Tax Preparers Get Busted for Fraudulent Practices
Every tax season is full of stories and tales of people who go to great lengths to avoid paying taxes. In addition there are dozens of reports of unscrupulous tax preparers that get caught trying to cheat the system: either their clients or the IRS, or both.
We want to share a few of those stories with you, which come from Accountingtoday.com. The first tale comes from Latham, NY, where a 52-year-old tax professional has pleaded guilty to false returns. The preparer admitted to preparing 16 returns that contained all kinds of false information, from false deductions for unreimbursed employee expenses to energy efficiency credits. The false returns were submitted between 2008 and 2011. He could face as much as three years in prison and a fine of $100,000.
Elsewhere, the Justice Department has asked a federal judge to permanently bar three Liberty Tax Service franchises in South Carolina after they allegedly prepared false returns in order to give their clients’ refunds a boost. According to the complaint, one franchise filed returns that included a “bogus ‘arts and crafts’ business on one of its client’s return and a bogus ‘hair care’ businesses on another’s.”
Meanwhile, another preparer, in Louisiana, will be spending two years behind bars and another year of supervised release, along with paying a hefty fine of more than $225,000 after he was convicted of filing a false personal income tax return and preparing bogus returns for many of his clients.
These are just a few examples of dishonest tax preparers that are out there. So now that tax season is in full swing, make sure you choose a tax preparer you can trust.
Late Obamacare Forms Could Be Big Problem for Taxpayers
While you may or may not like Obamacare, the fact is the president’s health care plan has caused problems at tax time since its inception. Apparently, this year is no different. According to a recent report, because of a delay in new tax forms for the health law this year, many taxpayers are facing more…
Don’t Forget About These Important Tax Write-Offs
The saying goes that it’s the small victories that count. That saying can be especially true during tax time when for many taxpayers any chance to save even a few dollars more is considered a positive. Plus, when you add up enough of the small victories they can equal a significant reward. With that in…
Have You Heard About These New Income Tax Changes?
February is almost over. Can you believe it? That means the annual income tax return deadline is fast approaching. If you still haven’t done your taxes then there are some important changes you should know about. Hopefully, if you’ve already filed, then you were aware of these changes beforehand. If not, and you think they…
Tell Me Your Value Equation
Every company feels like it has what it takes to make a difference in its customer’s lives. No matter what product or service they offer their clients, all companies feel like they can do it better than anyone else. So what makes one company stick out from another? Is it how much money that company…