HELP - Possible tax fraud?? what do should I do?

Question

I had a so-called friend offer to do my taxes this year (he has done some of my friends in prior years and I have known him for 8 years so i figured I could trust him). I have a child so I got a rebate this year of $1581 according to IRS website. Well this jerk had my refund e-deposited into his own account and only given me part of it in cash and now is avoiding my phone calls and won't send me the rest of my money. He also moved so I don't even know where he lives anymore so I could knock on his door and demand MY money. My friends have all gotten theirs back in full so I don't know why he's trying to keep mine. I am a single mother and i need that money now more than ever. My stimulus check is supposedly coming to my home address so I don't know why he didn't have my whole rebate sent to my house. WHAT SHOULD I DO AND HOW? please

Answer 1

How much of it did he keep?  It sounds like maybe he held out your tax prep fees - that would be legal assuming that you agreed to it.  Did you pay him separately for your fees?

In any case, he should have had you sign a form that he had to send in authorizing your return to be efiled.

Something doesn't sound right here - contact the IRS.

The $1581 is your reFUND, by the way, not your reBATE - use the tem refund when talking to the IRS or you'll confuse things.

Good luck.

Answer 2

did you sign anything agreeing to have your previous tax payments deposited into his account? did you sign anything giving him legal authority to handle your taxes?

This commonly occurs when you do your taxes with Tax Cut, TurboTax, or other software programs or entities and get your loan back in days. When you agree to do this, wanting to get your loan back in days and direct deposited into your account, you're actually agreeing to have your tax payment deposited into SA Trust bank - or some similar named banking entity- when the IRS pays it. Kind of like an anticipation loan. The bank, upon reception of the IRS's acceptance of your tax report, gives you the money (minus the fees). SA Trust is the bank that has contracted with Turbo Tax and Tax Cut to process the financial aspect of their users.

anyway, if you suspect you've been a victim of fraud, of COURSE you should report this to the local authorities. They may direct you to the IRS. Go to their website and check to see if you're check has been mailed yet. Then contact someone.

Answer 3

He put his routing number on the tax return.  This is criminal.  Call the POLICE NOW!!!!!