Santa Barbara Tax Products Group Avis 

I would give them a negative star if I could. Zero Service. Their promotion indicates that they will collect your refund immediately, but they don’t talk about making a payment if you owe money. There’s nothing on their website that shows a phone number to call for information. So I sent an email to their customer service line. No answer. two emails. no answer. three emails. no answer. in the end. I paid the taxes myself because I was worried that I would not get them in on time. As it turns out they also took out the payment. Now Virginia has double of my payments. It will take me two months to get that money back. Horrible company. Do not use them.

Wouldn't even rate 1 star if possible. Filed my refund with a 3rd party certified preparer. Turns out the preparer fraudulently changed my direct deposit to where my refund was going and had SBTPG disperse checks instead. Tax preparer then cashes checks at some bank that isn't even in my state. I then go to SBTPG and file a claim, turns out this is common? SBTPG then has me jump through a bunch of hula hoops having me go to a police department and file a report which i was already going to do. Had me sign affadavit that it wasn't me and write a statement that it was fraud. Did everything they asked, they then reached out to the bank that cashed said refund checks and apparently never got a response from them and dropped my case! Absolutely no help from this company and if you ask me were in on the entire scheme. Already filed complaints with BBB and my city's police department. This company is ridiculous and in no way shape or form should be in direct relation to the IRS!

My experience with FreeTaxUSA and Santa Barbara Tax Products Group (SBTPG) was financially devastating and one of the worst customer service experiences I have ever dealt with.

I chose the option to have my filing fees deducted from my tax refund, which meant SBTPG handled the processing and disbursement of my refund. What should have been a simple transaction turned into months of stress, confusion, and financial damage due to mishandling of my funds and a complete lack of accountability.

SBTPG claimed they mailed a cashier’s check that was later returned as “undeliverable,” despite my address being accurate on file. From that point forward, I was trapped in an endless cycle of generic responses, conflicting information, and delays with no real resolution. I spent countless hours trying to get answers from SBTPG, FreeTaxUSA, and even the IRS, only to be passed around with nobody taking responsibility.

The delay in receiving my tax refund created severe financial hardship for me and my family. During the time my funds were being withheld and unresolved, I fell behind on critical financial obligations. As a result, multiple accounts went into collections, my credit score suffered substantial damage, and the financial instability ultimately contributed to me losing my home. The emotional and financial toll this caused cannot be overstated.

What is most concerning is the lack of urgency and transparency throughout the entire process. There was no reliable tracking system, no meaningful escalation process, and no empathy for the real-world consequences their errors and delays created. Consumers should understand that when using the “pay with refund” option through FreeTaxUSA, you are placing your refund into the hands of a third-party processor that appears completely unequipped to handle serious issues when they arise.

I would strongly advise anyone considering FreeTaxUSA or SBTPG to avoid using refund transfer/payment processing services entirely. A small convenience upfront is simply not worth the risk of delayed funds, damaged credit, collections activity, and the possibility of life-altering financial consequences if something goes wrong.

This place is horrendous. I've always took my taxes to someone to do last year.I did him on turbotax had my taxes back ahead of schedule into my account. Because I have my money sent to chime. So I'm supposed to get my money 2 days early. So on 516 2026. My tax refund was approved and said, be in my bank account by May 20th. Yes, I know. It's 1 day early because it's May 9th nineteenth. Still haven't received my taxes. I've been logging into the their website for Santa Barbara bank. Or whatever? It's called here, and it keeps telling me. And fund it. So I called them and figure out how to get through by the mercy of God and they told me that the funds are planning to be released to my account tomorrow which is May 20th. And like I told the lady that I talked to at the I.R.S.When you check, where's my refund?It says by may twentieth keyword, by. It took me a little bit longer because I had to do a identification verification over the phone with them. So I've been waiting on these funds for ever. And now I have this bank that has to take out a $164 for me. Filing my taxes and wait for them to decide when they're gonna put it in my account. Which is c***?If you have the check in the money, give us our check.And our money as well, there's no reason for you to hold on to our funds.

Still no tax return and still couldn't get in touch with anyone when I called I will try again

I read the reviews on this group, and I was very skeptical with respect to my refund.

These folks did exactly what was specified in the Turbotax communications. I had good funds sitting in my account the day after IRS gave notice of refund payment.

That said, I am very unhappy with Turbotax in their handling of efilings.

I have received no consideration at all for writing this review..

The guy apparently charged me 3,200 to file my taxes??? Ill never use the guys again I needed that money this is criminal now I have to wait until next year to file with someone else to receive something.

I did my taxes through TurboTax and this company sent me my taxes like who nobody told me that this company was a part of TurboTax and then they put the money in the bank and didn’t tell me nothing about it to a month and a half later I found out my money was deposit with no warning no nothing I would never ever use TurboTax again

Complete ripoff with turbotax's complicity...couldn't eliminate $40 fee even by going back and choosing none options.

Customer service that answers phone after 3.5 hour hold twice 2 different people couldn't give me any answers both were very rude I asked to talk to supervisor was told "no I'm not transferring you to anyone" by one lady and the other one said she was the supervisor witch supervisors don't answer phones so that was a lie both times I got hung up on waisted 8 hours of my day and got no where and no answers

Biggest SCAM THERE IS! charged me $1500 that I never agreed to in filing fees. LAWSUIT COMING!

After two months of them saying they mailed me my check (with zero proof bc they don’t track mail they send) they now are sending it back to the IRS which will take another 3 months. Once they get their money they could care less about the customer. Don’t use tax services who use them as a vendor.

My tax advisor gave me an invoice for one amount. And got charged 620. When it was supposed to be 179.50. Taxquisite advisors. Not help full takes your money. After was told there was a discount.

If I could put 0 stars i would & if this us turbo taxes go to now then look somewhere else not worth the hassle.

Called to get some answers and all I got were offers of new equipment. No way to communicate with a human agent. I will never use this outfit again, and probably will end my run with Turbo Tax, wlch also seems to have gone into the grab-what-you can mode despite noticeably better software this year

If I could give it zero stars I would. They played in our faces bad this year with taxes. Let be real, we ALL have bank accounts now, we ONLY used the credit karma card because it said we could get it 5 days early. They are holding our money until the day of that is listed on our where’s my refund page. They are blaming the irs saying they didn’t send the info early but we ALL KNOW THEY ARE LYING BECAUSE LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE OTHER BANK IS RELEASING THEM EARLY. They have lost thousands of customers over this. I will NEVER use them again for my taxes and I have seen thousands and thousands of other people saying that in comments on Facebook and Reddit too.

Terrible "service" . No clear answers. Claim my bank denied a deposit that my bank doesn't confirm. Sent 2 checks and cannot tell me anything other than that. One check received and the larger one just..missing? Didn't even use them for my refund I'm not sure why I'm dealing with them at all. Absolutely disgusted with their customer service and whatever they apparently do here. Will never use them or freetaxusa ever again and will advocate for others to never do so. Terrible, terrible company.

Took $100 of refund for taxes and fees. This company is ridiculous.

Horrible service run by thieves that work there. Shame on you all

Supposed to have a DDD on the 27th to my bank for my state return. They have had my money since the 27th and have NOT sent it as of yet. Absolutely disgusting to hold someone's money AFTER fees have already been taken out of the federal return. State even confirmed refund has been issued. Absolutely horrible. Never had this issue before and I will more than likely NOT be using them again next tax season. This is absolutely unacceptable!