Simple Filings – Scam? Or legitimate and Safe?
The business may technically be legal, but they engage in highly questionable business practices. We do not recommend using their services. Read on to learn why…
Simplefilings.com describes themselves in the following manner
“We provide a suite of document preparation and filing services for businesses and individuals, including LLC formations, incorporations, trade name registrations, tax extension filings, and more.”
At first glance they seem no different than a company like Legal Zoom, which makes filing documents more simple.
On Simple Filings website they state in fine print that they are not affiliated with government agencies, but the advertising practices can make the unsuspecting user believe otherwise.
Tax EIN Number
Say you’d like to get a Federal Tax EIN ID number. You would probably go to Google.com and search “get tax EIN number”like shown in the image below.
As you can see the first result you’ll receive, which if you look closely is an advertisement, the url reads http://www.gov-tax.com/Federal-EIN . While government websites just use the .gov domain, many people don’t know this and may believe the url belongs to a government entity. Once the users clicks the link it redirects to the Simple Filings site changing the url to http://www.simplefilings.gov-tax.com/federal-ein/. Once on the site users are directed to input their information and then are charged up to $177 for a Tax EIN that you can get for free, by just going to the IRS website.
In fact the company settled with the Social Security Administration for $82,00 for using misleading urls to direct users to their website.
“SimpleFilings used the domain names http://www.gov-tax.net/ssn-cardand http://www.simplefilings.gov-tax.net/ssn-cardto direct users to its SimpleFilings website, a self-described “Social Security card application preparation service.” The OIG asserts that these domain names conveyed the false impression that SimpleFilings had some connection with SSA in violation of the Act. The OIG received complaints of consumer confusion caused by the use of these domain names.”
See more here – http://oig.ssa.gov/newsroom/news-releases/missouri-company-agrees-pay-civil-monetary-penalty-settle-alleged-violation
It is not just a few clueless users who have been tricked by this tactic. Hundreds of complaints have poured in across the internet.
Simple Filings Complaints
Here are just a few of many that we found with a quick Google search…
“Using SimpleFilings.com LLC registration I found a form. After filling out this form I found an option to submit for $50. At the time I didn’t know any better so it sounded ok. After filling in banking information and clicking submit I immediately found a screen informing me that I had been charged $178. I immediately responded by emailing TaxID@SimpleFilings.com the following email.”
https://customersupportreview.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/simplefilingscom-scam/
“I did a Google search on EIN (to file for an employer identification number) and the first site listed on organic search (left side) was http://www.gov-tax.net. I was under the impression this was a government site due to the name.
When you click on it it sends you to http://www.simplefiling.com and they charged me $236.00 to file for an EIN and S-Corp, both forms are FREE to file with the IRS and can be done online. The site does not make it clear it is a paid service, their disclaimer does not state it it a paid service, they make it look like the IRS.”
“This site is a scam sight… I thought I was on the IRS sight to get a new tax ID number. You can actually go directly to the IRS sight and apply for the ID number with a lot less fees. I called immediately to get a refund once I realized that it was not the IRS sight but they stated it was too late. *Be Cautious* ”
“They stole my money. Horrible company. They wouldn’t refund my money and I’m sure this has happened to lots of people. Somehow they show up on google before the actual irs website. 128 bucks to retype the information I gave them. ”
-Google Reviews
If they are concerned about making it clear to their customers that they are not a government website, you’d think they would change their advertising tactics after so many complaints. They are earning money from forms that you can get for free and/or at a cheaper price, directly through government websites.
Who’s Behind Simple Filings?
Since Simple Filings insists that they are doing nothing wrong, the owners and employees must be proud to identify themselves.
Using publicly available documents and photos, we have put faces to the website.
The corporation that owns Simple Filings is Hermeris, Inc. They are a foreign corporation, but have registered in Missouri. Now meet the people behind Hermeris, Inc.
President – Anthony “Tony” Drake
Vice President – Rebecca Worden
Vice President – Ben Underwood
Simple Tax Reviews 
These people scammed me too!! I went to IRS.com, not realizing it wasn’t the actual .gov site and was sent to Simple Filings. I was charged $177 for a EIN number, which 5 minutes later I learned was suppose to be free. They wouldn’t refund me my money. Seems like Anthony Drake is having a good laugh at all us suckers!
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I now know it was a scam but I did receive an EIN. Is it legitimate and can it be used in filing an estate tax return?
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