Aminta Smith, Filing False Income Tax Returns, North Carolina 2023
Federal Jury Convicts Former Tax Return Preparer of Filing False Income Tax ReturnsCharlotte, NC - In a recent verdict, a federal jury in Charlotte, North Carolina, has convicted a former tax return preparer, Aminta Smith, 32, of Charlotte, of filing false tax returns for her clients and herself.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina, Aminta Smith used false entries, including fabricated wages and business expenses, to capitalize on the Earned Income Tax Credit, which resulted in higher refunds for her clients. Smith earned more than $300,000 between 2013 and 2015 for preparing tax returns and failed to report the bulk of that income on her own tax returns.
Smith was found guilty of filing false income tax returns for her clients, including false education credits, false W-2 wages, and false Schedule C businesses to inflate the refunds paid by the IRS. In addition to filing fraudulent income tax returns for her clients, Smith falsified her own income tax returns by underreporting the fees she earned in her tax preparation business for tax years 2013-2015 and failing to disclose that she was engaged in the operation of a tax preparation business.
“Tax return preparers who, for themselves or others, prepare fraudulent returns and otherwise manipulate our tax system will be prosecuted for their conduct and be held accountable,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Tax Division. “Knowingly preparing and filing fraudulent tax returns is a crime,” said Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line. “IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to pursuing dishonest return preparers to hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
At trial, the evidence presented showed that Aminta Smith prepared income tax returns for clients that claimed false education credits, false W-2 wages, and false Schedule C businesses to inflate the refunds paid by the IRS. In addition to filing fraudulent income tax returns for her clients, Smith falsified her own income tax returns by underreporting the fees she earned in her tax preparation business for tax years 2013-2015 and failing to disclose that she was engaged in the operation of a tax preparation business. The evidence also showed that Smith earned more than $300,000 between 2013 and 2015 for preparing tax returns and failed to report the bulk of that income on her own tax returns.
A sentencing date has not been set. Smith faces a maximum possible sentence of three years in prison on each count, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Murray commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley and Trial Attorney Allison Garnett of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case. The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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