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A tax preparation company whose Facebook page a year ago offered free help to clients who felt they were cheated by a competitor has been on the receiving end in the last few months. A federal court has been asked to bar John Newlin, owner of Quick Sam Tax Refund of Gary, Ind., from preparing federal tax returns for others after the Internal Revenue Service said it found 96 percent of the returns prepared by the business had deficiences. Four former Quick Same return preparers have already pleaded quilty to tax-related crimes.
Ironically, in January 2011, QuickSam's Facebook page carried a link to a story about customers who believed they were cheated by the local Instant Tax Service. The government has sought to close down that company, the nation's fourth largest chain, and brought complaints against five of its franchisees.
The former Quick Sam preparers who pleaded guilty were identified as Charles Standifer, Rhonda Murphy, Chanel Bandy and Brittaney Walker-Lipsey.