Complaint Review: STOP IRS DEBT - Encino California

February 2017 we paid $4200 for tax help with 2013 & 2014 Audits and Amending 2015 & 2016 Taxes.  Bottom line, they did not do what they agreed to. We paid $4200 to STOP IRS DEBT. I was assured by Kate McConnell, Senior Tax Adviser that they would handle our 2013 & 2014 Tax Audits and also amend our 2015 & 2016 Taxes.

We ended up handling the 2013 audit ourselves because STOP IRS DEBT did not. The IRS Attorney offered a settlement and STOP IRS DEBT said to take it because this was the best we could get. I sent multiple emails regarding the deadlines for the 2014 tax Audit and received no response. Ultimately nothing was done and our audit was closed and us having to pay the IRS because none of our deductions were allowed. 

In regards to the 2015 & 2016 taxes, I sent all of the information they asked for to amend them and again nothing was done. I filed them myself this year. I sent multiple emails asking for updates etc. and they went unanswered. I called and left messages asking to be called back and was not.

We sent the IRS a check for $13,139.88 in December 2017 because nothing had been done and that was what we had to pay. I sent an email on 12/12/17 to STOP IRS DEBT informing them of this and asking for a refund of what we paid because they did not do what they agreed to do. I finally received a call back from Patrick Turner on 1/12/2018 stating that he did not want us to be an unsatisfied customer and that they wanted to apply for abatement of penalties on our account. We completed the forms they asked us to and sent them back. We received a response from the IRS on 2/24/2018, we received a check for $30 for 2013 and the request was denied for 2014, 2015 and 2016.

On 2/24/2018 I sent the following email (Last email sent) to STOP IRS DEBT "Attached are the responses received from the IRS for 2015 and 2016. The request was DENIED. SO at this point we need to know what action you intend to take to resolve the discrepancy in money paid vs. services rendered?  We paid for a service and had an agreement of which we paid $4200.00 and NOTHING was done. We feel at this point the right thing for your company to do is to refund our money. We were told that we had nothing to worry about and that you all would take care of everything for 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Please explain to us in detail how you can justify $4200.00 for no more than what you did."

5/3/18 - Response from Stop Irs Debt to the Better Business Bureau complaint we filed. - Client filed for an appeal with the US tax Court on 2013 Audit. We stepped in and spoke to the US Attorney and were able to come to a settlement offer. The IRS originally denied $38,174 worth of expenses. With the settlement agreement, they were accepting $24,780 of those expenses. They also agreed to wave the penalty on 2013. 

2014, there were additional issues and IRS requested more and more substantiation. We were not as successful on 2014. We did Amend her 2015 and 2016 returns and provided them to her. We instructed her to file the amendments. We did a substantial amount of work and saved her a good amount of money in addition. As much as we would like to make tax liabilities 100% disappear, that is not what happens. Our job was to amend returns and fight an audit and we did just that. We were successful in saving money. The client's claims that nothing was done is completely false and we have the documentation to show it.

5/14/18 - In response to STOP IRS DEBT's rebuttal. 

I spoke to the US Attorney today 5/10/18 at 11:55 am in reference to our 2013 Audit. She stated that at no time did she speak to anyone from Stop IRS Debt in regards to our 2013 Audit. She spoke to me twice on the phone regarding the settlement and then sent a letter, at which time I notified Stop IRS Debt that we were taking the settlement. The numbers that Stop IRS Debt is referencing are numbers directly from the settlement letter we received from the US Attorney and sent to Stop IRS Debt because they asked for a copy.

I have provided proof that Stop IRS Debt was not involved in the settlement offer for the 2013 Audit. As for the 2014 Audit, 2015 amendment and 2016 amendment, STOP IRS DEBT did not provide any information, correspondence or paperwork to us to indicate that these things were being handled/filed with the IRS. What alternative did we have but to take care of it ourselves and then deal with Stop IRS Debt.

When I spoke to Patrick Turner (Manager) on 1/12/18, I told him that the 2015 and 2016 Taxes had not been amended, he said they were sent out. After telling him that they were not received why would they not resend them to us?? We waited until March of 2018 and did it ourselves. If they had provided them to us like they claim, why would we not have filed them instead of doing them ourselves. What they stated makes no sense. 

Stop IRS Debt said they did a substantial amount of work and saved us a good amount of money. I would like to know what good amount of money they saved us? In total we are out $17,339.88, $4200 to Stop IRS Debt and $13,139.88 for the Audits that were never taken care of.

In summary Jim and I did all of the work that we paid STOP IRS DEBT to do. We can provide proof of the timeline of communication and the lack of responses. If STOP IRS DEBT wants to continue to question our integrity then they need to provide proof of what they actually did.

If my claim is false then provide me with the documentation that you say you have. We never received one document showing that anything was being done, but yet every time we were asked to send documentation, it was sent.

Fees paid by us $4200, services rendered by Stop IRS Debt - Substandard!

5/15/18 - Response from Stop IRS Debt - We would be happy to provide dates, times, ID#'s and documentation to substantiate our interactions with the IRS. We do ask that you please give us a call, so that we are not posting private sensitive information in a non-secure place. We also do wish to find a resolution to this and discuss refund options. You can call us at your earliest convenience 800.409.1024

6/7/18 - I called 1-800-409-1024 on 5/16/18 at 10:57 am CST, this is an automated system, I sat on hold for 10 minutes and no one picked up. I also sent an email on 5/16/18 explaining that I tried to call and asked for a response via email. I then sent another email on 5/25/18 asking if they intended on responding. To date I have received no call back or email response.

I would like a response in writing stating what their intentions are in regards to our case. We paid them $4200, they provided no services and was dishonest about what was provided.

6/12/18 - Response from Stop IRS Debt - We would be willing to provide a breakdown of service that shows the dates, times and Agents spoken to. We are sorry that the time you called there was a high call volume and you had to wait for 10 minutes, however we can not always anticipate a large amount of calls. We will work on our hold time. We will provide you this breakdown and a written response via email if you would like. Please be sure to email someone directly and not our general email as at this time the case is considered closed and general emails go to a general email box.

6/14/18 - Today 6/14/18 at 8:14 AM CST, I sent an email to Stop IRS debt with the existing email address's that I have since one was not provided.

6/14/18 - Email received from Stop IRS Debt - From: Tax Client Support 

Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2018 11:23 AM

To: -email address removed

Subject: RE: BBB CASE#: 614805 (#226969)

Thank you for the email. I will put in the request for this Breakdown of Service. Please note that they take 5-7 business days. Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to let us know. 

Sincerely,

Kirsten Phillips

Compliance Manager

StopIRSdebt.com

PLEASE RESPOND DIRECTLY TO THIS EMAIL.

9/17/18 - Email we sent due to nothing provided as stated in the above email  We waited 3 months!!

From: Kim 

Sent: Monday, September 17, 2018 4:21 PM

To: 'Tax Client Support '

Subject: RE: BBB CASE#: 614805 (#226969)

Good afternoon,

You stated below that the request for Breakdown of Service would take 5-7 Business Days. We have patiently waited a more than adequate amount of time, 3 months. This once again shows the poor service we received, You were so quick to take our money, promise results and delivered nothing! We would like for this to be resolved, we are due a refund. 

DO NOT TRUST THIS COMPANY AND DO NOT PAY THEM TO HANDLE YOUR IRS ISSUES.  The last response we received after this one was to call them, we call and get no answer, email and get no response.  I guess my next step will be to get in touch with the California Attorney General.  This was a total scam and nothing but lies were promised.