The Refund Transmit Service family includes (front, from left) grandsons Oscar Gonzales, Omar Perez and Orion Perez; (rear, from left) daughter Monica Perez, granddaughter Olivia Gonzales, founder Oscar Garcia and (center) co-owner Cynthia Garcia. Photo by Jane Kathleen Gregorio
Following the rules and keeping up with ever-changing tax codes have proven to be crucial to a successful business strategy for Cynthia and Oscar Garcia, co-owners of Refund Transmit Service Income Tax in Corpus Christi. The couple built their electronic tax filing business from home office to storefront over the past 28 years without a single audit by the Internal Revenue Service. “That's what happens when you go by the book,” said Oscar Garcia, who started the business after seeing an article in an on-flight magazine while on a business trip. The article extolled electronic tax filing as the wave of the future.
“I called the 1-800 number for more information about the program and submitted the required documents,” he said. “After I qualified as a participant, I received the training and the software to file taxes electronically to the IRS.”
He invested in a few computers and worked on an entry-level basis for a few years. With reasonable prices much lower than the big chains such as Jackson Hewitt or H&R Block, he got an overwhelming response.
“I had to convert my garage into an actual to office to receive customers,” Oscar Garcia recalled.
Business grew year after year as word of mouth spread throughout the neighborhood. Eventually, the couple moved into a commercial space, and now the whole family is involved.
Cynthia Garcia went to school to train as a tax preparer to help her husband and is now the driving force behind the business. Oscar helps with IT and Tech support, while daughter Monica Perez serves as administrative assistant and office manager.
“I do everything from answering phones, data entry and whatever else they need,” Perez said. “Even as a child, when we still worked out of the garage, I helped my mom pass out flyers in the neighborhood. I made copies and did filing.”
Her childhood duties are now being filled by her own children. Olivia, 14, does the filing, while Oscar, 11, makes copies. For now, Omar, 5, plays on a computer and stays out of trouble, while baby Orion, 1, serves as the company's muse.
“We would love for our business to pass on to the next generation of our family,” Cynthia Garcia said.
BUSINESS BACKBONE
The name Refund Transmit Service is a throwback to the original electronic filing terminology before it became more widely known as “e-file.” Despite the old name, the services are current as the Garcias keep informed of every IRS change.
“We are up to date on all the required annual continuing education, IRS forums and seminars,” Cynthia Garcia said. “And we pass along that knowledge to the client.”
When preparing their clients’ income taxes, the Garcias take the time to educate them on what they're entitled to.
“We teach them the correct and legal way to file their taxes, while getting the highest refund available,” Oscar Garcia said. “Sometimes, they learn so much that, next year, they choose to strike out on their own. Although we hate to see them go, it's just what happens when you do your job right.”
But while anyone can do their own taxes, not everyone is aware of the annual changes made by the IRS, Oscar Garcia warned. Only a registered professional tax preparer can keep track of all the ins and outs of the law.
“For example, one of the biggest changes we've had to date is regarding the Affordable Care Act,” he explained. “Most of our customers are regular working people. We've encountered instances where customers who did their own taxes weren't aware they had to report about Obamacare. Or they discovered a claim or exemption wasn't filed. If they seek help, we will help them make corrections to amend their returns.”
Along with precision income tax preparation, Refund Transmit Service can also help file back taxes and provides notary services and bookkeeping. A kiosk in the office is available for people who are tech-savvy but don't have their own computer.
“What I love most about this work is being our own boss and the relationships we've developed over the years with our clients,” Cynthia Garcia said. “We even have people who moved out of town that still send their taxes to us for filing because of the trust we've built over the years.”
Refund Transmit Service Income Tax is located at 3131 McArdle Road, Suite H at Kostoryz Plaza. For more information, call (361) 225-4546 or visit prep.1040.com/file-online.
