Suspicious Tax Preparer Potentially Stealing Refund Money - Red Flags and What to Do

I recently had a tax preparer situation that's got me worried. Based on a coworker's recommendation, I used a new tax preparer this year for both my 2022 amended return and my 2023 filing. Now I suspect she might have pocketed some of my refund money. Here's what happened: I submitted all my documentation to her back in February, and she prepared both returns. The major red flag was that she absolutely refused to provide me with copies of either return after I paid her for the service. I've never had this happen before with any preparer - they've always given me copies of everything they filed. Due to IRS delays this year, I didn't receive my refund until late July. I was expecting around $5,800 for my 2023 return, but only received a deposit of $1,750. I did get a notice from the IRS stating that $2,500 from my 2023 refund was applied to my 2022 tax debt (which makes sense since I did owe that amount, and my 2022 amended return hasn't been processed yet). But even with that $2,500 deduction, I should have received approximately $3,300 for 2023, not just $1,750. That's about $1,550 missing! I've tried calling the IRS multiple times but can't get through to a human. I've asked the preparer repeatedly for copies of what she filed, but she either ignores my messages or flat-out refuses to provide them. I'm starting to think she might have added a second bank account to my return and diverted the missing money there. I've completed IRS Form 14157 (Return Preparer Complaint) and will mail it tomorrow, but I'm wondering what else I can do to resolve this situation and possibly recover my missing refund money.

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20 comments

Scarlett Forster

•8M

This definitely raises some serious concerns. Not providing copies of your tax returns is a major red flag - it's actually your legal right to receive copies of your own tax filings. Tax preparers are required to provide this upon request. Here's what I recommend you do immediately: Request your tax transcripts directly from the IRS at IRS.gov/transcripts - this will show exactly what was filed, refund amounts, and where the money was directed. This will help you determine if your suspicions about a diverted refund are correct. In addition to the Form 14157 you're submitting, you should also file Form 14157-A (Tax Return Preparer Fraud or Misconduct Affidavit) which specifically addresses potential fraud by preparers. Consider filing a complaint with your state's board of accountancy or tax preparer oversight board if your preparer is licensed/registered. Document everything - save all communication attempts, record dates of calls/texts/emails where you requested your returns, and keep copies of any partial documentation you might have.

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Sayid Hassan

•8M

I went through something similar last year and discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) after struggling to figure out what happened to my refund. It was seriously a game-changer when dealing with my shady tax preparer situation. I uploaded my tax documents and IRS notices, and their AI analysis showed exactly where my refund money went and how my tax preparer had altered my filing information. The system highlighted discrepancies between what I provided and what was actually filed - including a suspicious routing number that wasn't mine! They gave me a detailed report that I could take to the IRS as evidence. Their document verification feature is specifically designed to catch exactly these kinds of tax preparer shenanigans.

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Sayid Hassan

•8M

It doesn't connect directly to the IRS system - you upload the documents you have (like IRS notices, any partial returns you received, W-2s, 1099s) along with your tax transcript once you get it. The system then analyzes everything to find discrepancies and unusual patterns that might indicate fraud. What makes it different from just getting a transcript is that it does a comprehensive analysis comparing what you submitted against what was actually filed. It specifically looks for things like unauthorized bank accounts, inflated preparation fees, manipulated numbers, and other common fraud tactics that the average person might miss when reviewing complex tax documents. It's basically like having a tax fraud specialist analyze everything without having to pay hundreds per hour.

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Derek Olson

•8M

Just wanted to follow up here. I was skeptical about taxr.ai but decided to try it after spending weeks trying to figure out what happened with my return. I'm honestly shocked at how helpful it was. After uploading my W-2s, bank statements and the transcript I finally got from the IRS, it identified that my preparer had inflated some deductions and added a "preparation fee" that was never disclosed to me. The analysis pinpointed exactly where the discrepancies were and gave me a detailed report that made it super clear what happened. I was able to include this with my complaint to the IRS and they're actually investigating my case now. For anyone dealing with potentially fraudulent tax prep, this tool is definitely worth checking out.

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Danielle Mays

•8M

If you're struggling to reach someone at the IRS (which is frustratingly common), you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation with a questionable tax preparer last year and needed to speak to an actual IRS agent. After weeks of trying on my own and always getting automated systems, I was about to give up. Their service basically holds your place in the IRS phone queue and calls you back when an actual human agent is about to answer. Saved me literally hours of waiting on hold. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Getting through to a real IRS agent was critical in my case because they were able to access my full file and tell me exactly what happened with my return, including confirming that my preparer had added an unauthorized account. The agent even helped me start the process to get my missing refund money back.

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Danielle Mays

•8M

It doesn't actually skip the queue - that would be impossible. It uses an automated system that continuously redials and navigates the IRS phone tree until it successfully gets in the queue. Then it holds your place and calls you right when an agent picks up. You still "wait" the same amount of time, but you don't have to be the one sitting on hold for hours. The reason everyone doesn't use it is simply because many people don't know about it. The IRS phone system is absolutely overwhelmed, especially during tax season, but that doesn't mean there aren't ways to work with it more efficiently. I was skeptical too until I tried it - ended up getting through to an agent after their system worked on it for about 45 minutes, which was far better than my previous attempts that went nowhere.

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Anna Kerber

•8M

I have to eat my words here. After posting my skeptical comment, I was desperate enough to try Claimyr for my identity theft case with the IRS. I'm genuinely shocked - it actually worked. After months of failing to get through, I was connected to an IRS agent yesterday. The system called me back after about an hour and suddenly I was talking to a real person at the IRS. The agent was able to see that someone had indeed filed a fraudulent return using my information, and she helped me complete an identity theft affidavit right over the phone. She also gave me a direct case number and told me exactly what documents I needed to submit. For anyone dealing with potential tax preparer fraud like the original poster, being able to actually speak with an IRS representative is crucial. They can tell you exactly what was filed on your behalf and where your refund was sent.

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Niko Ramsey

•8M

Besides the IRS Form 14157 you're submitting, you should also file a complaint with your state's consumer protection agency and possibly the state board that regulates tax preparers (if your state has one). Many tax preparers are bound by state regulations too. You might also want to check if this preparer is actually registered with the IRS. All legitimate tax preparers must have a PTIN (Preparer Tax Identification Number). Ask if she has one, and if she refuses to provide it, that's another red flag.

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Niko Ramsey

•8M

Unfortunately, there isn't a public database where you can verify PTINs - this is something the IRS should implement but hasn't yet. However, legitimate tax preparers will usually display their PTIN on your tax return and willingly provide it when asked. What you can do instead is check if they're part of any professional organizations like the National Association of Tax Professionals or the American Institute of CPAs. These organizations have directories of their members. Also, if they claim to be an Enrolled Agent, you can verify this through the IRS by calling the Office of Enrollment at 1-855-472-5540.

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Dmitry Volkov

•2M

This is a really serious situation and I'm sorry you're dealing with this. The fact that she's refusing to give you copies of your own tax returns is absolutely unacceptable and highly suspicious - that's literally YOUR property that you paid for. Beyond the excellent advice already given about getting your tax transcripts and filing Form 14157-A, I'd strongly recommend documenting everything in writing. Create a timeline of all your interactions, save screenshots of any texts or emails where she refused to provide your returns, and keep records of all payments you made to her. You should also consider filing a police report for potential theft/fraud. If she did divert your refund money to another account, that's criminal behavior, not just a civil matter. Having a police report number can also strengthen your case with the IRS. One more thing - check your credit reports immediately. If she has access to your personal information and is willing to steal refund money, she might be using your identity for other fraudulent activities. You can get free credit reports from annualcreditreport.com. Don't let this slide - tax preparer fraud is unfortunately becoming more common, and the only way to stop these people is to pursue every available avenue to hold them accountable.

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Lucas Adams

•2M

This is really solid advice, especially about filing a police report. I never would have thought of that, but you're absolutely right - if someone diverted refund money to an unauthorized account, that's theft plain and simple. The credit report check is also brilliant. If she's willing to steal tax refund money, who knows what else she might be doing with people's personal information. Better to be safe and monitor everything closely. One question though - when you file a police report for something like this, do you need concrete proof first, or can you file it based on suspicious circumstances? I'm asking because I might be in a similar situation with a different preparer who's been really sketchy about providing documentation.

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