Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Tax preparer arrested in filing of false returns

A Las Vegas tax preparer was arrested Monday after being indicted earlier this month on charges of filing false tax returns, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Maria Garcia, 50, has been charged with 20 counts of aiding and assisting in filing false tax returns and one count of obstruction of revenue laws, officials said. Authorities arrested Garcia in Laughlin.

The indictment alleges that Garcia prepared false tax returns from January 2008 through the middle of March 2012, resulting in a tax loss of nearly $109,000. The tax returns included false entries for items such as dependents, exemptions, filing status, education and child tax credits, among others.

This isn’t Garcia’s first brush with the IRS. The IRS previously revoked Garcia’s electronic filing identification numbers for filing multiple fraudulent tax returns on behalf of her customers, officials said.

The indictment charges Garcia with using electronic filing identification numbers and preparer tax identification numbers that were assigned to other tax preparers.

Garcia faces up to three years in prison for each fraudulent tax return prepared and $100,000 fines, if convicted.

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