ComplaintsforLeshnak Financial Group LLC

• Initial Complaint

  04/09/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We contacted Leshnak to perform our 2023 tax return. We submitted all of requested documents into their portal in February. We had to check on the status multiple times. The preparer told us in March we could not itemize our return. They then sent us an email stating our return was finalized and it was mailed out (last year we signed in person and reviewed). Once we received our return we noticed we owed around $1800 to the Federal Government. We requested a time to meet to discuss. During the waiting period we had someone else review our taxes, and they found some errors or Leshnak's part. We brought that to their attention and Mr. Leshnak demanded we tell him who the other person was. He became extremely rude and combative, making us feel very uncomfortable. We gave Leshnak a second opportunity to resolve the issues and he canceled the meeting. At that time, we didn’t trust their abilities to prepare these time sensitive documents accurately. We decided to use the other firm. We informed Leahnack that we would not be doing business with them, he stated we would not have to pay the fees if we informed him of who did our taxes. We don’t believe he needs that information. Leshnak was unable to provide the services, in an acceptable time frame. We don’t believe that we owe them the entire amount and Leshnak is unwilling to cooperate, amicably. We need the BBB to help resolve this issue. Thank you!!

  Business response

  04/13/2024

  April 13, 2024
  
  
  Better Business Bureau
  1 E. 4th Street, Suite 600
  Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
  
  Uploaded to BBB Portal **********************************
  RE: Complaint ID ******** from ****** *****
  
  BBB Complaint Team-
  
  The complainant client was upset at the result of their tax preparation for the 2023 tax year. The tax
  return was prepared by a CPA with 30 years’ experience and thousands of tax returns completed
  during this span. Unfortunate as it is with a complaint such as this, our firm cannot release specific
  personal information or personal communication about or with our client as we are bound by
  confidentiality.
  
  However, I will address in a general manner without specifics each accusatory issue now being made
  public by this client. We strive to get returns completed in a timely manner, and depending on what
  part of tax season we are in, that could mean as quick as a week, or more generally, two weeks or
  longer; however, if a client does not initially have all the necessary documentation and information
  when we receive it, the process may take a little longer as we need to request additional information
  and await client responses. This client did not provide information relating to specific deductions and
  credits that were present on the prior year’s return, which was prepared by our office, so the
  preparer reached out for more information. This client’s original tax information was received at our
  office on 2/23/24 and the completed return was mailed on 3/20/24.
  
  Our policy with new clients, as this client was for the 2022 tax year, is to personally review the
  completed tax return with me, as principal of the firm, so the client better understands how the tax
  return flows and quite possibly question the input data. Once a recurring client, our policy is to send
  the completed tax return to the client for review, preceded by an email notifying the client the tracked
  USPS package containing the completed return is in the mail, along with an offer to then schedule a
  review meeting with me personally.
  
  This client as well as many others during the tax season called to schedule an appointment to discuss
  the completed tax return together. During this **** review meeting I pointed out to them specific
  items of increased income coupled with decreased withholdings in the current year that alone stand
  out as a probable reason a taxpayer could go from a refund in a prior year to possibly owing tax in the
  current year. As an Enrolled Agent and a tax preparer for more than 20 years this is often obvious to
  the preparer but not to the client and needs to be highlighted during a review.
  
  However, we did agree together during our meeting that a certain itemized deduction was not
  included with their original information and therefore not on the return as prepared, but that
  information was provided in the prior year. I did point out very specifically that this itemized
  deduction, if included, would have to be quite large to make a difference on the return. We agreed this
  information would be forthcoming from the client to our preparer; subsequently the second meeting
  with the client was postponed as we did not receive the necessary documentation for the itemized
  deduction to be included.
  
  The client’s BBB complaint alleges publicly “we had someone else review our taxes, and they found
  some errors” and “Mr. Leshnak demanded we tell him who the other person was”, and further, “He
  became extremely rude and combative, making us feel very uncomfortable”. I believe these
  statements are demonstrably false and added for sensational effect within this complaint forum as
  written communication with the client would reveal if made public.
  
  Our firm is saddened and stunned by this client complaint to the Better Business Bureau as we have
  had no such grievance on this forum during our more than 20-year history of preparing tax returns at
  Leshnak Tax Preparation, LLC. During our meeting to review this client’s tax return this client did not
  inform me what data or rationale was used to go from a balance due to a refund when questioned as
  we would readily have taken that information into account and possibly modified the return based on
  the new data or rationale. It is of no use to our firm to know the identity of the other preparer that the
  client may have consulted with, but rather what is the rationale or data in determining the change in
  the client’s tax position. Our goal when preparing a client income tax return is for all our clients to pay
  the least amount of tax legally possible.
  
  Bottom line. Our policy is that whether a client ultimately has our firm e-file their completed return or
  not, the fee for time and preparation work remains due and payable. However, our policy has also
  always been that if a client has an unfortunate material omission or mistake on our part after
  completion and review of the tax return, we provide a 100% discount of the current tax year fee.
  These policies were communicated to this client.
  
  Cordially Yours,
  Robert M. Leshnak, Jr.
  Managing Member, Leshnak Tax Preparation, LLC

  Customer response

  04/15/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, reasons for rejection are included below.
  
  Per Mr. Leshnack’s response, he stated he would issue a full refund if we provided a receipt showing where we got a refund. Attached is the supporting document. We have redacted our personal information and the total amount we are receiving, it’s superfluous information that Mr. Leshnack is not privy to. Mr. Leshnack’s firm stated we would be owing, they failed to attend meetings, and provide any supporting information to support. We appreciate the BBB assisting us with this matter. We would like to close this case with a written document stating Mr. Leshnack is honoring his word. We wish to sever all ties with the Leshnack group, and that any of our private and personal information be returned to us in a timely fashion. 

  
  
  

  Business response

  04/23/2024

  April 22, 2024
  
  
  
  Better Business Bureau
  1 E. 4th Street, Suite 600
  Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
  
  Uploaded to BBB Portal **********************************
  RE: Complaint ID ******** from ****** *****
  
  
  BBB Complaint Team-
  
  The complainant client responded to my last letter stating “he (Robert Leshnak) would issue a refund
  if we provided a receipt showing where we got a (tax) refund”. This is incorrect in two ways; first, as
  stated in the prior letter “our policy has also always been that if a client has an unfortunate material
  omission or mistake on our part after completion and review of the tax return, we provide a 100%
  discount of the current tax year fee”. There was no payment for services by this client for tax year
  2023 so there would be no refund to this client. Second, I did not request as the complainant client
  alleges “a receipt showing where we got a (tax) refund” but rather what was the rationale or new data
  in determining the change in the client’s tax position.
  
  The complainant provided an excerpt page from ***** *** software revealing the taxpayers are now
  receiving a tax refund without any rationale or new data to explain their change in tax position.
  However, the ***** *** page posted on this forum is informative as it also shows the taxpayer is
  required to mail Form ****, plus Form **** for non-cash charitable contributions along with an
  Appraisal Summary within 3 days of e-filing the tax return. This is revealing as the required mailing of
  these forms likely indicates the taxpayers decided to deduct a large non-cash charitable
  contribution(s). An Appraisal Summary is required for each non-cash charitable contribution valued
  at over $5,000 and needs to be completed by a qualified appraiser.
  
  Our firm did not receive documentation of any non-cash charitable contributions, especially one of
  this magnitude, and thus did not omit this information when preparing the income tax return, nor
  were we notified of it upon review. The rules for large non-cash charitable contributions have
  changed for tax year 2023 requiring additional documentation and substantiation and as such this
  would likely have been a topic of discussion before completion of any income tax return we prepare.
  
  The complainant’s final income tax return is between the taxpayer and the Internal Revenue Service
  as we did not e-file for this client at their request. Consequently, we make no judgement as to the
  validity of any large non-cash charitable contribution(s) the taxpayers may have included with their
  2023 income tax return as filed. However, to accuse the original tax preparer publicly of committing
  errors or omissions, while offering no proof, and not paying for the tax preparation apparently
  because it produced an amount due and not a refund is disingenuous based on what has been
  presented.
  
  Original tax documents are always returned to our clients in the back of the prepared income tax
  return. Our firm retains no original tax records of our clients. There will be no further communication
  with this client on the BBB forum by our firm.
  
  We would like to thank the BBB for hosting this open forum for businesses and customers to
  communicate openly, sincerely, and chivalrously.
  
  Cordially Yours,
  Robert M. Leshnak, Jr.
  Managing Member, Leshnak Tax Preparation, LLC
  
  

  Customer response

  04/24/2024

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, reasons for rejection are included below.
  

   

  Mr. Leshnak is failing to fulfill his prior commitments, and was unable to adequately address them. Mr. Leshnak boasts 30 years of experience, I don’t have a financial degree and I was easily able to spot their errors. They failed to meet deadlines, they failed to show up for appointments. He was unwilling to resolve issues amicably. 
  

  We thank the BBB for mediating this, but it seems it is going to remain unresolved. We ask that Mr. Leshnak and all members of his firm stop bullying and harassing our family via phone, emails and social media. If he is unable to meet these requests, we will be forced to involve the authorities. 

   

  
  Regards,
  
  ****** *****

   

   

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