filing for 2009 and had it on hold patiently waiting for January 15th to arrive so that my forms could be e-filed to the IRS. This was completed, due to a financial hardship I was having at the time I opted to have my filing fees taken from my refund. My refund was submitted and accepted by the IRS on 1/16, on 1/17 another return was submitted by taxbrain? Did I push the wrong button maybe? So I called up to IRS they indicated they rejected the second return and have no idea as to why it was submitted. OK no big deal, my funds are noted on both taxbrain.com/sbbt/metabank (all owned by same corporation) as being direct deposited on 1/29. Great. 1/29 comes and no funds in my checking account.
I call SBBT they don't have funds I call IRS they deposited funds to my preparer I call TaxBrain my preparer they say they don't handle refunds call SBBT I call back SBBT they say call IRS request a tracking #. Call back to IRS funds were deposited to Republic Bank in KY? HMMMM, Call Republic Bank in KY they say funds are there being rejected and returned to IRS. Call TaxBrain, why were funds sent to wrong bank? They indicated they didn't know, had customer service representatives telling all 4-90 thousand customers in automated messages that we must check with the IRS and that is all the information they had at that time. Hmmmmm... IRS said call preparer, Preparer IRS, bank saying didn't receive funds what is going on?
I call back to TaxBrain, they say it is SBBT error. SBBT no funds received still three days later, IRS they don't have funds, TaxBrain still no answer nor acknowledgment that there was a problem on their end. Finally fed up with the lies and deceit coming from the Tax Brain customer service representatives I demand a human answer. Still nothing but I know they sent funds to the wrong bank. I know they also resubmitted my return one day after the initial return yet nothing I could have done could have caused this as only taxbrain can push that magic button. HMMMM Tax Brain knew of their error on 1/17!
Even knowing that there was a problem they didn't inform their customers who had requested their funds be with held from their refund. Obviously these are people in need of these funds or they would have had the money to pay up front. Still on 1/29 when all the customers became aware of the problem and were frantically seeking answers no response, no acknowledgment NOTHING. It was not until 2/3 before we all received an automated email from TaxBrain indicating that there was an error and they were sorry but that they were working with the IRS to release our funds quickly.
It is now almost a month later and still we are waiting on our funds. These are funds that we paid to the government and that these corporations held onto for five days. Something fishy happened and thousands of people have suffered severe financial distress due to a money hungry corporation.
If you are thinking of using taxbrain you would be better off walking your return into the IRS building yourself and waiting for them to cut you a check as taxbrain is only interested in screwing people over.
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