According to a Department of Justice press release, the United States is seeking to prevent a Washington state tax professional from preparing tax returns for her clients after she was accused of preparing thousands of falsified tax returns. This story illustrates the lengths that the IRS and Department of Justice will go to ensure that those engaging in tax-related crimes are stopped. If you have failed to file a tax return for one or more years, or have filed a tax return but underreported income or overstated deductions, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced tax defense attorney to get right with the government before you are the subject of an examination or investigation.
Tax Preparer Accused of Falsifying Thousands of Tax Returns
Court records reveal that Soledad Rubio is the owner and operator of GIG Universal Multi Servicios. GIG assisted thousands of taxpayers to file tax returns between 2014 and 2019. When Rubio prepared clients’ tax returns on behalf of GIG, the Department of Justice alleges that she underreported tax due using phony itemized deductions, certain fraudulent employee business expenses, and the utilization of certain tax credits that her clients were not entitled to.
Investigators from the IRS estimate that GIG prepared approximately 5,200 tax returns between 2016 and 2017 and of that, Rubio was responsible for preparing approximately 2,400. As a part of their investigation into Rubio, the IRS interviewed several taxpayers who had paid GIG for tax preparation services. On average, GIG-prepared tax returns underreported tax by approximately $3,400. Specifically, Rubio-prepared tax returns specifically averaged just over $3,000 of underreported tax due.
This Department of Justice action is civil in nature and is intended to prevent Rubio from preparing tax returns in the future. Though, additional criminal actions may be taken, up to prosecution for tax crimes such as aiding in the preparation of a false tax return.
Have You Underreported Income or Overstated Deductions in the Past? It’s Time to Come into Compliance and Avoid Criminal Tax prosecution.
Although the target of this Department of Justice action was a tax preparer, the notion that the IRS and Department of Justice continue to aggressively pursue those who attempt to get one over on the government come tax time. If you have filed a tax return that fails to accurately report your full amount of income, overstates deductions, or utilizes credits to which you are not entitled, you may be at risk for IRS examination, investigation, or prosecution. Likewise, if you have failed to timely file a tax return for one or more years, you are at risk and should consult with an experienced tax defense attorney.
Together, you and your seasoned tax lawyer will develop the pertinent facts of your case and determine your level of civil or criminal exposure. Then, you will jointly decide the best course of action to bring you into tax compliance while attempting to mitigate some of the potentially harsh consequences that would otherwise come with an IRS examination, investigation, or prosecution. One of the biggest benefits of being represented by a tax defense attorney is not having to face the IRS or Department of Justice alone. Instead, you can focus your time and energy on the things that really matter.
Note: As long as a taxpayer that has willfully committed tax crimes (potentially including non-filed foreign information returns coupled with affirmative evasion of U.S. income tax on offshore income) self-reports the tax fraud (including a pattern of non-filed returns) through a domestic or offshore voluntary disclosurebefore the IRS has started an audit or criminal tax investigation / prosecution, the taxpayer can ordinarily be successfully brought back into tax compliance and receive a nearly guaranteed pass on criminal tax prosecution and simultaneously often receive a break on the civil penalties that would otherwise apply.
It is imperative that you hire an experienced and reputable criminal tax defense attorney to take you through the voluntary disclosure process. Only an Attorney has the Attorney Client Privilege and Work Product Privileges that will prevent the very professional that you hire from being potentially being forced to become a witness against you, especially where they prepared the returns that need to be amended, in a subsequent criminal tax audit, investigation or prosecution.
Moreover, only an Attorney can enter you into a voluntary disclosure without engaging in the unauthorized practice of law (a crime in itself). Only an Attorney trained in Criminal Tax Defense fully understands the risks and rewards involved in voluntary disclosures and how to protect you if you do not qualify for a voluntary disclosure.
As uniquely qualified and extensively experienced Criminal Tax Defense Tax Attorneys, KovelCPAs and EAs, our firm provides a one stop shop to efficiently achieve the optimal and predictable results that simultaneously protect your liberty and your net worth. See our Testimonials to see what our clients have to say about us!
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Regardless of your business or estate needs, the professionals at the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing are here for you. We are open for business and our team will help ensure that your business is too. Contact the Law Offices of David W. Klasing today to discuss your business with one of our professionals.
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More Commonly Asked Tax Audit Questions
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Questions and Answers for Criminal Tax Representation
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- Can I Change Accounting Method to the Accrual Method
- What is the willfulness requirement for tax evasion?
- I didn’t know I committed tax fraud. Can I get off?
- Concealed assets from IRS. Can I avoid tax evasion charges
- How government proves I willfully engaged in tax evasion
- What is the venue or court where a tax crime case is heard?
- Must the IRS prove tax crimes beyond a reasonable doubt?
- Is it a crime to make false statements to the IRS?
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- Failed to tell IRS about my nominee account
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