SAN ANTONIO – Julio Sandoval chose a small, newly opened business to prepare his taxes this year.
But so far, he's only received frustration in return.
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"I decided, hey, I'll give a small business guy a chance. But I come down here and it's a ghost town," said Sandoval, standing outside the business waiting for any employee to arrive.
For weeks now, he says the company's doors have been locked and no one answers the telephone number posted on the door.
The call rings until a recording begins that says callers cannot leave a message.
Sandoval says the owner of the business told him his tax refund would be ready by now. In the meantime, he received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service asking for more information to properly file his return.
He has been trying to contact the tax prep company to resolve the issue.
Sabrina Gallegos received a similar letter. She, too, went to the same tax preparer and says for weeks she has been unable to reach the owner over the phone and that no one is at the office.
Gallegos says she has only been able to reach the owner of the company via text message.
"We all worked so hard to come through this year to be happy, and just for us to get stranded like this because of her," she trailed off, shaking her head.
Without any answers, both these customers are left wondering if their taxes have been filed properly and if they'll receive their refunds.
An IRS spokesman told KSAT 12 News they cannot confirm or deny whether any tax preparation company is under investigation or whether complaints have been filed against it.
The IRS recommends that customers contact the IRS directly if ever they feel their return has been jeopardized.
Before choosing a tax preparer, the IRS recommends you follow these ten tips.
You can also report any suspected tax fraud activity to the IRS here.
KSAT 12 News chose not to name the disputed tax prep company, but we will be following this story to find out if those customers receive their refunds.
The owner of the company - who did not agree to an interview - said she is responding to all of her customers, but admits she took on too many returns this year.
For a list of recent stories Myra Arthur has done, click here.