Beware of tax service sites masquerading as free IRS authorized sites. Here is my experience:
I was unable to obtain any 2010 Federal Income tax forms at local libraries and the post office so I decided to utilize one of the free IRS authorized online tax services. I selected what I believed was one of the IRS authorized companies from the list presented on your web page and proceeded with the online preparation of my return. I was taken to a "Lets Get Started" page that made no mention of any fees for preparation or eFiling.
I still am perplexed and don't know how I was diverted to a tax preparer that was not free and was not made aware
that the preparation was fee based.
I am a single, childless female with an AGI of less than $30,000 and do not qualify for any deductions or credits other than the standard deduction - in the past I have always prepared and mailed the 1040 EZ due to the simplicity of my
return. I mention this to emphasize that preparation of my return was basic and completely uncomplicated, easy and quickly completed.
Unfortunately shortly following completion of the efile return my computer suffered a crash and I lost the file I had created with the "so called" free online tax filing service company's name and related information.
However, as mentioned previously, during and at the completion of the tax I do not recall being advised of any filing fee or preparation fee and certainly was not informed that my decision to have my refund of $467 direct deposited to my bank account would not be sent to my bank by the IRS but to an intermediary placing my refund at their mercy.
I just learned that a tax refund of $354.20 had been deposited to my Huntington Bank account by a company identified as TGP Santa Barbara Tax Products Group. I contactedTGP Santa Barbara Tax Products and learned that my return was prepared and filed by Express Tax Refund and and that I had requested a bank product from University Bank. This is patently untrue - I was not made aware that my return would be fee based and that the refund would not be sent to my bank account directly by the IRS. I certainly did not in any way authorize University Bank to receive my refund and disperse exorbitant and unconscionable fees of $124.80 (26 % of my entitled refund) from my refund without my prior knowledge or consent.
This is what was distributed by University Bank and or TPG Santa Barbara Tax Products Group:
Amount paid to tax preparer $89.86 (Express Tax Refund"web page states that a 1040 Federal preparation is $29.95)
Transmitter fee $5.00
University Bank account Handling fee $29.95
I believe that these companies collude with each other and have a sweetheart deal wherein they have access to unsuspecting taxpayers refunds to dispose of as they see fit. Most like me are duped into thinking that the IRS will be depositing the expected refund into their bank account via direct deposit.
I do not know what recourse I may have to recoup some or all of the unreasonable, unauthorized fees that was ripped off, as I am not having any success in contacting Express Tax Refund Express Tax Refund
At the very least, these companies should be exposed and blacklisted to prevent further swindles of the public. I seriously question why the IRS would send a direct deposit refund to someone other than the tax payer identified on the return. If this is common practice it should be given careful review and reevaluation as it provides unscrupulous companies/individuals with the opportunity for bilking taxpayers.
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