To MsJennifer [redacted] :In response to the rebuttal by Keystone Collections Group, I would like to first note that I was never made aware prior to moving to [redacted] of who the local tax agencies are, and that I was never notified by Keystone, contrary to what their letter says.If the per capita tax was submitted, then it was because I was billed properlyI was never made aware that this is a yearly occurrence, and this year, I did not receive an initial billRegardless of their records, I can assure you that, for the year, I only received a late notice in relation to the per capita tax, which is why I never paid itWhen I tried to pay it, the website said I needed an account number which, as of now, I have still never been givenA delinquent notice was sent, but not a current oneIn addition, after asking multiple [redacted] City renters of multiple years (some longer than I), not one person could tell me who Keystone Collections Group was or what the per capita tax wasAfter contacting City Hall following these late notices, I was made aware; never prior.The rebuttal suggest that I was made aware that Keystone does not service my taxes; however, I was notI moved to [redacted] on November 1st of 2012, and filed to KeystoneWhen I contacted Keystone regarding this issue, they told me that they forwarded the tax returns for me whenever I filed to them.I don’t ever recall filing with Keystone online in 2014, but I do have an account with them, which I can see that I didI’m not sure how I knew to file there, but perhaps that year I was sent a notice; still, the annual notices are not something I ever recall receiving, especially for the per capita tax, prior to 2014.Because I did not live in Northampton County before November of 2012, perhaps that is why I was never given this notice by mail that they mention from [redacted] The first I’ve ever learned of this was when I filed this complaint after speaking directly with [redacted] As for the website, http://munstats.pa.govI have never heard of this site, and was never given itI’m not sure how they expect me to know of it if they never gave it to me.I agree that there are inconsistencies, but I can assure you I was never outright told that Keystone is the collections group for the City of [redacted] , County of NorthamptonOne would think that there would be a state law of some sort stating that it is the city’s responsibility to tell its taxpayers who their local tax agency is, and, if a per capita tax (or any other tax for that matter) exists, that, for one, it does exist, and for another matter, how to pay itThis year I did not receive any bill, so how could I know that I owed?If the paper tax form came from Keystone, that is something I do not recall; that, as [redacted] told me, is something they would have done if I incorrectly sent them my tax returns instead of sending them to KeystoneBecause I was never sent a notice to stop sending to [redacted] , I’m sure you can see my confusionI do not recall ever agreeing to never receive paper notices from Keystone about my local or per capita tax filing.If you had the ability to check my filing status for state and federal, you would know that I filed my taxes around March 1st, hence, not late.The quote “In fact, I cannot find any evidence that they did not know that Keystone serves as their local tax collector” is a very forward assumption, and is the second time that they claimed that I knew how to file and was being dishonestThat is completely inaccurateIf you asked me this time last year who I was to file my local taxes to, I would have answered, “I file every year to [redacted] , as that is who my local tax agent has been since I was fourteen years old.”As I do not owe any taxes, I can’t see how I am being charged a $late fee, especially when they failed to notify me until October of that my local tax form was not filed by April of for the tax yearHow they could be that lax in their records, I do not know, but if I filed a month early, you would think that they could tell me before six months passed that I was making a mistakeI have been filing to whatever the paper forms and memory have suggested for as long as I can remember, but until the per capita tax of 2014, I had never heard of this agency, and assumed it was yet another tax scam until I was able to verify the legitimacy of the per capita taxIf I had been billed properly for 2015, I would have paid itI do not let bills slide as this company seems to be suggestingIf I had the means to pay it (i.ethe “account number” they’re requesting online), I could have paid it by nowBut because I was not given a bill and because I do not have that late notice anywhere, I can’t find said account numberI asked them for it back in October and still have not received itI tried to use the account number on the local tax that I paid, but it didn’t workIf they want me to be able to communicate with them, they should communicate with me in a less convoluted, more direct, and more timely manner so that I can finally settle thisIf I am charged yet another late fee because they have not given me the account number, that can not be considered my fault.They responded to my request for the account number, but never mentioned what it was or how I could get itI am still awaiting their replyThat response, by the way, came weeks after I originally submitted my first request for informationTheir lack of communication is astounding, especially considering that they responded to the Revdex.com’s notice of a filed complaint so quicklyI’m not sure where their priorities lie, but it doesn’t feel as though it’s to their “serviced” customer, the taxpayer.I would like to know how I can finally get this information and get them to cooperate and give the information I need to finally clean up this mess of a situation.Thank you for your time and your pursuance of this complaint.Sincerely, [redacted]
Dear Ms [redacted] Thank you for contacting Keystone Collections Group regarding the above-referenced Complaint ID Please know that the taxpayer previously filed a Customer Review with the Revdex.com of Western Pennsylvania Upon receiving that review, my office reached out to the taxpayer directly in an attempt to assist her As a result of this email, the taxpayer’s concerns have been addressed and this issue has been resolved Further, I personally reviewed the telephone call between the Taxpayer and Keystone’s Customer Service Representative During the call the Keystone representative attempted to help the Taxpayer by providing multiple secure ways to submit the Extension Request Form I note, that it is strongly recommended that taxpayers who know that they will be out of the country over the tax filing deadline file their taxes prior to traveling abroad As the taxpayer was able to timely remit the Extension Request Form, my office considers this matter resolved Thank you for your attention to this matterVery truly yours, Keystone Collections Group By: Christopher *V [redacted] , Esquire
Dear Ms [redacted] : Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberIn their complaint the taxpayer disputed the penalty assessed on her delinquent Bethlehem Area School District per capita taxesThe taxpayer stated that she moved out of the School District on July 2, Furthermore, the taxpayer claimed that she did not receive an original bill Please know that I have thoroughly reviewed the taxpayer’s account and advised the taxpayer that Bethlehem Area School District per capita taxes are assessed on July of each yearFurthermore, per capita taxes are not prorated based upon part-year residencyThat is, all residents of the School District as of July of each year are responsible for remitting the tax, regardless of whether they move out of the School District afterwardAccordingly, as the taxpayer conceded that she was a resident of Bethlehem Area School District on July 1, 2016, she remains liable for per capita taxes Moreover, our records indicate that the original bill, which was mailed on July 1, was never returned to my office as undeliverable Please know that it is Keystone’s policy to place a memorandum within a taxpayer’s account if any notices are returned as undeliverable I advised the taxpayer that the penalties assessed on her account are statutorily mandated and owed to the taxing authorities when the tax is not paid when dueFurthermore, Keystone is authorized to recoup the costs of collection based upon Act of 2004, as ratified by the taxing bodiesAs the taxpayer remitted payment in full, my office considers this matter resolved I appreciate the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers and improve our processes Thank you for your attention to this matter Very truly yours, KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUP
Dear Ms [redacted] : Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberIn their complaint the taxpayer stated that that she received local earned income tax forms from Keystone Collections Group in error as she does not reside in a taxing body served by Keystone Please know that upon receipt of the taxpayer’s complaint I personally reviewed her account to correct any discrepanciesA review of our records indicates that the taxpayer’s current address was listed as “pending” in our systemAccordingly, the system assigned her a resident account by default and she was issued a local earned income tax return Please know that I have corrected the taxpayer’s account to reflect her non-resident statusAccordingly, the account has been closed and my office considers this matter resolvedI appreciate the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers and improve our processes Thank you for your attention to this matter Very truly yours, KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUP By: Christopher *V [redacted] , Esquire
[redacted] Revdex.com of Western PA [redacted] ***RE: Complaint id [redacted] Dear [redacted] :Thank you for your letter reg [redacted] the above-referenced complaint ID numberKeystone Collections Group appreciates the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers.In their complaint, the taxpayer indicated that they received a notice from my office requiring that they file a local earned income tax return and imposing a $late filingIn addition, the taxpayer contacted my office by phone in an effort to resolve this matter but was not satisfied with the response they received.I personally investigated the taxpayer’s account after receiving your complaintThe individual submitted both their local earned income tax return and tax payment in March Consequently, they should not have received the notice from my office.After confirming this information, a customer service representative contacted the taxpayer by phone to notify themAccordingly, the late filing fee was waived from their account and my office considers this matter closed.Thank you for your attention to this matter.Very truly yours,KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUPBy:Cody JH [redacted] , Esquire
Dear Ms [redacted] : Thank you for your letter regarding complaint ID# [redacted] In their complaint, the taxpayer stated that they received a delinquent tax notice for [redacted] Area School District for he tax year The taxpayer alleges that they did not live in [redacted] Township in Please know that I have sent the taxpayer an explanation regarding Keystone's audit process This explanation further explains that this audit process provides multiple opportunities for the taxpayer to work with Keystone to resolve apparent discrepancies Finally, the letter provides statutory authority granting Keystone certain audit powers resolve disputed delinquent tax accounts I am hopeful that the taxpayer, upon receiving my letter, will provide the necessary documentation to fully resolve this account Thank you for providing my office with the opportunity to address the taxpayer's concerns Very truly yours, KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUP By: Christopher EV [redacted] , Esquire
March 11,[redacted] Revdex.com of Western PA [redacted] ***Complaint ID# [redacted] Dear Ms [redacted] :Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberKeystone Collections Group appreciates the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers.In their complaint, the taxpayer indicated that they had issues with their local earned income tax return and refundSpecifically, they stated that they did not receive their refund but that their return was properly filedIn their complaint the taxpayer also identified issues regarding taxes withheld by their employer and forwarded to KeystoneThe taxpayer also referenced difficulties in coordinating between their employer and Keystone representatives during attempts to resolve this issue.After receiving the Revdex.com complaint, I researched this account and identified outstanding issues regarding the taxpayer’s employer and missing tax paymentsHowever, relying on the information provided by the taxpayer, Keystone was able to process their returnA refund will be issued to the taxpayer on March 11, My office will now work to locate the missing tax payment(s) and ensure that their employer properly complies with tax withholding requirements.Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention and providing the opportunity to address this taxpayer’s concerns.Very truly yours,KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUPCody JH [redacted] , Esquire
October 2, [redacted] Revdex.com of Western PA [redacted] ***RE: Complaint ID# [redacted] Dear [redacted] : Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberKeystone Collections Group appreciates the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayersPreviously, my office was contacted by the taxpayer and I reviewed their accountAt that time, I confirmed that my office had received the necessary documents and was processing their amended annual returnAfter review, my office was able to issue a refundThat refund was issued to the taxpayer on September 15, Accordingly, my office considers this matter resolved.Thank you for your attention to this matter.Very truly yours,KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUPBy: Cody JH [redacted] , Esquire
Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberKeystoneCollections Group appreciates the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns oftaxpayersSince receiving your letter I have reviewed the taxpayer’s account and prepared adetailed response to the tax payer detailing their concerns In their complaint, the taxpayer indicated that they received a tax bill from my officeregarding local earned income taxes, which provided the taxpayer an opportunity to disputethe tax if they did not reside in the District and/or MunicipalityHowever, the taxpayer does notfeel that the burden of proof to provide proof of residence to dispute the tax assessment should beon them.However, the tax assessment notice is generated by comparing earnings information thatthe taxpayer filed with the Pennsylvania Department of RevenueIf the taxpayer disputes theassessment and can provide additional information to dispute this assessment based upon whatthey filed with the State, they are provided the opportunity to do so in accordance with the LocalTaxpayer Bill o f RightsThe Local Taxpayer Bill of Rights and Local Tax Enabling Act alsopermits local taxing authorities to request information from a taxpayer beyond what the taxpayerhas provided on a return or report.Moreover, Pennsylvania law requires every taxpayer to file a local earned income tax finalreturnThis requires the taxpayer to file a return with each municipality in which they resideduring the year, even if it is only for a limited portion of the yearIf the taxpayer filed their localearned income tax return with each municipality in which they reside for a particular year with theappropriate earnings, they should not come up in the audit process at all.I appreciate the additional information provided by your letter and the opportunity to ensurethat the taxpayer’s concerns are properly addressed.Very truly yours,ALM
I have mailed the Keystone Collections Group my local tax return and a copy of my W-for the year that indicates the additional refund amount due from Total amount and is $ In addition to my return, I have put Keystone in touch with a corporate accountant in my company that has offered to provide any additional documentation Keystone claims to require to issue me a refund.I expect to receive my refund check, in the amount of $800.00, no later than June 30, If I do not receive this refund by the date listed I will be forced to take additional action Regards, [redacted] p.s I do not understand how a private company like Keystone is permitted to collect tax money and impose its own regulations on claiming a refund of that money with seemingly no governmental oversight or accountability This seems like an utter failure on the part of regulators and lawmakers to protect the good people of Pennsylvania from corporate greed
Dear Ms [redacted] : Please know that as previously explained, my office sent a letter to the taxpayer on June 3, which provided a detailed explanation of the refund he received This letter was sent by US Mail on the same day the taxpayer responded to the Revdex.com Accordingly, the taxpayer did not have the explanation at the time of his response As my office has not received an additional inquiry from the taxpayer, I am hopeful that our letter addressed his concerns Thank you for your attention to this matter Very truly yours, Keystone Collections GroupBy: Christopher EV [redacted] , Esquire
[redacted] Revdex.com of Western PA [redacted] ***RE: Complaint ID# [redacted] Dear [redacted] :Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberKeystone Collections Group appreciates the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers.In their complaint, the taxpayer indicated that they received a notice from my office requiring that they file a local earned income tax returnThe taxpayer was concerned because they believed their local earned income tax return was previously submitted through our online e-file portal at [redacted] .Please know that I reviewed their account and determined that their local earned income tax return was never fully completedThe taxpayer did create an account and began the online filing process in February However, because they did not completely submit their return, the taxpayer received the “Failure to File” notice sent by Keystone.Previously, Keystone received a phone call from the taxpayer and a customer service representative investigated the matterThe representative was able to locate their account but discovered that they did not fully complete their returnConsequently, the representative contacted the taxpayer by phone to inform them and provide assistance in completing th§ online returnIn December 2015, my office then received the taxpayer’s complete local earned income tax returnAccordingly, my office considers this matter closed.Thank you for your attention to this matter.Very truly yours,KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUPCody JH [redacted] , Esquire
Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.Please inform the business not to contact me againI have made repeated attempts to do so to no availThey sent me another letter Regards, [redacted]
[redacted] Revdex.com of Western PA [redacted] ***RE: Complaint ID# [redacted] Dear [redacted] :Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberKeystone Collections Group appreciates the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers.After receiving this complaint, I thoroughly reviewed the taxpayers accountIn Keystone submitted notices to the taxpayer regarding their outstanding local earned income tax balance(s)The taxpayer exchanged correspondence with my office, including submitting relevant documentsAfter reviewing the documents, my office informed the taxpayer that their taxes were not withheld by their employerIn addition, the taxpayer did not file a required local earned income tax return for any of the relevant tax yearsIn the taxpayer contacted my office about waiving late fees and collection costs that were assessed on their accountMy office responded by notifying the taxpayer of their obligation to timely file and pay local earned income taxesAccordingly, these fees were not waived.Since that time, my office has not received any payments or correspondence from the taxpayerConsequently, my office sent the taxpayer another delinquent tax notice, including unpaid local earned income taxesAfter sending the notice, my office received this complaint.I have personally attempted to contact the taxpayer by email and phoneI did not receive any responseI appreciate the opportunity to address this individual’s concerns, but I cannot address any outstanding issues without receiving a responseI am writing to provide a timely response to your officeI remain willing to work with this individual to assist them during this process.Thank you for your attention to this matter.Very truly yours, KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUPBy:Cody JH [redacted] , Esquire [redacted]
Dear Ms [redacted] : Thank you for your follletter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberIn their response, the taxpayer claimed to never have received per capita tax notices as well as reasserted her contention that she filed her local earned income taxes with [redacted] In response, I provided the taxpayer with copies of her per capita tax bills which included her invoice numbersFurthermore, I provided her with redacted copies of her local earned income tax returns, and the envelopes they were sent inevidencing that she successfully and intentionally filed with KeystoneFinally, I reiterated Keystone’s policy of stopping the provision of paper tax returns after taxpayers have filed online using Keystone’s e-file systemI appreciate the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers and improve our processes Thank you for your attention to this matterMy office has shown that the taxpayer was aware that Keystone Collections Group serves as tax officer to Northampton County, [redacted] City and [redacted] Area School District Furthermore, my office has provided the taxpayer with copies of the per capita tax bills, which include invoice numbers As such, my office considers this matter resolved Very truly yours, KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUP By: Christopher *V [redacted] , Esquire
*Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.I am still waiting for written proof to be mailed to me and my rights.I will not call to be harassed by this companyThey send mail to the wrong address when they have the correct one just to add more fees Regards, [redacted]
January 11, [redacted] Revdex.com of Western PA [redacted] ***RE: Complaint ID# [redacted] — [redacted] Dear Ms [redacted] :Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberKeystone Collections Group appreciates the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers.In their complaint, the taxpayer indicated that they received a notice from my office requiring that they file a local earned income tax return and imposing a $late filingIn addition, the taxpayer contacted my office by phone in an effort to resolve this matter but was not satisfied with the response they received.I personally investigated the taxpayer’s account after receiving your complaintThe individual submitted both their local earned income tax return and tax payment in April, Consequently, they should not have received the notice from my office.After confirming this information, a customer service representative contacted the taxpayer by phone to notify themAccordingly, the late filing fee was waived from their account and my office considers this matter closed.Thank you for your attention to this matter.Very truly yours,KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUPBy:Cody JH [redacted] , Esquire
Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me Regards, [redacted] *** they were notified that I was not aware of this filing and that $is due for and will pay it when the is filed
Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me Regards, [redacted] ***However, I was never contacted by Keystone Collections Group at any time; either previous to my several calls or after Since they did submit a letter clearing our account, I will accept the final decision It would have been nice to receive a phone call from the company itself
Dear Ms [redacted] : Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberIn their complaint the taxpayer stated that Keystone’s online tax filing system prohibited her from electronically filing her local earned income tax return, because “a person with [her] name and social security number is not eligible to electronically file (“e-file”)” After personally investigating this taxpayer’s account I discovered that the taxpayer was precluded from electronically filing a tax return as the complainant’s social security number and address were already provided to Keystone on a different final returnPlease know that for security and anti-fraud purposes, Keystone’s e-file system limits a taxpayer’s ability to file a return, either electronically or by paper, for more than twelve (12) months in any given tax year In this particular case, it appears that the complainant’s spouse filed a final return and entered the complainant’s social security number in the spouse portion of the return However, no earnings information was entered As a return had already been filed utilizing the taxpayer’s social security number for the tax year, Keystone’s e-file system prohibited the filing of another return using her unique social security number identifier Accordingly, I have advised Keystone’s Information Technology Department of the issue, and the restriction has been lifted on the taxpayer’s accountThe complainant should now be able to electronically file her local earned income tax return on Keystone’s e-file system I advised the taxpayer of the issue and how to properly file as “married, filing separately” in the futureAccordingly, as the restriction on the taxpayer’s account has been lifted, my office considers this matter resolvedI appreciate the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers and improve our processes Thank you for your attention to this matter Very truly yours, KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUP By: Christopher *V [redacted] , Esquire
To MsJennifer [redacted] :In response to the rebuttal by Keystone Collections Group, I would like to first note that I was never made aware prior to moving to [redacted] of who the local tax agencies are, and that I was never notified by Keystone, contrary to what their letter says.If the per capita tax was submitted, then it was because I was billed properlyI was never made aware that this is a yearly occurrence, and this year, I did not receive an initial billRegardless of their records, I can assure you that, for the year, I only received a late notice in relation to the per capita tax, which is why I never paid itWhen I tried to pay it, the website said I needed an account number which, as of now, I have still never been givenA delinquent notice was sent, but not a current oneIn addition, after asking multiple [redacted] City renters of multiple years (some longer than I), not one person could tell me who Keystone Collections Group was or what the per capita tax wasAfter contacting City Hall following these late notices, I was made aware; never prior.The rebuttal suggest that I was made aware that Keystone does not service my taxes; however, I was notI moved to [redacted] on November 1st of 2012, and filed to KeystoneWhen I contacted Keystone regarding this issue, they told me that they forwarded the tax returns for me whenever I filed to them.I don’t ever recall filing with Keystone online in 2014, but I do have an account with them, which I can see that I didI’m not sure how I knew to file there, but perhaps that year I was sent a notice; still, the annual notices are not something I ever recall receiving, especially for the per capita tax, prior to 2014.Because I did not live in Northampton County before November of 2012, perhaps that is why I was never given this notice by mail that they mention from [redacted] The first I’ve ever learned of this was when I filed this complaint after speaking directly with [redacted] As for the website, http://munstats.pa.govI have never heard of this site, and was never given itI’m not sure how they expect me to know of it if they never gave it to me.I agree that there are inconsistencies, but I can assure you I was never outright told that Keystone is the collections group for the City of [redacted] , County of NorthamptonOne would think that there would be a state law of some sort stating that it is the city’s responsibility to tell its taxpayers who their local tax agency is, and, if a per capita tax (or any other tax for that matter) exists, that, for one, it does exist, and for another matter, how to pay itThis year I did not receive any bill, so how could I know that I owed?If the paper tax form came from Keystone, that is something I do not recall; that, as [redacted] told me, is something they would have done if I incorrectly sent them my tax returns instead of sending them to KeystoneBecause I was never sent a notice to stop sending to [redacted] , I’m sure you can see my confusionI do not recall ever agreeing to never receive paper notices from Keystone about my local or per capita tax filing.If you had the ability to check my filing status for state and federal, you would know that I filed my taxes around March 1st, hence, not late.The quote “In fact, I cannot find any evidence that they did not know that Keystone serves as their local tax collector” is a very forward assumption, and is the second time that they claimed that I knew how to file and was being dishonestThat is completely inaccurateIf you asked me this time last year who I was to file my local taxes to, I would have answered, “I file every year to [redacted] , as that is who my local tax agent has been since I was fourteen years old.”As I do not owe any taxes, I can’t see how I am being charged a $late fee, especially when they failed to notify me until October of that my local tax form was not filed by April of for the tax yearHow they could be that lax in their records, I do not know, but if I filed a month early, you would think that they could tell me before six months passed that I was making a mistakeI have been filing to whatever the paper forms and memory have suggested for as long as I can remember, but until the per capita tax of 2014, I had never heard of this agency, and assumed it was yet another tax scam until I was able to verify the legitimacy of the per capita taxIf I had been billed properly for 2015, I would have paid itI do not let bills slide as this company seems to be suggestingIf I had the means to pay it (i.ethe “account number” they’re requesting online), I could have paid it by nowBut because I was not given a bill and because I do not have that late notice anywhere, I can’t find said account numberI asked them for it back in October and still have not received itI tried to use the account number on the local tax that I paid, but it didn’t workIf they want me to be able to communicate with them, they should communicate with me in a less convoluted, more direct, and more timely manner so that I can finally settle thisIf I am charged yet another late fee because they have not given me the account number, that can not be considered my fault.They responded to my request for the account number, but never mentioned what it was or how I could get itI am still awaiting their replyThat response, by the way, came weeks after I originally submitted my first request for informationTheir lack of communication is astounding, especially considering that they responded to the Revdex.com’s notice of a filed complaint so quicklyI’m not sure where their priorities lie, but it doesn’t feel as though it’s to their “serviced” customer, the taxpayer.I would like to know how I can finally get this information and get them to cooperate and give the information I need to finally clean up this mess of a situation.Thank you for your time and your pursuance of this complaint.Sincerely, [redacted]
Dear Ms [redacted] Thank you for contacting Keystone Collections Group regarding the above-referenced Complaint ID Please know that the taxpayer previously filed a Customer Review with the Revdex.com of Western Pennsylvania Upon receiving that review, my office reached out to the taxpayer directly in an attempt to assist her As a result of this email, the taxpayer’s concerns have been addressed and this issue has been resolved Further, I personally reviewed the telephone call between the Taxpayer and Keystone’s Customer Service Representative During the call the Keystone representative attempted to help the Taxpayer by providing multiple secure ways to submit the Extension Request Form I note, that it is strongly recommended that taxpayers who know that they will be out of the country over the tax filing deadline file their taxes prior to traveling abroad As the taxpayer was able to timely remit the Extension Request Form, my office considers this matter resolved Thank you for your attention to this matterVery truly yours, Keystone Collections Group By: Christopher *V [redacted] , Esquire
Dear Ms [redacted] : Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberIn their complaint the taxpayer disputed the penalty assessed on her delinquent Bethlehem Area School District per capita taxesThe taxpayer stated that she moved out of the School District on July 2, Furthermore, the taxpayer claimed that she did not receive an original bill Please know that I have thoroughly reviewed the taxpayer’s account and advised the taxpayer that Bethlehem Area School District per capita taxes are assessed on July of each yearFurthermore, per capita taxes are not prorated based upon part-year residencyThat is, all residents of the School District as of July of each year are responsible for remitting the tax, regardless of whether they move out of the School District afterwardAccordingly, as the taxpayer conceded that she was a resident of Bethlehem Area School District on July 1, 2016, she remains liable for per capita taxes Moreover, our records indicate that the original bill, which was mailed on July 1, was never returned to my office as undeliverable Please know that it is Keystone’s policy to place a memorandum within a taxpayer’s account if any notices are returned as undeliverable I advised the taxpayer that the penalties assessed on her account are statutorily mandated and owed to the taxing authorities when the tax is not paid when dueFurthermore, Keystone is authorized to recoup the costs of collection based upon Act of 2004, as ratified by the taxing bodiesAs the taxpayer remitted payment in full, my office considers this matter resolved I appreciate the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers and improve our processes Thank you for your attention to this matter Very truly yours, KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUP
Dear Ms [redacted] : Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberIn their complaint the taxpayer stated that that she received local earned income tax forms from Keystone Collections Group in error as she does not reside in a taxing body served by Keystone Please know that upon receipt of the taxpayer’s complaint I personally reviewed her account to correct any discrepanciesA review of our records indicates that the taxpayer’s current address was listed as “pending” in our systemAccordingly, the system assigned her a resident account by default and she was issued a local earned income tax return Please know that I have corrected the taxpayer’s account to reflect her non-resident statusAccordingly, the account has been closed and my office considers this matter resolvedI appreciate the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers and improve our processes Thank you for your attention to this matter Very truly yours, KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUP By: Christopher *V [redacted] , Esquire
[redacted] Revdex.com of Western PA [redacted] ***RE: Complaint id [redacted] Dear [redacted] :Thank you for your letter reg [redacted] the above-referenced complaint ID numberKeystone Collections Group appreciates the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers.In their complaint, the taxpayer indicated that they received a notice from my office requiring that they file a local earned income tax return and imposing a $late filingIn addition, the taxpayer contacted my office by phone in an effort to resolve this matter but was not satisfied with the response they received.I personally investigated the taxpayer’s account after receiving your complaintThe individual submitted both their local earned income tax return and tax payment in March Consequently, they should not have received the notice from my office.After confirming this information, a customer service representative contacted the taxpayer by phone to notify themAccordingly, the late filing fee was waived from their account and my office considers this matter closed.Thank you for your attention to this matter.Very truly yours,KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUPBy:Cody JH [redacted] , Esquire
Dear Ms [redacted] : Thank you for your letter regarding complaint ID# [redacted] In their complaint, the taxpayer stated that they received a delinquent tax notice for [redacted] Area School District for he tax year The taxpayer alleges that they did not live in [redacted] Township in Please know that I have sent the taxpayer an explanation regarding Keystone's audit process This explanation further explains that this audit process provides multiple opportunities for the taxpayer to work with Keystone to resolve apparent discrepancies Finally, the letter provides statutory authority granting Keystone certain audit powers resolve disputed delinquent tax accounts I am hopeful that the taxpayer, upon receiving my letter, will provide the necessary documentation to fully resolve this account Thank you for providing my office with the opportunity to address the taxpayer's concerns Very truly yours, KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUP By: Christopher EV [redacted] , Esquire
March 11,[redacted] Revdex.com of Western PA [redacted] ***Complaint ID# [redacted] Dear Ms [redacted] :Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberKeystone Collections Group appreciates the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers.In their complaint, the taxpayer indicated that they had issues with their local earned income tax return and refundSpecifically, they stated that they did not receive their refund but that their return was properly filedIn their complaint the taxpayer also identified issues regarding taxes withheld by their employer and forwarded to KeystoneThe taxpayer also referenced difficulties in coordinating between their employer and Keystone representatives during attempts to resolve this issue.After receiving the Revdex.com complaint, I researched this account and identified outstanding issues regarding the taxpayer’s employer and missing tax paymentsHowever, relying on the information provided by the taxpayer, Keystone was able to process their returnA refund will be issued to the taxpayer on March 11, My office will now work to locate the missing tax payment(s) and ensure that their employer properly complies with tax withholding requirements.Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention and providing the opportunity to address this taxpayer’s concerns.Very truly yours,KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUPCody JH [redacted] , Esquire
October 2, [redacted] Revdex.com of Western PA [redacted] ***RE: Complaint ID# [redacted] Dear [redacted] : Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberKeystone Collections Group appreciates the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayersPreviously, my office was contacted by the taxpayer and I reviewed their accountAt that time, I confirmed that my office had received the necessary documents and was processing their amended annual returnAfter review, my office was able to issue a refundThat refund was issued to the taxpayer on September 15, Accordingly, my office considers this matter resolved.Thank you for your attention to this matter.Very truly yours,KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUPBy: Cody JH [redacted] , Esquire
Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberKeystoneCollections Group appreciates the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns oftaxpayersSince receiving your letter I have reviewed the taxpayer’s account and prepared adetailed response to the tax payer detailing their concerns In their complaint, the taxpayer indicated that they received a tax bill from my officeregarding local earned income taxes, which provided the taxpayer an opportunity to disputethe tax if they did not reside in the District and/or MunicipalityHowever, the taxpayer does notfeel that the burden of proof to provide proof of residence to dispute the tax assessment should beon them.However, the tax assessment notice is generated by comparing earnings information thatthe taxpayer filed with the Pennsylvania Department of RevenueIf the taxpayer disputes theassessment and can provide additional information to dispute this assessment based upon whatthey filed with the State, they are provided the opportunity to do so in accordance with the LocalTaxpayer Bill o f RightsThe Local Taxpayer Bill of Rights and Local Tax Enabling Act alsopermits local taxing authorities to request information from a taxpayer beyond what the taxpayerhas provided on a return or report.Moreover, Pennsylvania law requires every taxpayer to file a local earned income tax finalreturnThis requires the taxpayer to file a return with each municipality in which they resideduring the year, even if it is only for a limited portion of the yearIf the taxpayer filed their localearned income tax return with each municipality in which they reside for a particular year with theappropriate earnings, they should not come up in the audit process at all.I appreciate the additional information provided by your letter and the opportunity to ensurethat the taxpayer’s concerns are properly addressed.Very truly yours,ALM
I have mailed the Keystone Collections Group my local tax return and a copy of my W-for the year that indicates the additional refund amount due from Total amount and is $ In addition to my return, I have put Keystone in touch with a corporate accountant in my company that has offered to provide any additional documentation Keystone claims to require to issue me a refund.I expect to receive my refund check, in the amount of $800.00, no later than June 30, If I do not receive this refund by the date listed I will be forced to take additional action Regards, [redacted] p.s I do not understand how a private company like Keystone is permitted to collect tax money and impose its own regulations on claiming a refund of that money with seemingly no governmental oversight or accountability This seems like an utter failure on the part of regulators and lawmakers to protect the good people of Pennsylvania from corporate greed
Dear Ms [redacted] : Please know that as previously explained, my office sent a letter to the taxpayer on June 3, which provided a detailed explanation of the refund he received This letter was sent by US Mail on the same day the taxpayer responded to the Revdex.com Accordingly, the taxpayer did not have the explanation at the time of his response As my office has not received an additional inquiry from the taxpayer, I am hopeful that our letter addressed his concerns Thank you for your attention to this matter Very truly yours, Keystone Collections GroupBy: Christopher EV [redacted] , Esquire
[redacted] Revdex.com of Western PA [redacted] ***RE: Complaint ID# [redacted] Dear [redacted] :Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberKeystone Collections Group appreciates the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers.In their complaint, the taxpayer indicated that they received a notice from my office requiring that they file a local earned income tax returnThe taxpayer was concerned because they believed their local earned income tax return was previously submitted through our online e-file portal at [redacted] .Please know that I reviewed their account and determined that their local earned income tax return was never fully completedThe taxpayer did create an account and began the online filing process in February However, because they did not completely submit their return, the taxpayer received the “Failure to File” notice sent by Keystone.Previously, Keystone received a phone call from the taxpayer and a customer service representative investigated the matterThe representative was able to locate their account but discovered that they did not fully complete their returnConsequently, the representative contacted the taxpayer by phone to inform them and provide assistance in completing th§ online returnIn December 2015, my office then received the taxpayer’s complete local earned income tax returnAccordingly, my office considers this matter closed.Thank you for your attention to this matter.Very truly yours,KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUPCody JH [redacted] , Esquire
Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.Please inform the business not to contact me againI have made repeated attempts to do so to no availThey sent me another letter Regards, [redacted]
[redacted] Revdex.com of Western PA [redacted] ***RE: Complaint ID# [redacted] Dear [redacted] :Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberKeystone Collections Group appreciates the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers.After receiving this complaint, I thoroughly reviewed the taxpayers accountIn Keystone submitted notices to the taxpayer regarding their outstanding local earned income tax balance(s)The taxpayer exchanged correspondence with my office, including submitting relevant documentsAfter reviewing the documents, my office informed the taxpayer that their taxes were not withheld by their employerIn addition, the taxpayer did not file a required local earned income tax return for any of the relevant tax yearsIn the taxpayer contacted my office about waiving late fees and collection costs that were assessed on their accountMy office responded by notifying the taxpayer of their obligation to timely file and pay local earned income taxesAccordingly, these fees were not waived.Since that time, my office has not received any payments or correspondence from the taxpayerConsequently, my office sent the taxpayer another delinquent tax notice, including unpaid local earned income taxesAfter sending the notice, my office received this complaint.I have personally attempted to contact the taxpayer by email and phoneI did not receive any responseI appreciate the opportunity to address this individual’s concerns, but I cannot address any outstanding issues without receiving a responseI am writing to provide a timely response to your officeI remain willing to work with this individual to assist them during this process.Thank you for your attention to this matter.Very truly yours, KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUPBy:Cody JH [redacted] , Esquire [redacted]
Dear Ms [redacted] : Thank you for your follletter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberIn their response, the taxpayer claimed to never have received per capita tax notices as well as reasserted her contention that she filed her local earned income taxes with [redacted] In response, I provided the taxpayer with copies of her per capita tax bills which included her invoice numbersFurthermore, I provided her with redacted copies of her local earned income tax returns, and the envelopes they were sent inevidencing that she successfully and intentionally filed with KeystoneFinally, I reiterated Keystone’s policy of stopping the provision of paper tax returns after taxpayers have filed online using Keystone’s e-file systemI appreciate the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers and improve our processes Thank you for your attention to this matterMy office has shown that the taxpayer was aware that Keystone Collections Group serves as tax officer to Northampton County, [redacted] City and [redacted] Area School District Furthermore, my office has provided the taxpayer with copies of the per capita tax bills, which include invoice numbers As such, my office considers this matter resolved Very truly yours, KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUP By: Christopher *V [redacted] , Esquire
*Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.I am still waiting for written proof to be mailed to me and my rights.I will not call to be harassed by this companyThey send mail to the wrong address when they have the correct one just to add more fees Regards, [redacted]
January 11, [redacted] Revdex.com of Western PA [redacted] ***RE: Complaint ID# [redacted] — [redacted] Dear Ms [redacted] :Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberKeystone Collections Group appreciates the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers.In their complaint, the taxpayer indicated that they received a notice from my office requiring that they file a local earned income tax return and imposing a $late filingIn addition, the taxpayer contacted my office by phone in an effort to resolve this matter but was not satisfied with the response they received.I personally investigated the taxpayer’s account after receiving your complaintThe individual submitted both their local earned income tax return and tax payment in April, Consequently, they should not have received the notice from my office.After confirming this information, a customer service representative contacted the taxpayer by phone to notify themAccordingly, the late filing fee was waived from their account and my office considers this matter closed.Thank you for your attention to this matter.Very truly yours,KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUPBy:Cody JH [redacted] , Esquire
Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me Regards, [redacted] *** they were notified that I was not aware of this filing and that $is due for and will pay it when the is filed
Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me Regards, [redacted] ***However, I was never contacted by Keystone Collections Group at any time; either previous to my several calls or after Since they did submit a letter clearing our account, I will accept the final decision It would have been nice to receive a phone call from the company itself
Dear Ms [redacted] : Thank you for your letter regarding the above-referenced complaint ID numberIn their complaint the taxpayer stated that Keystone’s online tax filing system prohibited her from electronically filing her local earned income tax return, because “a person with [her] name and social security number is not eligible to electronically file (“e-file”)” After personally investigating this taxpayer’s account I discovered that the taxpayer was precluded from electronically filing a tax return as the complainant’s social security number and address were already provided to Keystone on a different final returnPlease know that for security and anti-fraud purposes, Keystone’s e-file system limits a taxpayer’s ability to file a return, either electronically or by paper, for more than twelve (12) months in any given tax year In this particular case, it appears that the complainant’s spouse filed a final return and entered the complainant’s social security number in the spouse portion of the return However, no earnings information was entered As a return had already been filed utilizing the taxpayer’s social security number for the tax year, Keystone’s e-file system prohibited the filing of another return using her unique social security number identifier Accordingly, I have advised Keystone’s Information Technology Department of the issue, and the restriction has been lifted on the taxpayer’s accountThe complainant should now be able to electronically file her local earned income tax return on Keystone’s e-file system I advised the taxpayer of the issue and how to properly file as “married, filing separately” in the futureAccordingly, as the restriction on the taxpayer’s account has been lifted, my office considers this matter resolvedI appreciate the opportunity provided by the Revdex.com to resolve the concerns of taxpayers and improve our processes Thank you for your attention to this matter Very truly yours, KEYSTONE COLLECTIONS GROUP By: Christopher *V [redacted] , Esquire