About HBS Financial Group, Ltd.
The HBS Financial Group, Ltd. had its beginning back in 1973, and was organized and incorporated as an accounting and tax preparation firm known as Harford Business Services, Ltd.. The original location of the office was in Forest Hill, Md. with a focus in Harford and Baltimore Counties.
The firm’s rapid growth was due primarily by referrals from their existing clients, however, to offer personalized one on one service, the number of new clients accepted was limited. To this day, this same philosophy still exists.
Several years ago, the firm moved its office to Towson, MD, and represents tax clients in approximately fourteen states. At the same time, the firm’s name was changed to HBS Financial Group, Ltd. They also added another service aimed at those taxpayers who prepared their own income tax returns. The firm offers very low cost online tax filing that includes the federal return plus as many state returns as is required, and free electronic filing. Through a national tax software vendor, 1040.com, they have partnered and are able to offer this low cost service.
Of course, the software offers a 100% accuracy guaranty, plus if a taxpayer needs assistance, an email is answered very quickly, usually in about a half hour. Also, the intuitive program makes sure that you get every deduction and tax credit that you are eligible for. The many testimonials from our satisfied clients will attest to this.
Our dedicated approach to personal service has been our goal from the beginning and is a philosophy that is responsible for our growth over the many years.
The firm’s founder, Gust A. Lenglet, has been an active tax preparer and accountant for over three decades, and is kept abreast of the many annual changes to the tax code by education courses. He maintains his accreditation by attending annual seminars conducted by two organizations that he is a member of. The National Association of Tax Preparers (NATP) and the Maryland Society of Accountants conduct all of the courses required.
The Internal Revenue Service for many years has been inundated with many tax returns that were either prepared incorrectly or improperly. As a result, they have instituted an education and testing program to ensure competency for those tax preparers who aren’t CPA’s, Enrolled Agents, or Attorneys, and plan to weed out the bad preparers. As of this writing in November 2012, of the approximate 350,000 preparers nationwide, just fewer than 5,000 preparers have passed the exam.
The owner of this firm passed this exam soon after it was instituted and was awarded the designation of Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTRP) by the Internal Revenue Service. As such, there are annual CPE courses required in tax law as well as ethics.
The firm still represents many business clients in numerous industries as well as professionals and other individuals for personal income tax preparation in their office and online.