Comments on: Will Failure to Advise Taxpayers About Rebates End in a Lawsuit? http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/ tax news, tax info and tax policy Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:09:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Peggy http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5364 Peggy Wed, 21 May 2008 01:47:24 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5364 It's not just RAL's that are causing this. I suspect, but Turbo Tax has been reluctant to confirm, that because we chose to print our return and mail it with our check for taxes owed, we will get a paper check. While we included our checking account number, as directed, in the software in order to have our rebate deposited, it never printed on our return. We didn’t think to check the return to ensure it had printed, we received no notice from TT about the issue and didn’t even consider the omission until our check didn’t show up in our account. I’ve contacted TT three times and have gotten a number of reasons which were deflected to blame the IRS. But finally, one (poor) tech indicated that it "may" have been a bug in their software. Will this cause me financial hardship? No. Am I beyond annoyed? You bet!! We printed and mailed our return on April 14, if TT had done us the courtesy of letting us know that we needed to ink in our checking account number we would have done so. No harm, no foul, we would have appreciated them letting us know. TT screwed up and should someone file a class action, I’m there!! But I won’t buy their software again. It’s not just RAL’s that are causing this.

I suspect, but Turbo Tax has been reluctant to confirm, that because we chose to print our return and mail it with our check for taxes owed, we will get a paper check.

While we included our checking account number, as directed, in the software in order to have our rebate deposited, it never printed on our return. We didn’t think to check the return to ensure it had printed, we received no notice from TT about the issue and didn’t even consider the omission until our check didn’t show up in our account. I’ve contacted TT three times and have gotten a number of reasons which were deflected to blame the IRS. But finally, one (poor) tech indicated that it “may” have been a bug in their software. Will this cause me financial hardship? No. Am I beyond annoyed? You bet!! We printed and mailed our return on April 14, if TT had done us the courtesy of letting us know that we needed to ink in our checking account number we would have done so. No harm, no foul, we would have appreciated them letting us know. TT screwed up and should someone file a class action, I’m there!! But I won’t buy their software again.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5375 Rebecca Tue, 20 May 2008 12:02:32 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5375 Jeff, When you filed your returns at the end of January the stimulus package had not even been passed nor had the schedule of when stimulus payments would be made. There would have been no way for turbo tax to even know. Jeff, When you filed your returns at the end of January the stimulus package had not even been passed nor had the schedule of when stimulus payments would be made. There would have been no way for turbo tax to even know.

]]> By: JeffC http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5374 JeffC Tue, 20 May 2008 04:49:18 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5374 I eFiled at the end of January, got a nice little refund. But I didn't take an RAL. All I did was take advantage of the service offered by TurboTax and Santa Barbara Savings. For a small fee, they arranged to have my tax return deposited directly to my bank. IMHO, this should be free, and should be handled directly by the IRS. But now, because my SSAN ends in high digits, I'll need to wait until the very end, July 11th, to get my paper check. Have I been harmed? YES! Was I informed? NO! I'm still waiting for a note from TurboTax that tells me how very sorry they are. What about it Intuit? Throw us all a bone. How about free eFile for the next few years? I eFiled at the end of January, got a nice little refund. But I didn’t take an RAL. All I did was take advantage of the service offered by TurboTax and Santa Barbara Savings. For a small fee, they arranged to have my tax return deposited directly to my bank. IMHO, this should be free, and should be handled directly by the IRS. But now, because my SSAN ends in high digits, I’ll need to wait until the very end, July 11th, to get my paper check. Have I been harmed? YES! Was I informed? NO! I’m still waiting for a note from TurboTax that tells me how very sorry they are. What about it Intuit? Throw us all a bone. How about free eFile for the next few years?

]]> By: Maggie http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5373 Maggie Sun, 18 May 2008 08:11:55 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5373 I think some folks could argue they were damaged if they did not receive notification from the tax preparer/tax prep software indicating they would not get direct deposit of their rebate, by the time they would have received the rebate by direct deposit and they looked at the IRS schedule, assumed they would get their rebate on the direct deposit date, wrote a check (or scheduled an electronic payment) and then did not have the funds available. Those folks were likely hit with with bank and/or late fees. Again these would have been pretty minor, but aggregated... I think some folks could argue they were damaged if they did not receive notification from the tax preparer/tax prep software indicating they would not get direct deposit of their rebate, by the time they would have received the rebate by direct deposit and they looked at the IRS schedule, assumed they would get their rebate on the direct deposit date, wrote a check (or scheduled an electronic payment) and then did not have the funds available. Those folks were likely hit with with bank and/or late fees. Again these would have been pretty minor, but aggregated…

]]> By: Joe http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5372 Joe Sat, 17 May 2008 20:43:20 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5372 Why are people making such a big deal over "Free Money". People should be grateful to be getting anything in the first place instead of being greedy. Anyone who files such a suit should be ashamed of themselves and any attorney who takes part in such a suit should be disbarred. Turbotax and Block have the money to fight these suits, but what about the people who are self employed tax preparers? What are they to do, sue the IRS? Why are people making such a big deal over “Free Money”. People should be grateful to be getting anything in the first place instead of being greedy. Anyone who files such a suit should be ashamed of themselves and any attorney who takes part in such a suit should be disbarred. Turbotax and Block have the money to fight these suits, but what about the people who are self employed tax preparers? What are they to do, sue the IRS?

]]> By: TurboTax Responds to Customers Regarding Tax Rebates http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5371 TurboTax Responds to Customers Regarding Tax Rebates Sat, 17 May 2008 12:05:56 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5371 [...] angry customers concerning the timing of the rebate checks and opting to pay fees out of refunds. I’ve already posted that I believe class action lawsuits (though ridiculous in this case) will.... Looks like TurboTax is trying to cut them off at the pass. TurboTax has also posted information [...] [...] angry customers concerning the timing of the rebate checks and opting to pay fees out of refunds. I’ve already posted that I believe class action lawsuits (though ridiculous in this case) will…. Looks like TurboTax is trying to cut them off at the pass. TurboTax has also posted information [...]

]]> By: Debbie http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5370 Debbie Sat, 17 May 2008 06:51:53 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5370 As a tax preparer I can say the fault lies with no one. Remember the stimulus package did not get passed till late February and the rebate schedule did not come out till late March or early April. By that time probably 95% of the RALs had been processed. Once the schedule was out I informed my clients of the delay in their rebate if they did not direct deposit. As a tax preparer I can say the fault lies with no one. Remember the stimulus package did not get passed till late February and the rebate schedule did not come out till late March or early April. By that time probably 95% of the RALs had been processed. Once the schedule was out I informed my clients of the delay in their rebate if they did not direct deposit.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5369 Rebecca Thu, 15 May 2008 23:56:39 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5369 Plaintiffs to such a law suit would have to prove that third party preparers had a duty to inform people of this, did they even know? Did they have a duty? Plaintiffs to such a law suit would have to prove that third party preparers had a duty to inform people of this, did they even know? Did they have a duty?

]]> By: « South Carolina Tax Attorney http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5368 « South Carolina Tax Attorney Thu, 15 May 2008 19:02:50 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5368 [...] read a post on Taxgirl.com regarding practices by tax preparation companies like Refund Advance Loans that will prevent [...] [...] read a post on Taxgirl.com regarding practices by tax preparation companies like Refund Advance Loans that will prevent [...]

]]> By: Kelly http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5367 Kelly Thu, 15 May 2008 18:15:07 +0000 http://www.taxgirl.com/will-failure-to-advise-taxpayers-about-rebates-end-in-a-lawsuit/#comment-5367 TexasEd, that is exactly my point. Folks that rely on RALs would not, IMO, have changed their behavior at filing in order to accelerate the rebate later. TexasEd, that is exactly my point. Folks that rely on RALs would not, IMO, have changed their behavior at filing in order to accelerate the rebate later.

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