TaxQuotes Inc. completely botched my tax filing - what can I do?

I'm a tax preparer (not with TaxQuotes) and unfortunately see this kind of situation all too often. You definitely have some options here, so don't panic. First, you need to get copies of everything - what you provided to them and what they actually filed on your behalf. You have a right to a complete copy of your tax return. Request this in writing (email is fine) so you have a paper trail. Since you paid for audit protection, they should be contractually obligated to help fix this issue at no additional cost. Request to speak with a manager or supervisor immediately. Be firm but professional in explaining that they failed to include documentation you provided. For the IRS issue, respond promptly to avoid additional penalties. You can file an amended return (Form 1040-X) to correct the errors. Keep detailed records of all communications with both TaxQuotes Inc. and the IRS moving forward. If TaxQuotes continues to drag their feet, mention that you're considering filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and your state's consumer protection agency. That often gets results quickly.

I had a similar issue with a different tax prep company last year and discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which honestly saved me so much stress. I uploaded all my tax documents and their AI analyzed everything to make sure nothing was missing. It flagged that my preparer had missed reporting some investment income that would have definitely triggered an IRS letter. The thing I liked most is that it double-checks what your preparer did against your actual documents, so you can catch these kinds of mistakes BEFORE they become IRS problems. Their document verification tool is especially useful for making sure all your 1099s and W-2s actually made it onto your return.

Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and it immediately identified what was wrong with my return. Turns out my preparer completely missed a 1099-NEC I had provided them. The tool showed exactly what was reported vs what should have been reported based on my documents. I was able to identify exactly what needed to be fixed on my amended return. Saved me from having to pay my original preparer another $150 to fix their own mistake. Now I can either do the amendment myself or show another preparer exactly what needs fixing. Definitely recommend for anyone in a similar situation!

Anyone else notice how impossible it is to actually speak with someone at the IRS about these issues? After dealing with a similar tax preparer mistake, I spent literally 4 hours on hold with the IRS before giving up. Then I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it changed everything. There's a demo video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c They basically hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you when an actual human picks up. I was super skeptical at first, but when I got a call back with an IRS agent on the line within 2 hours (after previously waiting 4+ hours myself), I was convinced. The agent helped me understand exactly what I needed to do to fix my preparer's mistake and avoid penalties.

I need to eat my words and apologize for being so skeptical about Claimyr. After seeing the responses here, I decided to try it yesterday when I needed to talk to the IRS about a similar preparer error situation. I've tried calling the IRS on my own at least 5 times in the past two weeks and either got the "call volume too high" message or was on hold for so long I had to hang up. With Claimyr, I got a call back in about 90 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. I was honestly shocked. The agent walked me through exactly what I needed to do to fix the errors on my return and even helped me understand how to request abatement of penalties. If you're dealing with tax preparer mistakes like we are, actually getting to speak with the IRS directly makes a huge difference in resolving the situation correctly.

From my experience with TaxQuotes Inc. (I used to work at a competing firm), they have an internal escalation process that most customer service reps won't tell you about. Ask specifically to speak with a "filing review specialist" - this is their internal term for the people who handle serious filing errors. Also, check your contract carefully. Their audit protection usually covers "representation" but not necessarily the cost of fixing their own mistakes. However, if you can prove you provided the documents they failed to include (emails showing attachments, etc.), you have a strong case to demand they fix it for free.

Has anyone tried just filing the amended return on their own? Im in a similar situation with a different company and don't trust them to fix it correctly at this point. Is the 1040-X form pretty straightforward to complete?

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now with a different tax prep service. They missed including my HSA contributions on my return, and now I'm getting notices from the IRS about unreported distributions. One thing I learned is to immediately request a "Practitioner Priority Service" line callback if you have a tax professional involved (even if they messed up). The number is 1-866-860-4259. It's supposed to be faster than the regular taxpayer line, though still not exactly quick. Also, if TaxQuotes Inc. is an enrolled agent or CPA firm, you can file a complaint with the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility if they don't resolve this properly. That usually gets their attention pretty fast when their professional license could be at stake. Document everything - every phone call, email, and delay. If you end up owing penalties because of their error, you may be able to recover those costs from them later if you have good documentation of their negligence.