Tax preparer refusing to give me my refund check until I provide new copies of children's SS cards - is this legal?

I went to a tax preparation service in April to file my 2023 taxes as a single parent with 2 dependents. They completed everything and my refund was approved for about $6,400. The check was sent to their office (I now realize this was my first mistake). When I went to pick it up yesterday, they refused to give me MY CHECK claiming they need 'clearer' copies of my kids' social security cards. The thing is, I already provided copies when I initially filed! They're saying the copies I gave them are 'too blurry' and now they want brand new ones. I've had to order new cards which will take 2-3 weeks to arrive. Can they legally hold MY refund check hostage like this? I'm beyond angry - that money was going to pay for summer childcare and some overdue bills. What are my options here?

0 coins

55 comments

Eli Butler

Tax professional here. What they're doing is absolutely NOT legal. The refund check is YOUR money, not theirs. They have no legal right to withhold it regardless of what documentation they claim to need after the fact. The fact that they had your refund sent to their office is concerning, but not uncommon for some preparers. You have several options: 1. Inform them in writing that they are illegally withholding your property and you will report them to the IRS if not resolved immediately 2. Contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 to report this issue 3. File a complaint with your state's attorney general office 4. If they're an Enrolled Agent, CPA, or other licensed professional, file a complaint with their licensing board Don't wait for the new cards - demand your check immediately. They already filed your taxes with the information they had, so this request makes zero sense.

0 coins

- 28d

Alice Coleman

This is exactly why I started using taxr.ai to understand my tax situation. It helps you understand everything about your transcript, notices, and basically any tax document. I was in a similar situation where a tax preparer was trying to chrage me extra fees for "verification services" after they already had my docs. Instead of fighting them, I switched to doing it myself with taxr.ai guiding me through it all. The tool explained everything about my transcript so I could file properly myself. No more dealing with sketchy tax preparers holding my money hostage! https://taxr.ai

0 coins

- 27d

Jackson Carter

I was in the exact same situation last year! After fighting with my tax preparer for weeks over my $4,800 refund, I finally found a way to get actual help. I used the Claimyr app and got connected to a real IRS agent in like 20 minutes who told me exactly what to do. They issued me a new check directly to me and told me the tax preparer was acting illegally. It was the best money I've ever spent just to finally get my questions answered directly from the IRS instead of listening to the tax preparer's lies. The agent even filed a report against the tax office. Check out claimyr.com - talking to a real agent was the only thing that resolved my situation.

0 coins

- 27d

Arjun Patel

I'm an attorney and this is 100% illegal. Your tax refund is your property. At this point, they're essentially stealing from you. Document everything, including dates/times of conversations. Send them a formal demand letter via certified mail giving them 48 hours to release your check. If they don't comply, contact your local police department about theft of property, file complaints with the IRS, FTC, and your state's attorney general. If they're a franchise, contact corporate as well.

0 coins

- 25d