Due to lack of following IRS deadlines, improper use of our Power of Attorney, and not doing anything, this company did not represent us in the manner that they advertised. Took our case to binding arbitration with the Better Business Bureau of NE Florida and on August 2, 2012, after reviewing the case and interviewing parties concerned, the arbitrator found the company "did not communicate with the consumer regarding the status of the case in a reasonable and commercially acceptable manner", " did not supply consumer with a signed contract", "did not demonstrate any good faith effort to provide tax relief services" and ordered UTR to refund $4, 665.83 within 30 days. As of Sept. 6, 2012, this company has not complied with this binding arbitration order. Zach M. Pafford VP, Greg Cosma, Jonathan Langley, Michael Crenshaw and Naydali Maldonado Hurst are probably continuing to do business in this ineffective and unfair manner on a daily basis.
These resources may help taxpayers faced with an unscrupulous "tax relief" company :
1) Contact the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and file a complaint. They oversee, and can sanction, Attorneys, CPAs, Enrolled Agents, Registered Tax Return Preparers (RTRP) and others: http://1.usa.gov/18tXSWN
2) Use IRS Form 14157 to file a written complaint against your tax return preparer: http://1.usa.gov/Qm1rSC
In all cases, always search the Web in the name of the person AND company you're thinking about hiring. Websites (such as this one) provide invaluable feedback to taxpayers and expose those organizations that don't have their client's best interest in mind. Good luck.
Michael Raanan, MBA, EA
Former IRS Officer
President
www.LandmarkTaxGroup.com