Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  11/08/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On July 11, 2022, I contacted GATL to help with tax debt relief, setting up a business LLC, and tax advice for 2023. After paying an initial $500.00 and an additional $1750.00 under the direction of ******* and ********************* **************, I never heard from any staff at GATL after paying for services. My calls and inquiries were not returned, and texts and emails were ignored. I then contacted the owner of GATL, ************************* **************, who referred me to the office compliance officer *************************** *************. After a week, **************** also stopped calling, ignored my calls, and then referred me to two case workers, *********************** *************** and *************************** **************, who had no info on my case. As of 11/08/2022, I have had no info, no movement, and no resolution of my tax case. I have dealt with both my state and federal tax debt on my own with no info, direction, or support from GATL. I respectfully requested a refund by contacting ***************************** on 11/02/2022 and ******************************* on 10/21/2022 and 10/25/2022. Neither has responded to my request.

  Business response

  11/29/2022

  We have attempted to reach out to this client to discuss her concerns and have been unable to reach her. Please have her contact *************************** at ************ to discuss this matter further

  Customer response

  11/30/2022

  Below is the last contact I had with GATL dated October 25th, 2022. I have had to work out agreements with both the *************** tax collector and the *** on my own while GATL "waited" for the state to contact them and had no info on the ***. While they were "waiting", I was threatened with being turned over to collection, having my assets frozen/ confiscated and or property seized. I worked out agreements on my own with zero support from GATL. I was given the run around going from *******, to ********************* then ***************************** from him to ******************************* and now shuffled to ***************************. I am requesting a full refund.

   

  Get a Tax Lawyer - Client ID *****
  TAXES/GATL
  
  
  Perla Balderas <*************************> Tue, Oct 25, 10:07 AM
  
  
  to me
  
  
  Hello ***,
  
  
  My name is ****************************
  I work along with Amber *************** are currently awaiting a return call from the Stateof ******.
  Should you need updates to your case please contact me .
  
  
  Respectfully,
  
  ***************************
  Case Manager
  Resolution Department
  
  P: ************** |  F: **************  | *************************
  1055 ******************************************************** 90017
  
  
  
  
  

   

   

  Business response

  01/10/2023

  Management looked at this and decided to issue a full refund.
  

  
  

  Per merchant services policy, it will be refunded to the card on file if possible in the morning, otherwise if that card was closed out, then it will be submitted to the bank as a paper check which will be mailed within the next ten days.

  Customer response

  01/10/2023

  
  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me.  I will wait for the business to perform this action and, if it does, will consider this complaint resolved.
  
  Regards,
  
  ***********************
  
   
  

• Initial Complaint

  11/01/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I signed a contract on 11/28/2021 for this company to complete and offer in compromise for my tax debt. They instructed me to stop my automatic payments for my prior tax debt immediately. I financed their fees ($5350) through a third party financial institution they are tied to. In April of 2022 I received a call from them stating that a payment plan was arranged on my behalf for $2 more than what I had been paying although I already had a payment plan in place, which they instructed me to stop paying on. I explained that I hired them for an offer in compromise. They collected documents and bank records from me on 4 different occasions. I finally had someone call me in June stating that they would be handling me account since it had been so long without movement. She requested more documentation and informed me that my ************************************************** compromise was to be submitted. I was able to complete everything she requested and filed my tax return by July 15, 2022. I had additional tax debt to settle into the offer and they agreed to accept an overpayment I had made for amendments they were unable to complete ($1050) which I never received a refund for. ( I had bee requesting a refund for 6 months at that point.) I emailed every week and rarely got a response. I was finally informed in August after multiple emails that the case worker was no longer employed by them and a new case manager would be contacting me. I called and left several messages every few days and was told multiple times that I would receive a "scheduled call." Nobody ever called. I requested a cancellation/refund at the end of September. I have been told several times since then that I would receive a call from different people, including managers. I have yet to receive one call. I have continued to leave several messages a week. They tell me to give them ***** hours and then I have to call back because I have not heard from anyone. I've left countless messages with no avail

  Business response

  11/04/2022

  We have reviewed this client's file. As was explained to her on March 7, 2022, we are unable to consider any request for a refund because she paid our fees with a third party loan. She will need to direct any concerns related to that loan to the lender directly.

• Initial Complaint

  09/20/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I signed a contract w/ them back in May 2022. I paid them $7500.00 upfront for few services including amendment of back taxes, bookkeeping, business & personal tax returns. They sent me an email requesting documents but the format only allowed for me submit 5 documents. I submitted what I could & assumed that they would request the additional documents from me once they were working on my case. Instead I received a notice to sign my completed tax return (no back taxes or bookkeeping). I looked over the return & it seemed to me that they attempted to complete it w/o having the complete documents. I attempted to reach out to the same representatives that I had spoken to when I contracted their services but those employees were no longer w/ the company...so I was starting from scratch. After many calls, I tracked down my case worker...or so I thought. I explained my concerns both over the phone & in email. I submitted all of the necessary documents to correctly complete my tax returns. I have not heard a word since then. I have sent multiple emails requesting for an update. Nothing. I have called & been hung up on several times. They have caller IDs & use them to screen your calls. I recently found out that my case worker is someone else. So my emails were going to the person I spoke to before. It's a total mess. Communication from them is absolutely terrible. I forwarded all of the previous emails to the new person & have attempted to call but still nothing. The extension deadline is less than a month away & I have no idea what is going on w/ my taxes. Until they can prove otherwise, this company is total scam. DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY!!

  Business response

  09/25/2022

  Our records show that we spoke to this client on September 20 to discuss information needed to modify the returns as requested. We anticipate this will be completed within a week of receiving all required documentation.

  Customer response

  09/26/2022

  Yes we have spoken...but I am not closing out this complaint until the job has been completed in a satisfactory fashion & ALL the services I paid for have been addressed or I have been refunded for the service I have not received. At this point, based on my interactions w/ GATL, I have very low confidence that this will happen. 

  Business response

  09/26/2022

  It appears that there is nothing further to do here. We have reached out to the client to discuss information to amend the returns as requested.

• Initial Complaint

  09/01/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I signed an agreement with GATL in early July, and have currently paid out over 2000$ to them to advocate for me to repair current and previous tax issues. At first communications were good with me receiving a call at least once a week. Document requests were given to me with a deadline, and as the deadline approached I had some questions about some document substitutions and legal matters regarding those. All the sudden they have become totally unreachable. Of the 4 or 5 different numbers I've found for calling them not one gets me through to a human or even a voicemail option. One email I sent returned an auto-reply, which I replied to with my concerns, with no further reply.Have they closed up shop? To add to the strangeness, this month their auto-payment from me to them didn't get withdrawn. Which is just as well I guess since at the beginning of their agreement one of their reps directed me to stop my auto-payments to the *** 'immediately' which I did, trusting them to be following through with their promises to contact the *** in my stead to re-file a 2014 return, etc. Then in the last week I've received a failure to pay notice from the ***. So, subsequently, since **** hasn't collected their payment from me, and obviously isn't working on my case, that money instead went to the ***, since it seems I'm on my own, now with a looming deadline from the ***, (Oct. 15 extension deadline) quite likely too short a time to find another tax help person, not that I could afford one now after draining my savings and giving it to this fraudulent company.What I need is for them to finish the job, or at the very least a total refund.

  Business response

  09/02/2022

  Our records show that we spoke to this client on September 1, 2022 to discuss information needed to move his case forward. Once received, we anticipate resolution within 90 days.

• Initial Complaint

  08/30/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  date of transaction 6-7-2022 I paid this company 27,500 dollars. the buisness promised complete guidance for preparing an llc, assistance with preparing a tax shelter for filing my cryptocurrency taxes. I recieved an email with llc papers and no instructions on how to proceed. The nature of my dispute is that all my phone calls and emails since july of 2022 have gone totally unanswered. the customer service number i was provided ************** is disconnected. i have reached out to my case worker Christopher Fulton at cfulton@gatl.com and recieved no answer. i have emailed my case manager pghayadi@atsco.tax and have recieved no answer. The buisness has not even made an attemp to solve my problem. my case number is *****

  Business response

  09/01/2022

  We have reached out to this client to discuss her concerns and believe we will be able to come to a mutually acceptable resolution to this matter within the next two business days.

  Customer response

  09/01/2022

  someone reached out to me named ******* ****** he claims he works as a go between Infowars the media company where I heard about get a tax lawyer. No agreement has been reached. I am asking for a refund due to my loss of confidence in this business. ******* ****** *ave me this number where he can be reached* ************

  Business response

  09/01/2022

  As this client stated, we have reached out to her to discuss her case and concerns and resolution options. We need to review the file with her in order to move forward with a mutually acceptable resolution. We anticipate that this process will be resolved in two business days.

  Customer response

  09/09/2022

  I was speaking with ******* ****** on a consistent basis on the week of August 31st. He said that a termination of services contract would. E sent to me on Tuesday due to the Labor Day weekend and that by this week ending today 9-9-22 I should have received a refund check. Mr ****** did not communicate with me on Tuesday as promised ant today is Friday 9-9-22 and I haven’t heard anything from him. I called him Wednesday and Thursday and nobody picked up the phone. I left a message on his machine on Thursday and someone from this number +* ***** ******** called to tell me that ******* ****** was hospitalized and couldn’t be reached. It seems to me like this matter is not being taken seriously by this company and I’m being given a run around. Please help bbb this company can’t be allowed to get away with taking 27,500 dollars from me and I’m not receiving any kind of resolution from them. Thanks for your help.

  Business response

  10/07/2022

  Hi, we have attempted to reach out to this client to discuss her concerns and have been unable to reach her. She needs to talk to Winston to see if they can come to an agreement. It looks like there was some work performed that needs to be taken into account.

  Customer response

  10/07/2022

  This is a lie. No one from this company has reached out to me. When I call Winston Parker at 323-499-3158 nobody picks up. Nobody has contacted me about my refund! This company is just giving me a run around to avoid refunding my money.

• Initial Complaint

  08/17/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  These people are con artists claiming to help you with tax filings and tax issues. There "owner" goes on a national radio show to drive sales. He does not have enough employees to handle the mass of fools that listen to him. They pressure you for a retainer and then don't return you calls or do anything. I told them when I signed up that I needed a tax return done before the extension deadline. They would never address the issue and kept asking for info I didn't have because that tax return needed done first. I had to hire someone else to do it. I have been asking for a refund for months and they keep giving me the run around. they refuse to refund my money. There address is now ******************************************************************. One of their phone numbers is ************.

  Business response

  08/26/2022

  We have contacted this client and requested information needed to process their request. Once we receive it, we will go ahead and close out their file as requested.

  
  We wish them the best going forward.
  

  Customer response

  08/26/2022

  I will not close this matter until the money is in my hand.

  I am having an attorney help me with this refund now.

  Business response

  09/01/2022

  As previously stated, the client needs to provide the requested information for us to close out the case. Any questions or concerns need to be addressed to the person on that document or our customer service group.

• Initial Complaint

  08/16/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I reached out needing help. They contacted me and asked for all my tax documents. I sent them three years worth of information. I keep in communication and was told on august 10 they were preparing my return. August 12 I emailed, the email came back as the account was deleted. I called , line is disconnected. They are a fraud.

  Business response

  08/26/2022

  We have been in contact with this client and provided him with accurate email information to provide documents needed to work on his case.

• Initial Complaint

  07/14/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  *I contracted **************** for tax preparation and paid them $1250 in advance on April 5th, 2022. *The company contact ******************* told me he was filing tax extensions on my behalf at that time.*I sent them my tax documents on April 25th, 2022, and ******************* gave me an estimated timeline to having my return filed by end of May.*In mid-May I followed up with ******************* via phone to inquire about the status of my return, who said they were really busy but he'd get back with an update.*End of May passed with no action, and I called and emailed ***** every 1-2 weeks, being ghosted most of the time or told he'd check with the tax prep team and get back to me.*Finally on June 21st I received a voicemail from *************************** at ****************, informing me they haven't received my documents. ***** never passed them along.*I replied and immediately resent the secure link to my documents over email on that same day, June 21st. I instructed ***** to call me and I would give her the password to access the documents.*On June 24th, *************************** called and requested the password to access them.*Then on July 1st ***** called me stating they were having issues with the link, clearly had not tried accessing it until then. I gave an updated link and ***** then downloaded the files and stated the case manager would be in touch in a day or two.*After waiting several days and no contact, I called back. This happened several times and finally I received contact from the case manager on July 14th.*On July 14th, the case manager, ******************* advised me that extensions were never filed for my federal or ******** state taxes.*This means I am considered delinquent on my taxes and by not having an extension filed, that I am ineligible for a $1500 tax rebate from *****************: https://tax.********.gov/cash-back

  Business response

  07/28/2022

  We have attempted to reach out to this client to discuss his concerns, most recently on July 27, 2022. Please have him return the call at the number left in the voicemail so we can discuss and address his concerns.

• Initial Complaint

  05/17/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Advertised online: Get A Tax Lawyer (GATL) is the Nation’s Leading Tax Law Firm specializing in tax planning, tax resolution, and litigation. Our team of attorneys and CPAs continue to strategically implement methods to maximize tax credits and deductions for our clients wherever possible. We contacted this company and were connected with ***** *******, Tax Practitioner. My husband, ****** ******, initially spoke with ***** on 3/22/2022. He set up a phone meeting with the three of us to finalize details of us working together. When we spoke with him on the phone on 4/11/2022, he told us he was a CPA based out of California. He committed to file our taxes and set up an S Corp for us. He said he would first file extensions for us, then be back in touch to move forward. He also assured us that we could contact him at any time by phone, text or email. We paid a deposit of $1,000.00, signed and submitted our agreement. We never heard from him again. He does not respond to ANY communication and when we call the main number we started with on the website, they hang up on us. We have been hung up on multiple times despite our calm pleas for help.

  Business response

  07/28/2022

  Our records show that we spoke to this client on June 2, 2022 and requested information related to whether he had initiated a chargeback of the payment made. This client needs to contact us to clarify this matter and discuss options for resolution.

  Customer response

  07/29/2022

  I do not accept the response. I am shocked and angered that the only time anyone contacted us after we made a large payment, was to follow up on our credit card charge back. We requested a charge back from Chase based on fraudulent charges since no tax work was ever done and no one corresponded with us. Chase investigated and found the case to be fraudulent, so we were able to get our money back. We tried for months to reach this business after they accepted payment from us, then did nothing else. We were even hung up on multiple times. I completely disagree that there is anything more we need to do other than warn other consumers not to do business with GATL. 

  Business response

  07/30/2022

  When we spoke to this client on June 7, 2022, we offered to both complete the contracted work and provide them a full refund of the fees paid. However, they had indicated at that time they had contacted their bank. We asked them to verify whether a chargeback had in fact occurred and let us know as we were not notified of one at that time. When a client elects to submit a chargeback to their bank, we are limited in our ability to offer a refund or resolution. 

  We will close out their file and wish them the best going forward.
  

• Initial Complaint

  04/29/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Tuesday April 12th, I contacted the company GATL and spoke to *******************************. He took my information to begin the process of filing taxes. I made a payment of $650 that day. I was given documents to sign and and instructions of what to collect for my tax information. ******* informed me that a tax team would contact me with an email to send my documents to. April 13th I emailed ******************** to inform him I had not been sent a email of where to send my documents. April 14th he responded he would check on that. That is the last contact I had with ********************. April 15th I emailed ******************** stating I had began my own taxes due to no one contacting me and requested communication about my taxes getting filed or a reimbursement of payment. April 18th I called the main line for GATL and spoke to someone about the lack of communication over my taxes. I was forwarded to ************************ voice mail. I called back and stated that I have attempted to contact ******************** and he has not replied to any of my emails and does not answer the phone, I did try calling ******************** several times already. I was then forwarded to customer service. The phone line went silent and apperantly began recording as if to leave a message and a automatic message stated the voice-mail was too long. I called back and was forwarded to customer service right away. I again called back at that time I was told I had called already several times and at this point I was accused of harassing them. I explained that the phone line they sent me to had gone to a voice-mail and I requested the direct number to customer service. I did not get a number but was told that someone would call me back within 24 to 48 hours. ******************** appeared to attempt to call me but did not leave a message and the phone rang for only a half ring. I have emailed ******************** several times, April 22nd and April 28th. I also attempted to contact *************************. I used these email addresses ****************** *****************

  Business response

  07/28/2022

  Our records show that we reached a mutually acceptable resolution with this client on May 25, 2022. We wish them the best going forward.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩