Liberty Tax Service

I'd been going to Liberty Tax for over ten years, but I’m really disappointed with my recent experience. This year, I was initially quoted a price of $426, even when I specifically asked if the cost might vary if my tax return was more complicated this year (due to freelance work and brokerage accounts). No mention was made if the cost might change due to possible complexity of prep. On the night of April 15, when the work was completed, I was told the final bill would be $778. There was no prior notice that the price might increase. Despite having confirmed the $426 price upfront, I was told that additional complexity, which we had already discussed, was the reason for the increase. I explained that my issue wasn’t with the complexity of my return but with the fact that there was no prior notice that the price might change. The tax preparer didn’t seem to understand this and continued to focus on the complexity as the cause of the price increase. Emails and texts about this issue went unanswered until 11:30pm of April 15, when they let me know they were canceling my tax preparation and that they filed an extension, which I'd already done by that point. An email about this issue later to the franchise owner was ignored (edited to add that I received a reply on 4/18). They did respond to my email about when I could pick up the tax documents I provided for the canceled filing. Under California's SB 478, businesses are required to disclose the full cost of services upfront. Changing the price after the work was completed, without transparent communication, felt like a breach of that standard. I don't think they meant to do this intentionally, but as a business they should be aware of the need to let clients know about possible changing costs ahead of time, and of the law related to this, rather than letting me know when they were done doing my taxes, on the night of April 15. I’ll be looking for other tax preparation services moving forward and filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and the tax board. UPDATE: I was just contacted after posting this review that the franchise owner missed my email and offered to instead charge $578. I'd already contacted 7 On Your Side. I'm eager to put this behind me and just want them to be held accountable and/or acknowledge their mistake, and will decide next steps. The tax process is already a stressful and fraught situation, and this whole experience has made it ten times worse. SECOND UPDATE: The owner, having likely read my review here and on Yelp, has suggested I now go somewhere else.

Jon and Ana are the best, hands down. Several years of wonderful tax help for both me and my daughter have earned our unwavering loyalty. Bravo!

Feel free to visit in office all staff nice ashu man so good and good behavior of talking happy to visit there and want to tax my filing from there thanks ashu mam

Liberty tax is the way to Go ! Been dealing with them for almost 10 years John is the man , deal with him easy & fast he gets you in & out withing mins .

After working with Jon K. Van Wormer for the past several years to file my returns, I will never go back to awful online tax preparation systems. Liberty Tax is fantastic with reasonable rates, and Jon is incredibly knowledgeable, responsive, and professional. Taxes don't have to be torture if you get help from real human experts.