I am writing this post to ask for recommendations and guidance on my situation described below.
So I was one of those unfortunate letgo during Covid. At the end of the year, KPMG helped me with the tax return and declared that Chevron was responsible partly to repay my tax. Total was over $70K in which Chevron paid $20K. So I was clear with that. A few months later, I received email from Chevron FSS (Expat Service) requesting me to repay this $20K. First I thought it was a scam but then every few months I received another one. The latest one, last week, threaten to take "serious actions.
First, are those real?
Second, I thought Chevron was responsible for the portion and if they agreed to pay part of it, why raised the issue now
Last and most importantly, what can I do to get out from this mess? I am not wealthy or anything and doesn't seem to be fair I have to pay for their "mistakes". Please help
15 replies (most recent on top)
This is on KPMG, not you.
Thanks for all the advices. I have tried to contact them and hope for the best. As mentioned, I did pay my part that KPMG requested which actually was closed to $70K. Chevron paid another $20K.
Chevron will give up on you relatively quickly if you refuse to pay. I work in CVX Finance and I’ve seen many occasions where HR sends former expats hollow threat letters. Then when the former employee deuces to pay, HR decides it’s “more expensive to go after than it’s worth.”
…….Then if the HR person is not a white male, they get promoted. Double bump if they use pronouns in the email signature.
Every time I met with anyone from KPMG they were under 25 and straight out of school. These people do your taxes. What do you expect?
I would consult with a tax CPA and then follow their advice.
Gather your tax documentation first. Determine roughly the incremental tax on your expat pay. Then call KPMG and state your case on tax for your account (on your global base pay & bonus) and the amount that CVX owes (tax on all expat pay, benefits and equalization gross up)
Tell them you have recalculated the taxes and the error is actually in your favor and you would like them to send you $30,000 immediately.
If you have your severance and lump sum in hand I don't think there is much they can do except take you to court.
Hope you enjoyed those expat benefits. Time to pay up.
Thats not the issue.
Look back at your original KPMG reconcilliation. If it said the company pays $20 k then why should it change now? Call KPMG and demand an explanation. Show them the original reconciliation and say it is their fault if they erred the first time.
Right. Don't pay your taxes. nor pay back those who you owe money. That's good advice.
Don't pay them anything! I hope that you have kept records and documents. Call Chevron and tell them that you have documentation that they owe this money not you. It is a scam. I have been through this. If you stand up to them, they will move on to someone else who is stupid enough to send them money. It is an attempt to scare you into paying. Ask yourself, what action will they take. Taxes have already been paid. It's over. You can consult with a tax attorney or CPA.
I'd just like to note that it's good that you are posting this in the right place. We certainly have all the answers here on this forum and are more knowledgeable than any of the company administrators, in fact more than all of them combined. And if you can't find the answer here, you can try Reddit, Twitter, FB and of course the ever reliable Yahoo! comments section. Good luck with your search for an answer to your conundrum.
Call them. I received a similar email but after clicking through to KPMG the amount they wanted me to repay was $5. So, I just repaid it. For $20K, I’d get on the phone immediately and not go away until they give you a satisfactory explanation. Good luck.
Call them.
Not much help. Sorry there. Chevron does some shady cr-p when it comes to expat assignments and tax obligations. One such example being reflecting the cost of any work related plane flights as income on your W2. Never could get a clear explanation from payroll how I was seeing this as income. Hope you get it sorted