Nadine Word Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Nadine Word, 35-year-old Columbus-based tax preparer, has pleaded guilty to charges of filing fraudulent tax returns and failing to pay personal taxes, according to the Department of Justice USAO for Georgia. The fraudulent activity is estimated to have cost taxpayers over $586,000.

Word, who operated Superior Taxes, admitted to preparing false tax returns that included虚假的 earned income credits, education credits, and business losses from at least 2014 to 2018. She faces a maximum of three years imprisonment and a fine of $100,000 for aiding and assisting in the preparation of fraudulent tax returns, along with an additional year of supervised release and a fine of $25,000 for her willful failure to file taxes.

“Tax preparers have an ethical and legal obligation to file correct tax returns for their clients,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Word’s actions not only harmed the public trust but also defrauded the IRS out of substantial funds.”

The investigation revealed that Word submitted false education credits for individuals who did not attend the schools listed on their tax forms, resulting in a tax loss of $556,145 alone. The IRS also evaluated 31 individual returns with false claims, leading to an additional loss of $64,767.

“As tax season is currently underway, this case serves as a stark reminder that committing tax fraud will lead to criminal prosecution,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office.

The case against Word was investigated by the IRS and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Helmick.

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