Meet Melinda Tolbert of MJ Tolbert Tax Audit Group

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melinda Tolbert.

Melinda, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Columbus, GA. I felt like the odds were stacked against me at birth. My mother had an addiction, so my grandparents raised me. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t live with my mom and siblings as a child, but now I’m grateful and understand it was a setup for success in many ways.

My grandmother was a janitor at Winterfield Elementary. My grandfather had a successful landscaping business. I learned the importance of treating the janitor with the same respect as the CEO at a very young age. Granny didn’t play!

Working with my grandfather during the summer and witnessing him run a business with so much passion and provide job opportunities for families inspired me and sparked my entrepreneurship fire.

A disadvantage of being raised in the hood is that the resources needed for guidance, growth, and mentorship were little to none. At a very young age, I wanted to be an attorney. But unfortunately, no one in my reach could help me attain my dreams. I’ve always been a dreamer and had crazy faith that I would break generational curses and create generational wealth.

In 1999 my dreams were put on hold. Although I felt like another disappointment at the time, I received one of the greatest blessings of my life. I got pregnant and decided to drop out of high school to raise my firstborn. Like many others, I got on government assistance, got a project apartment, then section 8. Unfortunately, for our culture, that was the norm. I didn’t use the government as a permanent crutch. I had a plan, and for me, it was only temporary.

Sixteen years ago, I became a business owner after being fired from a fortune 500 company because my leave of absence from an illness was exhausted. I vowed to never commit my all to another company that will throw you away like a sheet of paper when you’re at your lowest.

What’s that old expression? “If you want to hide something from a black person, put it in a book.” That quote turned me into a bookworm. I researched and tapped into my local resources available for business owners and discovered SBDC. The Small Business Development Center was a free resource that changed my life. I received the education all business owners need to operate and scale a business. The relationships built with people who helped my business thrive are priceless.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not! The constant challenge for me was always financing. Not having access to the funds needed to market and grow your business will cause you to become creative or get discouraged and quit. I always chose the creative route. Sadly, funding is an ongoing challenge for many mom-and-pop businesses that impacts the community the most.

Balance is challenging at times when you have a family. I’m a wife and mother of three. You’re constantly trying to stay afloat, keep your business running effectively, and thrive. Cash flow isn’t always consistent when starting and growing a business. Some weeks you exceed your goals; others, you’re not close to it. However, to succeed, you must take the bad with the good, look at failure as lessons, and keep pushing.

I thank God for my husband and kids. When I wanted to quit, he didn’t allow it. He usually let me have my way, but he stood firm on that. I’ll forever be grateful for his love and support.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I own a successful, award-winning Tax Resolution Firm with a team of Tax Attorneys and Enrolled Agents located in Atlanta and Columbus, GA. I dedicated my career to helping individuals and businesses solve their IRS problems permanently.

My most outstanding achievement in business is becoming an Enrolled Agent with the Internal Revenue Service. EAs are America’s tax experts and hold the IRS’ highest credential. We are federally-authorized tax practitioners with technical expertise in the field of taxation and empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service.

My dream as a little girl to become an attorney is somewhat happening. It wasn’t the road I planned, but I understand God’s plans are always more incredible. This journey hasn’t been easy, but worth it. I now proudly and humbly represent taxpayers and business owners before the IRS.

I also provide Litigation Support, Tax Fraud Investigation, and Bankruptcy Discharge Analysis to Attorneys.

This fall, I’ll be hosting one of the largest Business Conferences and Expo to help provide small businesses with the resources and connections to help start or scale their business.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking?
I’ve always been a risk-taker. I risked my entire life savings when I first started. To date, I still take risks because I know my passion and understand my purpose. The love I have for taxes and the joy it brings me from helping people beat the IRS at their own game is my gift and assignment from God.

Sometimes we’re in our own way. I had to learn that the need for everything to be perfect is impossible. Once I stepped out of my comfort zone and stopped expecting others to understand my journey, I became so free.

God has not failed me, not once. Some call them risks. I consider them sacrifices. Every setback was a setup for a comeback.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mjtax.com
• Instagram: melinda_tolbert
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taxreliefqueen
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MelindaTolbert
• Other: https://issuu.com/myretag/docs/mj_tag_final_brochure_2022_sml

Image Credits
Jeno Photography Lester Booth Photography