Christian Accountant Says Lesbians Trying to ‘Destroy Business’ After Declining to File Taxes Jointly as ‘Married’
RUSSIAVILLE, Ind. — An accountant in Indiana is under criticism after she told a lesbian client that she cannot file her taxes jointly as “married” due to her Christian convictions.
According to reports, Nancy Fivecoate of Carter Tax Service has served homosexual clients for years and continues to do so. She has specifically prepared tax returns Bailey Brazzel for four years, filing her taxes as an individual.
Earlier this month, Brazzel took her partner Samantha, whom she “married” in July, to Carter Tax Service to file jointly as a couple for the first time.
Fivecoate told her that she couldn’t file the two jointly, as her convictions will not allow her to sign her name to the document. She offered to either file separately or provide a referral to another tax agency.
However, the women took to social media about the matter, and the press soon also began contacting the women for comment.
“It’s not professional to me to turn someone away because they do something differently than you would like,” Brazzel, 25, told the Indianapolis Star.
“I don’t understand it,” share also remarked to Yahoo Lifestyle. “Nancy said she files tax returns for gay clients, but only if they’re not married.”
Fivecoate says that she has now received numerous calls attacking her over the matter, and her husband told Fox59 News that he is becoming concerned for the safety of their family.
“For many years I have had several gay clients. I still have gay clients,” Fivecoate said in a statement. “The LGBT want respect for their beliefs, which I give them. I did not say anything about their lifestyle. That is their choice. It is not my choice. Where is there respect for my beliefs?”
“I am not trying to destroy them by dragging them through social media. Why are they trying to destroy my name?” she asked. “I have made no comment on social media. Where is there respect for me and my beliefs?”
The women have since utilized another tax preparer.
Become a Christian News Network Supporter...Tax accountant allegedly couldn't file same-sex couple's taxes because 'it's against my Christian beliefs'
A tax accountant who denied a same-sex married couple service is grumbling that her business is being destroyed by a smear campaign.
Bailey Brezzel has been utilizing Carter’s Tax Service in Russiaville, Indiana, for the past five years, however, on Tuesday, when she and her new wife Samantha went to file their 2018 taxes with owner Nancy Fivecoate, they were allegedly turned away, according to the Indy Star.
“Nancy asked if I was filing single this year and when I answered, ‘Married jointly’ she said, ‘Oh no, I can’t do that — it’s against my Christian beliefs,'” Bailey, 25, tells Yahoo Lifestyle.
Bailey says that Fivecoate filed her taxes during a 2018 appointment at which she introduced Samantha as her then-girlfriend. “I don’t understand it,” she tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “Nancy said she files tax returns for gay clients but only if they’re not married.”
Fivecoate did not reply to Yahoo Lifestyle’s interview request. She told the Indy Star that she has been victimized by the couple. “I’ve never repeated her name to anyone … I haven’t answered social media. I’ve done absolutely nothing except (follow) my religious beliefs. I cannot put my name on that return.”
“I am a Christian and I believe marriage is between one man and one woman,” Fivecoate said. “The LGBT want respect for their beliefs, which I give them. I did not say anything about their lifestyle. That is their choice. It is not my choice. Where is their respect for my beliefs?”
Samantha and Bailey Brazzel of Indiana claim a Russiaville tax account turned them away because they’re in a same-sex marriage. (Photo: Facebook/Bailey Brazzel)
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Fivecoate, who owns Carter Tax Service, told the Indianapolis news station RTV6 in a statement that she declined to prepare Bailey’s taxes because of religious beliefs. “I am a Christian and I believe marriage is between one man and one woman. I was very respectful to them. I told them where I thought she might be able to get her taxes prepared,” she said. “For many years I have had several gay clients. I still have gay clients. A few years ago, I had a couple of gay clients that married. When it was time to prepare their taxes they called me and asked if I had a problem since they were married. I told them that as a Christian that I could not prepare their taxes. I thanked them for calling and wished them well.”
The statement continued, “The LGBT want respect for their beliefs, which I give them. I did not say anything about their lifestyle. That is their choice. It is not my choice.” Fivecoate went on to ask where for respect for her beliefs as well: “I am not trying to destroy them by dragging them through social media. Why are they trying to destroy my business? I have made no comment on social media. Where is their respect for me and my beliefs?”
Bailey and Samantha left Fivecoate’s office and went to H&R Block, where they filed their taxes. “The employees were nice and even apologized for what happened to us,” Bailey tells Yahoo Lifestyle.
In 2015, then governor and current Vice President Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, allowing companies to use their religious beliefs as a defense in lawsuits filed by private parties, according to the American Bar Association. (Indiana adopted its version of the law from a 1991 federal one by the same name and signed by then-president Bill Clinton). As explained by the Indy Star, the law can’t touch certain ordinances in Indiana with anti-discrimination policies in place, however Russiaville is not one of them.
Bailey tells Yahoo Lifestyle that Fivecoate behaved within her rights, however, she’d like to see the laws changed. “We really want to shed light on this — we’re speaking up for people who can’t.”
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Former accountant arrested on suspicion of stealing $70K from Boulder businesses
Basden
A former accountant for Boulder-based businesses LifeSpa Professional and LifeSpa Products was arrested Tuesday after being accused of stealing from the businesses.
Danielle Alexis Basden, 32, is facing a felony charge of theft/more than $20,000 but less than $100,000.
According to an arrest affidavit, Basden was hired in November 2015. Her employer alleges she stole $70,000 from the LifeSpa companies between December 2016 and September 2018.
Her employer told police he would leave pre-signed checks with Basden when he was out of town so she could pay bills. In September 2018, he realized he was short on his taxes.
While investigating the tax issue, he discovered that Basden was writing the pre-signed checks to herself, as well as extra payroll checks, and was putting money into her Paypal account, according to the affidavit.
The employer's lawyer advised him to confront Basden and not go to the police. When he did so, Basden "admitted to everything" and signed a confession, the affidavit states.
The employer gave police copies of the confession, copies of the checks she wrote to herself and screenshots from Quickbooks. According to the affidavit, the confession stated Basden would pay her employer back by Sept. 28. In October, Basden stopped returning her employer's calls, prompting him to report the theft to police.
Boulder police attempted to contact Basden in October, according to the affidavit, but were unsuccessful.
According to Colorado court records, she has no previous arrests.
Madeline St. Amour: 303-684-5212, mstamour@prairiemountainmedia.com
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