Complaint Review: Tax Resolution Services

The following complaints have been copied verbatim from a document I created because of all the issues I've had with this company.  My husband and I have been "represented" by this company for over 3 years (with NO resolution) to the tune of $8,000+.  Despite the fact that they claim to charge a flat fee, they have asked us for an additional $1,500 to continue representation.  We are flat broke and borderline homeless at this point.  I have also contacted the IRS directly about our problem and was told that these tax resolution firms have a habit of stringing clients along without actually resolving anything.  Once we are officially terminated from TRS, I will be dealing with all taxing authorities directly.  TRS does not know what it is doing.  Please read below and DO NOT HIRE THIS COMPANY.  You are better off saving your money and dealing with the IRS directly.  TRS thrives on scare tactics.  The information they give is false.  Because we have been with this horrible company for so long, I have had time to "calm down" and have lost most of my fear of dealing with the IRS directly. 

1.  TRS has an extremely high turnover.  We have had Nancy Frankel, Quinn Trieu, April Landers and now Neda working on our case.  No one ever seems to know what is going on with our case.  We now have a 4th person working on our case who claims to be an attorney but so far we've heard nothing back from him and it's been 6 weeks.  I hold little hope that he will do anything other than give me the same response in terms of our outstanding state tax debt that has been given to me for the past 2 years.  They don't listen and certainly don't do research on your behalf.

2.          The president/owner doesncare.  He never responded to phone calls I made last year or a 2-page letter that I sent with complaints about the improper handling of our case. 

3.          We are expected to give TRS paperwork in an unreasonably short amount of time.  TRS, on the other hand, takes months and months to get paperwork to us.

4.          Our offer was done incorrectly 3 times because April didnt know what she was doing.  I had to correct her.  Isnt TRS supposed to be the expert?  Incompetence

5.          TRS claims to know the formula the IRS uses for offers.  Yet April waited for the RO to give her a number.  In the meantime, I figured out what the formula was and came up with a preliminary amount that was only $10 over the amount TRS finally came up with.  Incompetence

6.          Tax returns that were prepared in January 2008 were done incorrectly, not due to us.  The tax preparer couldnt even spell Waterbury correctly.  He spelled it Waterbiru.  We crossed it out and submitted the return because TRS had taken almost a year to prepare tax returns that they originally told us would only take 1 month to prepare.  Incompetence

7.          We were given incorrect advice by TRS in terms of what information to divulge to the IRS in terms of my husband's unemployment.  We were told to hide income.  Additionally, TRS was under the impression that no offer can be submitted if the offer submittee is unemployed.  This is untrue as long as you can prove that the unemployment is temporary.  Incompetence

8.          Due to the extreme length of time it took for April to get us a correct and processable offer (7 months), my husband went from being solidly employed to unemployed because winter is always a lean time for him.

9.          No one at TRS seems to want to research the tax liens that were paid to FTB.  We are having to do it ourselves. 

10.        On 2/5/10 I made an official complaint to Jennifer Madigan (the supervisor to both April Landers and Neda).  In response, Jennifer called our house and proceeded to scream and yell at both my husband and me.  She refused to address any of the complaints.  Her entire concern was about the fact that I had used the word incompetent in reference to services received from TRS.  When asked if she had read any of the documents I sent, she refused to answer the question and repeatedly threatened to hang up on us if we didnt change our attitude.  Furthermore, Jennifer stated that we are being uncooperative because we are daring to complain and question the services we have received.  I told her she was attempting to use scare tactics.  The call ended with Jennifer hanging up on my husband.  We promptly called back and requested to speak to Jennifers boss.  Randy Salter (an alleged attorney) is now supposedly handling our case along with someone named Shelly.  I stated that I refuse to work with Jennifer or with anyone who reports to Jennifer.  Incompetence and gross Negligence.

11.        In June 2009, TRS sent us offer documents for the State of CA (FTB).  The documents were using financial information that was submitted in March 2008.  In June 2009, I updated the information and sent it back to TRS along with an in-depth explanation about why I dont think we owe CA any taxes due to liens that were paid and released on our foreclosed home.  On 2/5/10 TRS sent me the same document they sent me in June 2009 with none of the updates I had made.  The information contained in the documents is almost 2 years old.  Incompetence

Do yourself a favor and take my report seriously.  These tax problems are not my fault and are due to my irresponsible husband.  My life has been a living hell for the past 3 years and the tax issues are still not resolved.  Save your money and deal with the IRS directly.  I know it's scary but in the end, all they want is to collect an amount that won't put you on the street.  They will deal with you fairly and they are not into playing games (unlike TRS).

I would love to get some money back from this company but don't think this will happen unless someone goes to bat for me.  I also intend to file a complaint with the BBB about them.  Why they have such a high rating with the BBB is a mystery to me.