⏱ 2 min read
A Kansas City tax preparer has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for filing false tax returns for clients, reaping a whopping $730,709 in restitution. Tanisha Spencer, 35, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the preparation of false tax returns on December 3, 2025.
Spencer, who charged clients up to $14,840 per return, prepared 156 false tax returns that claimed a staggering $4,047,531 in refunds. The IRS paid out $689,872.
The scheme unraveled after Spencer was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation. She used Facebook to find clients, who paid her to file returns with fake sick leave and family leave credits, illegitimate fuel tax credits, and inflated federal tax withholdings.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker led the prosecution, which was part of a larger effort to combat tax evasion. The case highlights the dangers of hiring unlicensed tax preparers and the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the authorities.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: White Collar Crime
- Defendant: Missouri
- Location: MO
- Source: DOJ Press Release
