KC Tax Preparer Hayes Indicted in $1.2M Refund Scam

Virginia Marie Hayes, 32, of Kansas City, Mo., is facing 25 federal counts of making false claims to the government after allegedly running a fraudulent tax preparation scheme that ripped off taxpayers and the IRS.

Hayes, owner of KC Tax Professionals, LLC, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, on charges tied to the filing of bogus tax returns during the 2012 and 2013 tax seasons. The indictment, filed under seal, was unsealed following her arrest and initial court appearance in Kansas City.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, Hayes submitted returns that claimed refunds her clients were not entitled to—allegedly pocketing portions of the ill-gotten refunds. The total fraud exceeds $1.2 million in false claims filed with the federal government.

Each count in the indictment carries serious penalties, including fines up to $250,000 and up to five years in federal prison. Hayes now faces the full weight of federal prosecution for what officials describe as a calculated betrayal of trust.

“The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations,” warned U.S. Attorney Tammy Dickinson. “Evidence must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.”

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Casey and was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation. Authorities say the probe reveals a pattern of deception that exploited the tax system and harmed both clients and taxpayers nationwide.