This compay is PURE FRAUDELENT!
A very well-spoken salesman sold me their services for $5050. After revceiveing their money my case was assigned to an ill-spoken respresentative who did NOTHING for me. I was strung along and told items would arrive in both email and USPS, none of which ever came. I was told they would stop wage garnishments which never happened. When phoning both the state and the feds to do the work myself, I was informed that Taxmasters had never contacted them on my behalf as promised.
Taxmasters won't return calls or emails.
****TAXMASTERS IS FRAUDULENT***
Consumers Beware!!!
See Texas State Attorney General's Response to this company at http://www.oag.state.tx.us/media/videos/play.php?image=051310taxnewers&id=390

My husband passed away, while I was getting my paperwork in order to file my taxes that year, I discovered that he had not filed in 10 years, I lay on the couch not knowing what to do for 2 days..I saw a commercial on tv for Taxmasters, this was In March of 09, I called and yes the man I spoke to on the phone was very nice and convenced me to let them solve my problem and get my tax bill down for me. He told me the cost and chaged my card half one day and half the next day, which totaled over the 7 months right at $7000.00. and at first it seemed they were working on my case, they asked for everything to prepare my taxes, and they did prepare my taxes (H&R could have done that for alot less) and after I received them in the mail I was told I had to go in person and take them to the nearest IRS office which was 2 hours away from me. I took them and that started the letters from the IRS and the state I live in, when I called them they insisted I do not reply or contact anyone but them, Taxmasters had me sign a power of attorney to them to take care of all tax issues and letters, of course I am still thinking they are working for me, I got letters that the IRS is going to put a lein on my house and car, I contact taxmasters and they said dont worry about that they are trying to scare you, it did. I sent the IRS the money from that letter which was a fraction of what I owed but I didnt want a lein on anything I own. during the months of March 09, and Oct 09 this is pretty much all that went on, when I went to file my taxes for 2010, I went elsewhere and with 1st time home buyer refund and everything else my refund was 13, 000.00 of course the IRS kept it all to pay for back taxes, which I knew they would but at that point after hmmmm 4 months of nothing from Taxmasters they called me, and was just checking to see how everything was going for me, at that point I went off on the lady that called, saying how dare you call me when I see the light at the end of this tunnel and I only owe IRS 1300.00 dollars of almost 30, ooo that now you are calling me. when I asked them why are there so many complaints against your company, they told me oh that is from people we began there service and they stopped paying for it so we stopped working for them, which I now know was a complete lie because I paid all they asked and all I got was my taxes prepared, as I said in the begining of this letter, I could have paid ALOT LESS to H&R Block to have done what I got from TAXMASTERS, so in warning to anyone thinking about using this company...DO NOT...you wont get anything done and you will still owe the IRS the full amount and end up paying alot to taxmasters for NOTHING...I believe truely they took advantage of me, a person who just lost her husband of 27 years, and was in a position with IRS that I knew nothing about, and I was at a VERY VERY low place in my life...I have to say I have completley paid off the IRS, and the state I live in with out any dedicuctions or help from TAXMASTERS...hire a private lawyer and get your taxes settled...

After TaxMasters received all the documtents they reqeusted (which I had to FAX twice) I had to do all the follow up to TaxMasters as to the status on my account. I sent documents April 16, 2009 and again May 4, 2009. I heard nothing from TaxMasters until I contacted them Sept. 9, 2009 and 9 more times through Nov. 2009. The analyist assigned to my account was changed twice. When they were ready to submit an offer and compromise, the analyist asked me what I wanted to offer. I thought that was their job. I finally get a letter, Mar 12, 2010 from IRS that they will not accept my offer because I have assets enough to pay the tax liability. My complaint is "Why didn't TaxMasters review my documentation right away and advise me that IRS has these guidelines in place". I would have arranged payments with the IRS upon learning that information. They advertise to be experts in this field and their employees are prior IRS employees.

I paid $5500 in three instalments, waited over a year to find out my tax liability is not negotiable. I've contacted them for a refund, but they refused. Their contract (page4) states "Firm will analyze financial data submitted". "Firm will recommend to Client what Firm believes in its professional judment to be the best alternative for Client of the various IRS programs". On page 7, TaxMasters contract states "Firm may, at its sole disscretin, refnd the amount of the stated retainer".

Hi,

If you've been a victim of TaxMasters, below is a good starting list of everyone you should send a letter to, detailing your experience. Signed and mailed letters are often still taken more seriously than an emailed or faxed one. You should also include any/all supporting documentation/evidence.

This really is needed. The sooner these agencies receive more complaints about this company, the more they will investigate.

1. Your state's Attorney General
2. All of your state's Senators and Representatives (Federal and State)
3. All of the following:

U.S. Treasury Department
ATTN: Special Agent Farwell
1919 Smith St.
Suite 2270
Houston, TX 77002

Texas State Board of Public Accountancy
333 Guadalupe, Tower 3, Suite 900
Austin, TX 78701-3900

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
Hotline
P.O. Box 589
Ben Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044-0589

Office of the Attorney General of Texas
PO Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548

U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Attorney General
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20530

Internal Revenue Service
Office of Professional Responsibility
SE: OPR, Room 7238/IR
1111 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20224

Better Business Bureau of Houston
http://houston.bbb.org/

Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580

Mayor Annise D. Parker
City of Houston
P.O. Box 1562
Houston, TX 77251

I fell for their adds heard on O'Reilly's TV and radio shows. I had a few years of unfiled returns and learned an IRS Revenue Officer was trying to get in contact with me. Needless to say, I became quite fearful. So, what did I do-I contacted TaxMasters to help me.

When I called them on 10/26/09, I spoke with a tax consultant who advised me not to contact the IRS officer and told me he would email me their Engagement Agreement and power of attorney forms to sign and send back so that they could contact the IRS on my behalf. After signing and emailing the forms back, they immediately debited my bank account for $1, 920 as the down payment toward a total bill of $5, 750.00. This amount seemed quite high but I signed the agreement out of desperation-thinking they were going to help me.

A little over a week later I received a letter, along with some forms to fill out, from TM. The letter was dated 11/03/09. One of the enclosed form was a 433a packet with instructions to, "...[P]lease fill it out and return it to our offices on or after 1/22/2010. The other forms were for information for the unfiled tax return years, a supplemental agreement for two additional tax years and an invoice for another $400.00 to prepare the returns.

While in the process of filling out the forms, I received a letter dated 10/29/09 from the IRS on 11/10/09. The letter stated that unless I pay the amount owed, make alternative arrangements to pay, or provide additional information within 30 days from the date of the letter, further collection will be taken.

Upon receipt of the letter, I called the TM consultant, left a voice-mail message, and then emailed a copy of the letter to him. I presumed the letter was passed along to the right person and that my interests were protected. That was not the case because on 11/25/09 I learned that a commission check I was expecting, from the agency I work through, had been levyed bythe IRS. I immediately called TM and left several voice mail messages and got an email response on 11/30/09 indicating they would have someone from operations call me that day.

I finally spoke with one of their attorneys, Tyler Deck, on 12/02/09, who said unless I become compliant by filing all unfiled returns, he could not get the levy removed. I asked him if he had spoken with the revenue officer to which he replied he hadn't. I told him I had prepared all of the returns and would file them, which I did on 12/07/09 at the local IRS office. I dropped off copies of the filed returns to TM on 12/08/09.

I made numerous follow up phone calls to Mr. Deck only to leave unreturned voice mail messages. When I finally spoke with Mr. Deck, he said he would call the IRS to let them know I filed the returns. Then on 12/10/09 another commission check was levied. Again, I tried to contact Mr. Deck leaving numerous messages for him to call. Finally, I learned he was out of the office until after the holidays. I was able to contact another person in operations, on 12/28/09, who had me sign more power of attorney forms so he could talk to the IRS.

After signing and returning the forms, I did not hear from anyone at TM. So, on 01/06/10 I contacted the IRS revenue officer who told me the file had been transferred to the local office. He also told me the only contact he had with TM was a voice-mail message from Mr. Deck, whom he called back and left a message. The revenue officertold me the only reason the levy was filed was due to no response to his 10/29/09 letter. He suggested I go to the local IRS office to see if my case has been assigned. I did this on 01/14/10 and spoke with a revenue officer who was very helpful in assisting me with developing a plan of action to resolve my tax debt. Actually, I learned more in 20 minutes with the IRS than I did in 3 months with TM.

So, on 1/26/10 I delivered a termination letter to the TM office and spoke with a supervising consultant, Mr. McCallister (who by the way offered me a job as one of their consultants). I explained the issues I had and he intimated there have been similar problems with Mr. Deck. In my letter I cited the reason for terminating their services was for lack of performance and was also requesting reimbursement of the some $3, 100 ($1, 200 of which was for tax return preparation) I paid in fees. He said he would pass my letter along and I would be hearing from a Jeff Welch. When I did not hear from Mr. Welch, I called him several times, leaving voice mail messages that were never responded to. So, I paid another visit to TM on 2/01/10 and met with Dewayne Logan, their Quality Assurance Director. Hetold me they were investigating the matter and would let me know the outcome in the next several days.

After not hearing from anyone at TM after leaving messages for Logan and Welch, I again went to TM on 2/05/10. I met with Jeff Welch, a man very small in stature, who listened to my quick summary of my concerns and then proceeded to tell they will not be refunding any of the fees they collected from me and that I should leave. I pointed out the agreement I signed stipulates, "If Client has paid more than the minimum fee...a refund will be paid." I asked him what is the minimum then. He again stated he doesn't care what the agreement says, I was not getting any of my money back. I requested to speak to the office manager and was told that was not going to happen. I then calmly insisted I be allowed to speak with the manager. Mr. Welch got up and left the room, I thought to get the manager. (Here's where it gets really interesting) He returned in about five minutes with a policeman to have me escorted from the building.

So, it is quite apparent to me from everything I've read about TaxMasters and my personal experience, they are nothing more than a "mill" that preys upon those of us needing help with tax problems. I've been in their office which has an entire floor of the building filled with tax consultants, who are nothing more than trained salespeople. They take your money and essentially ignore you until you reach a point where you become so frustrated you either terminate the agreement and go to a legitimate tax professional or try to take care of the problem yourself. In my case, I had already prepared my returns, but was still charged a fee by TM to prepare the returns. I also learned that in most casesthe IRS is willing to work with a taxpayer to resolve any tax issues.

I will do whatever I can to see that this doesn't happen to others. I have started the process of filing complaints with every government agency that may have jurisdiction over TaxMasters unscrupulous practices.