Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:05/11/2025

  Type:Service or Repair Issues
  Status:

  UnansweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I paid Kulea Tax for my tax prep and filing in March of this year after I received an email that my taxes were completed and filed. I paid invoice and tried for two months to get my copies and tax paperwork back. Two months unanswered emails, texts, phone calls/voicemails and office visits (knocking on door with no answer) I got lucky today and was able to pick up my papers. After getting my paperwork I ask the women that ********(owner of Kulea) why is it that I am unable to track my return on line with the *** and it's been two months since my taxes were filed her response I have to check and get back to you. Within 10 minutes I receive at text stating that my taxes were rejected by the *** on 4/15 due to incorrect SS# for one of my dependents. I call the office and get lucky and get the same women who brought my taxes out to me at the office cause I wasn't allowed in and asked her why if my taxes were rejected wasn't I notified she response was I have to check and get back to you. I tell her I found the mistake with my son's SS and she says ok we'll see what we're going to do. Mind you I paid the invoice for my taxes $140.00 and had done the docusign by the ending of March (not a huge amount I know) just upsetting that it was billed to us like it was completed and we paid immediately. Around mid April I tried tracking my tax return on the *** website and kept getting error messages that there was no info. Went to another tax prep person and was told what I had feared that my taxes hadn't been filed and that no extension was done either. I tried calling Kulea Tax back sent texts and called multiple times today to ask them to please let me know how they will be correcting this and haven't gotten a response. Silence again.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/03/2023

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I paid upfront for all services listed on this invoice. No services were completed although several meetings and emails did happen. Nothing was filed, business sent me a letter of disengagement. No explanation, I have reached out several times through email, text, calls and absolutely no response or explanation. I am requesting a full refund.

  Business Response

  Date: 02/06/2023

  I have been ill and out of office since 1/25.  She received the original filing for 2021 October 2022.  She choose to not accept and request for changes Kule'a could not be responsible for.  The letter of disengagement does explain why.  This appears to be her motive for everything, she did not know, she did not request any false information, she plays an ignorant party however it really shows in her character and behavior.  I could not understand why she was such in a rush.  

  Client is upset and made a complaint against Kule'a Tax and Financial Resources, LLC because she did not like the result of our visit.  Client expected Kule'a Tax and Financial Resources to falsify her businesses, as she claimed all her businesses that received 1099s for are for one business.  She claimed that she never opened any other businesses and don't understand why she received different EIN.  ***** explaining to her we are required to follow the forms provided as IRS and HI State receives the same documents.  I informed her if I were to E File the forms consolidated her account would be red flagged.  Client came to Kule'a as she completed her own tax returns with turbo tax.  She needed 3 things, to correct her filings from 2019 - 2020, file her 2021 income taxes, and make sure her depreciation schedule's are flowing from one year to the next.  She paid a deposit of $1000, plus tax however. We completed Tax return 2021, she did not like the result.  As for the ** filings, She confirmed on 1/10 that she completed those herself.  I did considerable time reviewing each year tax return which client provided, I than began to review and update the depreciation schedules for all years.  I began to amend year 2020.  In the midst of this I became ill.  ***** consulting with my colleague who meet with her originally, we found that ******* was aware of the filings for 2021, and was fully aware that we are filing according to the taxing authorities.  Since my colleague has been out of office, ******* appeared to pretend as if my colleague did not provide her that information, requesting me to review this again.  Did research and found that her businesses are in fact different which is the reason she has different EIN's.  Her husband has a ******************* which appears to be receiving regular income.  She then has the Cleaning out homes business, which is where she earns money as well.  The businesses were opened separately and appears to be in direct relationship to Contracting, building, renovating, repairs homes and the other is Cleaning renovated homes, hotels, etc.  My research showed that Client provided false information, and requested for her Taxes to be in line with 1 businesses.  Client also sent me a copy of a lien letter, appearing one of her companies are being taken to court for unsettled bills (I am not familar with) however after researching the form, it confirmed the Contracting business is viable.  She also has another EIN under her Maiden name, and also used her Social Security for another type of business.  Seeing all of this information, I determined that client could be a potential high risk for our little office and decided to disengage services.  An email was sent to her, however explained an official letter and any refunds due will be sent as well.  Upon completing billing for all the hours we took to determine the outcome, we found that she actually owes Kule'a instead.  Although we did not file the ** as listed on our original invoice, the refund absorbed by the new charges.  

  Original Invoice: August 2022 $1000 include ** filing for 6 periods.  This was not completed by ****** Total: -$550, would have been a refund. However she sought out help from myself after meeting with my Colleague.  

  New Invoice: January 10, 2023 $925.  I did say that I wouldn't bill her for the extra time and we can call all a wash.  I also informed her, 2021 Tax Return will stand as originally filed by colleague and when the Tax Season opens we will file.  Client also had the original copy since October 2022.  

  Customer Answer

  Date: 02/10/2023

   
  Complaint: 19329749
  
  I am rejecting this response because: I was never informed that my taxes were completed. I did not request to falsify anything. There are two businesses - 1) realtor / real estate services which I operate under my name and ssn - second is a contracting business which I have 2 eins for because I requested an ein when I created a DBA off of the original name, which was disclosed with ******** and we viewed these businesses together on the ******.gov website which she has my login info for. Nothing is under my husband's name, ssn or anything of that nature. The only estimate I ever received was was $1000 plus tax, to submit my 2021 taxes - with all documents I provided to them, catch up all my ge filings and amend my self prepared 2020 returns. All of the requests made I did provide original documents (****'s) for them to work with. When we discussed aligning the two eins to the same business (******** and V Haunga Contracting) It was ******** who said she could run it together with one EIN - this was said in her office and I can provide recordings of her. I have since reached out to have my **** corrected to the only ein I am currently using. Although the two were for the same business. I never did ask for anything which she is accusing. I only asked her to help me sort them out - these businesses have been filed together since 2017 as sole proprietorship. She never said anything to the affect of - amending completed returns or charging more money for the work requested. If she cannot complete the work,  I am requesting a full refund.
  Sincerely,
  
  ***************************