Jessyca Bernard, Tax Return Fraud, Florida 2024

Jessyca Bernard, owner of Proper Taxes, Inc. in Miami Gardens, Florida, has been permanently barred from preparing federal tax returns for others. Bernard agreed to a civil injunction order signed by Chief Judge K. Michael Moore of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The court’s decision was announced by the Justice Department today.

According to the complaint, Bernard fabricated losses for her customers’ side businesses in order to secure refunds to which her customers were not entitled. In one example cited in the complaint, Bernard prepared a customer’s tax returns that reported losses of more than $27,000 and $22,000 based upon fictitious expenditures for supplies, utilities, and medical expenses. Bernard also prepared a customer’s return that fabricated more than $11,000 in losses, including $8,000 in supplies for the customer’s side business of washing cars on weekends, according to the complaint.

Return preparer fraud was one of the IRS’s Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2018, and taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant. The IRS has some tips on its website for choosing a return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers.

In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.

Bernard is not the first tax preparer to be shut down for fraudulent activity. The Tax Division has a history of taking action against unscrupulous tax preparers, and taxpayers can take comfort in knowing that they have a resource to help protect them from these scams.

The IRS is urging taxpayers to be cautious when selecting a tax return preparer and to research their options thoroughly. By doing so, taxpayers can minimize their risk of falling victim to tax scams like the one orchestrated by Bernard.

As the tax season approaches, taxpayers should remain vigilant and take steps to protect themselves from fraudulent activity. By choosing a reputable tax return preparer and staying informed, taxpayers can ensure that their tax returns are accurate and legitimate.

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