Tax Cheat Banned: Sinani Busted for Inflating Client Deductions

A federal district court in Connecticut has permanently barred Elda Sinani, a resident of that state, from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. Sinani consented to the civil injunction order.

According to the government complaint, Sinani operated two businesses – Eagle Notary Public & Tax Service in Waterbury, Conn., from November 2001 through April 2004 and later Universe Travel & Legal Services in Hartford, Conn. The complaint alleges that she provided tax return preparation services through both of these businesses. The complaint further alleges that Sinani inflated deductions for her customers to which they otherwise were not entitled. An example identified in the complaint asserts that she frequently improperly reported her customers’ transfer of monies to family members as charitable contributions.

The complaint states that Sinani prepared more than 1,500 returns for the tax years 2003 through 2006. According to the complaint, the IRS has determined that the U.S. Treasury has incurred more than $300,000 in losses from tax returns prepared by Sinani and may have incurred losses exceeding $2.9 million.

Elda Sinani, a resident of Connecticut, was permanently barred from preparing federal tax returns for others by a federal district court in her home state. The civil injunction order was consented to by Sinani.

‘I want to thank Tax Division trial attorney Lisa Bellamy for her handling of this case,’ said Acting Assistant Attorney General John A. DiCicco. The Justice Department has obtained injunctions against more than 370 tax return preparers and tax-fraud promoters since 2001.

This case highlights the Justice Department’s continued efforts to protect the American people from tax scams and to ensure that tax return preparers act with integrity and honesty.

For more information on the Justice Department’s Tax Division, visit www.justice.gov/tax.