Santa Barbara Tax Products Group [SBTPG]
reviews and complaints

I notified TPG on [protected] that an error had occurred. At first they said there was no error the funds were received by the bank. After I let them know the bank absolutely DID NOT deposit the funds due to the error (wrong account number) and that I can prove it, the story became we can't do anything until they receive funds from IQ Credit Union. This was 7 days ago and they say everyday that they have not gotten the return, even though IQ has provided a transcript of the return transaction. They do not seem to care at all that this return " can't be found". From talking to several agents it seems like they don't have anyone who investigates these matters diligently. Personally, I find it extremely odd and disconcerting that the IRS and my credit union are able to track these funds but the moment it was returned to TPG there is no ability to track. Also, I would think they have some kind of insurance against these kind of things.

I feel like this is more of an issue between my bank and TPG but its become my problem.

This company is refusing to give me my state refund. I have tried to contact them and there are no humans you are allowed to talk to. I spoke to one via conference call with my accountant and I had all the information from my state taxation and revenue department and the guy representing SBTPG said my state lied and he had no information that they received anything! I can't stop my fed refund from going to them and they are going to confiscate that too! I am scared, they are taking my money and I will never get it back! $15000 gone!

This is concerning tax filing fees online through turbo tax. I literally was informed I would have fees of only $39 but have proof I have fees of about $120 ! This is outrageous and I want my money back asap! This is not common courtesy! Need to speak with a supervisor asap!

I file my taxes with Turbo tax every year and never had to pay to file until this year. Turbo tax wanted $117 to file so I agreed to pay it out of my taxes well I signed into Santa Barbara Tax Payer Group to see if my return has been funded and I look at the fees amount and there is a ton of other fees I am being charged that I didn't give permission to be taken from me. They hide the fees until after you have filed. By the time Turbo tax gets their $117 and Santa Barbra gets their hidden fees I will being paying well over $379 dollars. I have tried to email Santa Barbara about it and they closed my case as soon as they read my email, they never responded to me. There is no way to talk to a live person. I have seen numerous complaints from people in a tax group that I am in about how they have had their tax refund stolen from them by Santa Barbara. They are robbing people and its ridiculous

I as well as the IRS have still not received my refund as of yet and when I spoke to you guys

in November you said you had sent it back to the IRS when I spoke to someone online concerning this, they email me they said they got sent back December 3rd now I'm going into a whole nother taxis and and you guys still have not sent my funds to the IRS and again I'm waiting as well as they are and my refund was sent to you all and October so I've basically been waiting since October to get my money when you guys got yours and this is going on too long now because believe it or not it's almost 2 years and I'm still waiting for taxes from 2020 I just want my money that's it and then when I called before it went straight to a message that said my refund was returned to the IRS when I call that same number today to 021722 it said that my information didn't match what you have on file you shouldn't have any information on file because you were supposed to have sent my tax return back in October when I asked Dan in November when I asked then in December when you guys said you sent it back it is now almost March and they still have not received my funds back from you all to give to me

Filed my federal taxes on 1/23 this year for free on freetaxusa.com. Filed my CA STATE taxes on 1.24 and opted to pay the total f $34.99 filing cost for my state taxes out of my refund.

My state return was approved and deposit intobthe temporary SBTPG Bank account on 2/1/22. It was projected to reach my personal bank within 2 days.

I called CA FTB again on Feb. 8 and they confirmed the deposit was received by SBTPG on Feb.7. Civistia Bank, SBTPG, nor my personal bank has any record of a pending or received deposit.

SBTPG fixes their phone system to not allow taxpayers to get through, only tax professionals so they don't have to explain themselves and why they are prolonging the refund transfers instead of providing a professional service like they advertise.

Apparently there are many customer complaints online that suggests a widespread issue to promote SBTPG profits by holding customer refunds then pretending that they are being rejected by customer's bank so they can send out paper checks instead. This way they are able to attach additional $40-$60 in check printing and processing fees.

On Feb. 14 CA FTB provided me the exact refund ID# deposit confirmation # but SBTPG said they also could not locate those numbers either.

I still have no idea where my refund is!

9/2021 I was told a deposit of 5813.30 was deposited to my card I been calling email spending 6 to 8 hours hold time a week trying to get my money to me this is ridiculous and y’all don’t even try help people get there money y’all hold it hostage till y’all want to release money

My name is Samantha Bradley. I filed my taxes last tax season and still have not received my refund from you all, nor can you be reached. My refund was received by you all October 14th, from the irs. When I call it says my funds have been sent back to the IRS, and then it hangs up, I can't speak to anyone at all.. they said they still have no received them, electronically, not in paper, nothing... You all told me you sent them back In November. Everyone else was paid, and I am trying to get my refund as well, be it that you guys said you can't change the address on refunds. Now, we are into a new tax season and I'm waiting on funds from last year! My email is [protected]@yahoo.com.. I can be reached at [protected].

This place is ridiculous. They will put a hold on your check for NO APPARENT REASON! Then have the AUDACITY to tell you that it takes 3 DAYS to lift the unexplained hold on your money. This bank is a crock of ____ and needs to be SHUT DOWN! Every time I deal with them there's a problem.

Hey, this is Denzelle Tucker
It's been well over 8 months
I still have not received my preparation filing fee's for my service for tax season 2021. You told me you started a investigation (risk assessment) March 2 2021, now it's December 6 2021, I'm well aware of the contract and the agreement, I have one year to resolve the issue, I have reach out to you and a few other outlets trying to fix the matter. You have terminated me from using your bank products which you have every right to do so. If you feel any unethical practice is been use But that still don't negate, my efin and service was active when I was using your bank products and I'm owed my filing fee's for my service that I bought to you. You all got paid for every return I summited and the tax software company did as well, I have not got paid for my service. I have talk to the IRS multiple times and they have let me know that it is a internal issue and they don't have anything to do with it. They are still sending you approve clients that I'm owed a preparation fee for. The latest was October 2021
and you all are still getting your cut off each client.
All my bank information is the same and my address is the same.

Hopefully we can move forward and a fair practice can be demonstrate, I don't have any legal representation, I'm reaching out on the behalf of myself trying to get my funds release.

Thank you.

My check was mailed from them on Sept 14, 2021 and I haven't gotten it yet and it is October 7th. I've been calling them every day and they said they would email me an Indemnity Bond form to fill out and I would have to have a bank notorize it and email it back to them but I haven't received anything from them. And now i can not even get into the call system because it says my social security number is invalid but i can find my account on their website and have screenshots. I have used the chat link, I have put in multiple tickets and so have the agents at TurboTax. So how they can supposedly cancel the check that they mailed out and send me another refund check if i can not get into contact with them anymore. It all seems very suspicious.

I made a mistake and took out the fees out of my federal return. I have provided a clear copy of my passport and keeps getting rejected. I was not notified for 2 weeks there was a fraud hold. I have now submitted and attempted to reach them 5x with no call back. I have filed a BBB complaint, I am filing an FTC complaint and I will sue if I don't get resolution within the next 24 hours.

Sincerely,
Jason Covert

My account number had a extra number so my bank rejected my return so Santa Barbara bank suppose to mail me a check on April 16, 2021 and I haven't gotten it yet which is May 10, 2021 and I've been calling them every day and they say they gone email me a form to fill out and have a bank notorize it and email it back but I haven't received anything from them so that they can supposedly cancel the check that they mailed out and send me another refund check but I have yet to receive it .

I was issued a tax refund check illegally from tpg for $1000 less than the irs sent originally. On the back of the check it says that signing is a validation of their terms and conditions that is avaliable on their website. It is not on the website, and they will not reply to my emails. I have a feeling that endorsing the check means it can't be disputed. I would like to dispute the amount with the irs.

Sbtpg says that they in fact did have my fed refund but forwardc it to a greendot account that i dont recall providing but now i did open a greendot account and emailed it to sbtpg to see if i can get it deposit there but no reply and i have no idea where my refund is feel free to contact me at your most covenient day and time
jose i. Navarro [protected]

I processed my refund through turbo tax online. In March 15 it was scripted and on March 30 it was released to TurboTax. They use Santa Barbara tax group to process their payments to turbo tax. I elected to have my processing fees taken out of my return. These people have my refund. They emailed me asking me to upload the front and back of my drivers license I did that on the 30th of April. Since then TurboTax has told me that I would have my money on Friday morning for sure. Everyday now they said I would receive it the next day. Now they can't get a hold of these people. Hey have several numbers and they all start with a recording. I enter my information and it then notifies me that my account has unusual activity. Then directs me to go to the same website where I uploaded my information. I attempt to enter my info and it gives me an error that my social is not valid to enter. ( because I already uploaded it once) I received emails again stating I need to upload my info. So I'm stuck because they won't release it until I upload and I can't upload again. They don't know here a problem and it's impossible to get a hold of them I'm so irritated by this I need help in telling them I have every right to get my money as all the turbo tax informs me. Here's my info
David A Duran
15320 Pinion Dr
Reno, NV 89521
[protected]

Return amount $39, 588
Filled Single
Last four of social 3434
DOB 04/05/1969

I agreed and paid the tax preparer in full for preparing my 2019 taxes and did not want my return to be transmitted through your bank. However, I see my refund went through your bank and I'm now short of $1383. I need that money back in my account ASAP because I already settled with the preparer and paid the preparation fee in full upfront.
Pls call me at [protected] for additional detail you need to investigate and settle the issue.
My name is Shella Mensah.

I filed my tax return through this company mid February 2020. After submitting my return electronically I was asked to provide my government I.D. which I did and thereafter my filing was accepted. The IRS send my return on February 20th to Green Dot which is an entity afiliated with Santa Barbara Tax Group, afiliated with Turbo Tax. They intern were suppose to collect their processing fee and forward my refund to my bank account via direct deposit. When I checked with them, they put a hold on my account stating that there is suspecious activity and requested I email them copy of my government I.D. again. I did this a week from today 03/05/2020. I called and spoke to one of their reps and was told that it took a week to resolve this matter but I haven't heard back. I called today but they have an automated answering system that keeps you on hold for a length of time then disconnects the call. This is the first time that I filed my return online using this company and my last, nor would I recommend it to anyone. The service is horrible and their online system is the same, you simply don't know what is going on with your money.

I was told by Turbo Tax to contact this company, when I do they are telling me that my ssn listed on my tax return is not valid. I can not get through to reach a real person because their system disconnects the call after you have waited so long. They have my tax refund and won't send it to me! I am requesting that my refund be credited to my account immediately!

They supposedly sent my refund to my bank, and my bank said they dont have anything from them. WILL NOT USE TURBO TAX EVER AGAIN SINCE THEY USE THIS BANK