WSVN — It’s tax time, and for the second year in a row, questions are being raised about a South Florida tax preparation company. Investigative reporter Carmel Cafiero is on the case.
Carmel Cafiero: “Mr. Boursiquot?”
State records show Jean-Philippe Boursiquot is the CEO of B&C Royalty Multi-Services.
Carmel Cafiero: “Why won’t you talk to us?”
But some of his customers had lots to say to 7News about Boursiquot’s business.
Anthony Beal: “And it sounded good to me.”
Anthony Beal says, on a friend’s recommendation, he went to B&C’s Oakland Park office to get his taxes done.
Anthony Beal: “And they gave me a Post-it slip of paper with 625 on it, $625,000. And, you know, last year I did my taxes myself, and I was only able to get like $300, so I figured, OK, so they know something I didn’t know.”
What Beal didn’t know was that his refund, based on the return filed by B&C, was for more than twice that amount: $1,350. And since the IRS would send the refund to B&C, who in turn, would forward Beal his money, he may have never known how much money he was actually supposed to get back.
Anthony Beal: “That they’re actually getting more money, more money out of the return than I am, you know, I was like, ‘That’s not right.'”
Beal only made the discovery after he got a notice that the Department of Education took the entire $1,350 refund for a school loan debt that wasn’t his. Beal says he was never given a copy of the return B&C submitted in his name, so he had no idea the true amount of the refund.
And when he got a copy from the IRS, he discovered inaccuracies.
Anthony Beal: “And basically, what it is, you know, claiming a lot of stuff that’s probably not, I’m not able to claim.”
It was last year when I first went looking for Jean-Philippe Boursiquot. At the time, another customer made the same complaints, starting with the amount of the refund.
Donell Bowens: “So at the time, it was $780, but I found out it was $1,505.”
Donell Bowens and Beal say they were misled about their refunds. Both did not get copies of the returns submitted in their names, and their returns contained inaccurate information.
Carmel Cafiero: “We did a story about this…”
But Boursiquot would not discuss either of the cases.
Carmel Cafiero: Are you misleading your customers?”
Jean-Philippe Boursiquot: “No, ma’am.”
Carmel Cafiero: “Well, then, how is this happening? How do we have two customers telling us the same thing?”
Jean-Philippe Boursiquot: “I don’t have no idea.”
Carmel Cafiero: “I’m sorry, what?”
Jean-Philippe Boursiquot: “No idea, ma’am.”
Meanwhile, Bowens and Beal have both taken steps to straighten out their returns. Beal says he plans to file a complaint with the IRS. Bowens says he did so last year.
But remember, no matter who fills out your return, the taxpayer is responsible for what is submitted in his or her name. Carmel Cafiero, 7News.
IF YOU HAVE A STORY FOR CARMEL TO INVESTIGATE:
Miami-Dade: 305-627-CLUE
Broward: 954-921-CLUE
E-mail: clue@wsvn.com
You can also send a tweet to @carmelonthecase.