Tax Consultant
Berkheimer AssociatesThis business is NOT BBB Accredited.
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Complaint Details
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Initial Complaint
09/21/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Billing Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I received a letter stating that for 2020 I owed money (late in 2023 I received this notice). I contact them, they state they’re missing a W-2. I send them the W-2. I receive an email I still owe as the employer did not take out enough tax-which automatically requires that I have to pay a penalty of $25. Next email I get, I don’t owe the money. Two days later I receive a call, I owe the money. My issue is not that I owe, if I owe I’ll pay. My issue is that it took 4 different interactions each time getting a different response. This company is in charge of peoples money! Not one of them on the same page as the other. This is highly inappropriate. If I repeatedly did this at work, I would lose my job! Unfortunately across the state we have to deal with this company which is terrifying! Complete disregard for the fact that any amount of money whether it be $1 or $1000 can effect someone-you can’t be trusted to get the consumer a correct answer. I’m appalled that this is what we have to deal with, but in no surprised. I’ve spoken to a *****, and a *******. **** is the one that wrote back to me in an email that I did not owe, only to call me telling me I did. Perhaps we don’t wait until the statute of limitations is almost up. Feel completely at risk with this company.Business response
09/26/2023
Good Afternoon,
I have reviewed your W-2 and your employer did not withhold enough local tax to cover your local tax liability. The local tax liability for ********* Boro is 1.00%. The balance remains due.
Thank you
Customer Care Specialist
Berheimer Tax Innovations
You to Berkheirmer
Sep 15
See attached for both W-2's. I was told that you did not have the W-2 from ************* **** ******. Based on the document I received, I owe 348.86. The amount of local tax withdrawn noted on the W-2 from ************* **** ******. I'm confused as to how I would still owe this amount. Please advise, I can also have my Accountant review as needed.
You to Berkheimer
Sep 15
Please disregard, after having this reviewed I understand my employer at the time only took out 0.5%
Berkheimer to You
Sep 18
I have updated the account with the information provided. You can disregard the notice that has been received.
Thank you,
Berkheimer Tax Innovations
Customer response
09/29/2023
[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Answered]
Complaint: ********
I am rejecting this response because:
An apology is not acceptable when it could affect someone’s financial status. I also stated I did not want any further communication with this business, so following directions continues to be an issue. The apology was a waste of time. I’ve paid the money as I did owe it, where is the correction to the staffs inability to effectively communicate accurate answers to their “consumers.” Essentially let’s just leave it as is, nothing corrects receiving 4 different responses from your institution.
Regards,
*************************Initial Complaint
09/10/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Billing Issues
- Status:
- Answered
Hello, I have just received a letter from Berkheimer tax innovations saying that I owe per capita taxes for the last 6 years for the state of Pennsylvania. I have been a colorado resident for the past 5 years. I explained this to them and was told I still owe for 2017 and they said I owe a per capita tax because I didn’t file local taxes which is incorrect—-I did file local taxes. They are informed me there in a 2017 earned income balance that is due—again, I filed taxes in PA and was not alerted of this balance. Naturally, there are late and delinquent fees associated with said balance, I refuse to pay late fees for balances I do not owe or have not been informed of. I also have asked for a letter explaining all of this and have yet to have that given to me. One employee told me they would waive all late fees if I do indeed owe said balances and another told me she cannot waive late fees. Honestly, I believe their business practices border on criminal and I am contemplating seeking council to investigate, at the very least a class action lawsuit could be coming down the pipe. I wonder how many residents of PA have blindly sent them money without explanation for fear of what may happen.Business response
09/27/2023
September 27, 2023
Dear *** *****:
I have received your letter dated September 20, 2023 concerning the above named party. Berkheimer Tax Innovations is a duly appointed local tax collector and the
complaint at issue pertains to the collection of local taxes and confidential tax information. The taxpayer is afforded certain rights and remedies, including the right to
certain administrative appeals, under Pennsylvania’s Local Tax Enabling Act, Local Tax Collection Law and the Local Taxpayers Bill of Rights that he or she may evoke.However, with that stated, it is Berkheimer’s position to resolve any disputes or complaints from a taxpayer amicably where possible. In this regard, Berkheimer has
made additional contact with the taxpayer to address the concerns contained therein.Sincerely,
Initial Complaint
08/25/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Billing Issues
- Status:
- Answered
My family is on the second year of bills being sent to wrong addresses, for wrong municipalities and inflated amounts. These are including additional fees for processing and garnishments on top of the inability to pay the "early" amount which can be small or significant depending on the amount. We have reached out to the business on several occasions to correct information and are still not receiving bills and information in a timely manner. We are also not receiving receipts to know if some of the garnishments and new bills have already been paid.Business response
09/18/2023
September 18, 2023
Dear *** *****:
I have received your letter dated August 30, 2023 concerning the above named party.
Berkheimer Tax Innovations is a duly appointed local tax collector and the complaint at issue pertains to the collection of local taxes and confidential tax information. The
taxpayer is afforded certain rights and remedies, including the right to certain administrative appeals, under Pennsylvania’s Local Tax Enabling Act, Local Tax
Collection Law and the Local Taxpayers Bill of Rights that he or she may evoke.However, with that stated, it is Berkheimer’s position to resolve any disputes or complaints from a taxpayer amicably where possible. In this regard, Berkheimer has
made additional contact with the taxpayer to address the concerns contained therein.Sincerely,
Customer response
09/19/2023
My wife spoke to an agent and they had multiple incorrect addresses on file, even though we had filed our taxes correctly and at the same adress for 2 years. They had sent incorrect bills to the wrong addresses, and corrected the adress to another incorrect adress. The updated bills sent, even though they admit were sent to wrong address originally, are still charging late fees for their error. We were also charged late fees for the ones paid over the phone that were billed incorrectly. They have also not provided any receipts for these transactions to verify. Attached is the bill recieced today in certified mail that we are being charged for, along with late fees.Business response
09/22/2023
Hello.
We reached out to ******************** regarding his additional feedback.
*********************************
Berkheimer
Initial Complaint
07/24/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Service or Repair Issues
- Status:
- Answered
I received 3 certified letters this morning from berkheimer claiming I didn't pay 2008, 2009, and 2012. All beyond the 10 yr statute of limitations. How am I to defend myself and why does it say final notice when I received no other notices. Seems like a scam. My home was obliterated in a ********* creek flood in collegeville and I don't have my records. Why wait this long. They have pulled this before when they said I owed and I already paid. I don't have an extra $600+ dollars. They say I have until Aug 13th. It is July 24. My former employee is going to try to find records but 15 yrs ago? I don't think I was even employed in 2012. Berkheimer needs to stop the harassment of law abiding citizens. I always paid.Business response
08/07/2023
August 7, 2023
Dear *** *****:
I have received your letter dated July 31, 2023 concerning the above named party.
Berkheimer Tax Innovations is a duly appointed local tax collector and the complaint at issue pertains to the collection of local taxes and confidential tax information. The
taxpayer is afforded certain rights and remedies, including the right to certain administrative appeals, under Pennsylvania’s Local Tax Enabling Act, Local Tax
Collection Law and the Local Taxpayers Bill of Rights that he or she may evoke.However, with that stated, it is Berkheimer’s position to resolve any disputes or complaints from a taxpayer amicably where possible. In this regard, Berkheimer has
made additional contact with the taxpayer to address the concerns contained therein.Sincerely,
Initial Complaint
07/20/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Billing Issues
- Status:
- Answered
tired of being double billed and having wages garnished for taxes I know I already paid. Also tired of the insane fees they charge my taxes total 290.00 but the bill is for 441.00 and they've done this for many years extorting over 1,000.00 in fees because they feel above the law and have no problem ripping off poor people.Business response
08/07/2023
August 7, 2023
Dear *** *****:I have received your letter dated July 27, 2023 concerning the above named party.
Berkheimer Tax Innovations is a duly appointed local tax collector and the complaint at issue pertains to the collection of local taxes and confidential tax information. The
taxpayer is afforded certain rights and remedies, including the right to certain administrative appeals, under Pennsylvania’s Local Tax Enabling Act, Local Tax
Collection Law and the Local Taxpayers Bill of Rights that he or she may evoke.However, with that stated, it is Berkheimer’s position to resolve any disputes or complaints from a taxpayer amicably where possible. In this regard, Berkheimer has
made additional contact with the taxpayer to address the concerns contained therein.Sincerely,
Initial Complaint
07/11/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Billing Issues
- Status:
- Resolved
I do not even live in Pennsylvania and have not for WELL OVER 2 YEARS yet they keep sending demand letters for Allentown Per Capita tax. I've already explained this to them. They even said they noted it and will close the account, yet today I get ANOTHER current bill sent to my home in NY. I know Allentown is money hungry but really????? STOP SENDING ME BILLS FOR PENNSYLVANIA!!!! Yes, I am fully aware that I will get the same copy & pasted response that everyone else gets. They represent themselves as being highly skilled for over 80 years, yet they cannot even see the grammatical errors in their response. LolBusiness response
07/18/2023
July 18, 2023
Dear *** *****:
I have received your letter dated July 13, 2023 concerning the above named party.
Berkheimer Tax Innovations is a duly appointed local tax collector and the complaint at issue pertains to the collection of local taxes and confidential tax information. The
taxpayer is afforded certain rights and remedies, including the right to certain administrative appeals, under Pennsylvania’s Local Tax Enabling Act, Local Tax Collection Law and the Local Taxpayers Bill of Rights that he or she may evoke.However, with that stated, it is Berkheimer’s position to resolve any disputes or complaints from a taxpayer amicably where possible. In this regard, Berkheimer has
made additional contact with the taxpayer to address the concerns contained therein.Sincerely,
Customer response
08/01/2023
Thank you very much for your help in getting this nonsense taken care of. It's much appreciated.
Regards,
*********************Initial Complaint
07/05/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Product Issues
- Status:
- Answered
Berkheimer is a local tax collection service for boroughs in Pennsylvania. I have a user ID and password for Berkheimer, confirmation I filed my taxes on 4/12/2023, an email receipt stating that I need to give them up to 75 days for them to send my refund. I have been emailing their customer service all last week and one of the agents provided a phone number today to follow up. I called the phone number and they said they have no record of my return, even with it in their portal when I log in. The agent said I have to file all over again. This would make the return late, I asked about that, but they said my account is noted. What does that mean? My concern is the lack of security in their portal system, the loss of my financial data including my SSN, and the agent actually asked me to give her my user ID and password to the portal so she can log in as me. Who does this? I had to provide full SSN in order to get any help at all, then I was told I could block out all but the last 4 of my SSN and email the tax return without encryption directly to Berkheimer. This violates so many rules for data security and protection. Why did I provide full SSN if only the last 4 will work to satisfy their tax return filing? What is being done to address this data privacy violation? How can I be assured I will not be considered "late"when I have proof I followed their rules and filed on time?Business response
07/14/2023
July 14, 2023
Dear *** *****:
I have received your letter dated July 13, 2023 concerning the above named party.
Berkheimer Tax Innovations is a duly appointed local tax collector and the complaint at issue pertains to the collection of local taxes and confidential tax information. The
taxpayer is afforded certain rights and remedies, including the right to certain administrative appeals, under Pennsylvania’s Local Tax Enabling Act, Local Tax
Collection Law and the Local Taxpayers Bill of Rights that he or she may evoke.However, with that stated, it is Berkheimer’s position to resolve any disputes or complaints from a taxpayer amicably where possible. In this regard, Berkheimer has
made additional contact with the taxpayer to address the concerns contained therein.Sincerely,
Initial Complaint
06/05/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Order Issues
- Status:
- Answered
This company continues to harass me and try to stronghold me for double the amount of income tax that I have already paid. Always a run around when I send them information and they keep reopening cases that I’ve closed just with a new account number. I’ve repeatedly asked for someone higher up with no response. No explanation on how they get their numbers and the amount due changes every single email. My wife, friends , and family all pay the same rate of local income tax and some even work multiple jobs in different counties. I don't understand how this is even legal.Business response
06/29/2023
June 29, 2023
Dear *** *****:
I have received your letter dated June 20, 2023 concerning the above named party. Berkheimer Tax Innovations is a duly appointed local tax collector and the complaint at issue pertains to the collection of local taxes and confidential tax information. The taxpayer is afforded certain rights and remedies, including the right to certain administrative appeals, under Pennsylvania’s Local Tax Enabling Act, Local Tax Collection Law and the Local Taxpayers Bill of Rights that he or she may evoke.However, with that stated, it is Berkheimer’s position to resolve any disputes or complaints from a taxpayer amicably where possible. In this regard, Berkheimer has made additional contact with the taxpayer to address the concerns contained therein.
Sincerely,
Initial Complaint
06/05/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Billing Issues
- Status:
- Answered
This place needs to PAY MY 2020 RETURN. IT IS 2023. They keep coming with excuses and I am tired. This is stealing and nothing else.Business response
06/29/2023
June 29, 2023
Dear *** *****:
I have received your letter dated June 20, 2023 concerning the above named party. Berkheimer Tax Innovations is a duly appointed local tax collector and the complaint at issue pertains to the collection of local taxes and confidential tax information. The taxpayer is afforded certain rights and remedies, including the right to certain administrative appeals, under Pennsylvania’s Local Tax Enabling Act, Local Tax Collection Law and the Local Taxpayers Bill of Rights that he or she may evoke.
However, with that stated, it is Berkheimer’s position to resolve any disputes or complaints from a taxpayer amicably where possible. In this regard, Berkheimer has made additional contact with the taxpayer to address the concerns contained therein.
Sincerely,
Initial Complaint
05/25/2023
- Complaint Type:
- Billing Issues
- Status:
- Answered
Continuous billing for something that has been paid twiceBusiness response
06/13/2023
June 13, 2023
Dear *** *****:
I have received your letter dated June 7, 2023 concerning the above named party.
Berkheimer Tax Innovations is a duly appointed local tax collector and the complaint at issue pertains to the collection of local taxes and confidential tax information. The
taxpayer is afforded certain rights and remedies, including the right to certain administrative appeals, under Pennsylvania’s Local Tax Enabling Act, Local Tax
Collection Law and the Local Taxpayers Bill of Rights that he or she may evoke.However, with that stated, it is Berkheimer’s position to resolve any disputes or complaints from a taxpayer amicably where possible. In this regard, Berkheimer has
made additional contact with the taxpayer to address the concerns contained therein.Sincerely,
Customer response
06/15/2023
[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed as Answered]
Complaint: ********
I am rejecting this response because:
Still haven't received refund
Regards,
***************************Business response
07/19/2023
Hello.
The refund check for $85.50 was cashed on June 26. A copy of the cancelled check was emailed this afternoon to ********, who was the payee.
Thank you.
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Customer Complaints Summary
96 total complaints in the last 3 years.
36 complaints closed in the last 12 months.
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