NOT MILITARY TAX EXPERTS! Paid and then GHOSTED
Long and short, having been loyal customers of the branch under Mr. Gelatka for years we had come to trust this branch, but we never had a military related tax issue. Unfortunately, this past year the US Government over paid me by $25k, of which I saved and subsequently paid back, but it still added an additional tax burden. To remedy this DFAS issued a DFAS Form 705 which detailed how to file and relieve me of this burden.
We had our annual appointment in March and Mr. Gelatka did not how how to process this form via their system (although a quick google search has this topic on how to do it within intuit and via the instructions on the 705). We sought an alternate by trying to push the finance office to have an amended W-2 done. Due to COVID, as we all know the tax date got pushed to July, so you would assume that they would have a little wiggle room to figure this out. Hearing nothing since March I queried Mr. Gelatka at the beginning of July. He informed me that he had retired and Mr. Donald Sparks was taking my taxes on. Of note by this time DFAS would not correct the W-2 stating the tax form was issued with instruction and if the filing agency (e.g. Block Advisors) did not know how, that they should contact the IRS for instructions.
With Mr. Gelatka retired and passing our file to Mr. Sparks, after numerous attempts to call into the office I was finally able to talk to him. This brief conversation centered around me reaching back to Mr. Gelatka to assist although he was retired. This obviously didn't work. [*Of note my wife also attempted contact and was hung up on on more than one occasion, never actually having the chance to speak to Mr. Sparks.]. I let Mr. Sparks know via email that Mr. Gelatka would not assist....no reply to this email or the previous.
In attempt to figure their plan of action was, I physically went down to the office to talk to Don in person. When he came out of his office he spoke to me briefly saying they were working it and would likely have the team file an extension and let me know how it was progressing. I sent him an email when I got back to the car restating what he said and thanked him. No reply.
Having heard nothing, I reached out in August asking for an update, no response.
Here we are now, late October and I have yet to hear anything from Don or Block Advisors in Shiloh. I don't know what the status of my taxes are, if we got an extension, or anything. I can't tell you how impossibly frustrating this is and how infuriating this who scenario is. If you're military find another Tax specialist in the area. They claim to be the military experts, but just do so to leach and pray upon those nearby due to their extremely close proximity to Scott AFB. If you actually have a military tax issue, expect the runaround and time be ghosted. read more
