Slowly but steadily, a small one-man tax firm has grown from being housed in a rented room in 1993 to a much larger scale operation located in one of the most impressive “store fronts” on Russellville’s Carrico Square, a site which has recently undergone major remodeling inside and out.
Ironically, this business with a solid foundation built on a look-before-you-leap platform is named Refunds Express.
Lewisburg native Jeff Fuller started Fuller’s Tax Service in 1993 in one room of a furniture business owned and operated by his parents, James and Sue Fuller, on East Fourth Street in Russellville.
As his business outgrew its small space, Fuller not only rented a much larger and more visible office space, but he changed the named to Refunds Express. In 2001 the move was made to the long-time home of the Henry B. Edwards clothing store on Main Street in the heart of downtown Russellville. The Refunds Express name comes from the central focus of the tax
business, a quick turnaround on getting taxpayers’ refunds to them without having to wait for the Internal Revenue Service to process the tax form and issue the check.
Although Fuller and his wife Corrie also do accounting work for clients in several states year-round and prepare more complicated tax reports for many businesses, for several years about 80 percent of their annual revenue came within a four-week period from Jan. 15-Feb. 15.
“Although businesses have until the end of January to prepare a W-2 form for their employees, many people get them with their first check in the middle of January. They often come to us as soon as they have that form, and we get their money to them as soon as possible,” Jeff says.
If clients are eligible for simple forms without complications like self-employment involved, the Fullers can prepare the paperwork and immediately submit it on special software. In most cases, a bank with which Refunds Express is affiliated then will authorize the Logan County company to provide the refund money to the customer in from one to fifteen days, less a fee for the loan and the tax preparation. Fees are much smaller now than they were when companies started offering tax refund loans a few decades ago.
The Fullers’ tax services and clientele have become much more diverse over the years. Jeff now says it’s “about 50-50” between those wanting Refunds Express and those filing more traditional and complicated forms.
Two years after moving into their Main Street location, the Fullers were surprised when building owner Billy Edwards offered to sell the entire 3,800 square foot structure to them, not just the front section they use for Refunds Express. Because of Edwards’ health concerns, a decision had to be made soon. Jeff and Corrie bit the bullet, borrowed the money and became owners of one of the more desirable locations in downtown Russellville, not far from anchors First Southern National Bank and Riley-White Drugs. Because of the unexpected capital outlay, improvements to the appearance of the office had to be delayed, the Fullers explain.
One year as they were preparing to remodel, an ice storm of legendary proportions kept people in Logan and surrounding counties from traveling, which cut the volume of early tax returns being filed. Suddenly the money which had been set aside for remodeling was needed for other expenses.
“Actually the delay worked to our benefit, since Main Street Russellville undertook a major renovation program for downtown in the fall of 2010, and we were qualified for matching funding for our exterior renovation,” Jeff says. “We were able to do more as a result.”
Although the exterior appearance was greatly improved, the Fullers suffered a setback when the building’s most impressive feature, the front window, was broken in the process. That window, which is a 10 by 13 single pane, is believed to be the largest in the old buildings along Main Street. Panes that size are not readily available anymore. Main Street’s insurance would pay only part of the cost of a new one, and most of the glass dealers the Fullers contacted wanted to replace it with multiple panes. The Fullers decided that the single pane was important to the character and appearance of their building, and paid the difference themselves. They are glad they did. The exterior work includes a cloth awning instead of the older metal one.
Recently the Fullers have remodeled the interior office space. Among the features are enhanced lighting, both track lights and chandeliers, plus new paneling, desks, chairs, art work and a fireplace. There’s even an area for the children of clients to sit while taxes are being prepared.
An open house on Customer Appreciation Day is scheduled Friday, Feb. 10, to celebrate Refunds Express having been in the building for 10 years and to let the public see the improvements which have been made.
The remaining portion of the Fullers’ building, which is accessed from the parking area between Main Street and the Electric Plant Board, is available for lease. The telephone number is 270-726-7035.
Appointments are not necessary at Refunds Express. Those wishing to obtain a fast return of their refunds can be served on a walk-in basis.
“The future looks good for us,” Jeff Fuller says. “We’re well established on a solid foundation.”