Grimy Times has uncovered a massive tax return preparer fraud scheme in California, with Maria Guitron, also known as Maria Lopez, and her business, Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service, at the center of the scandal.
The Justice Department filed a civil complaint against Guitron and Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California on [Date] alleging that they have allegedly prepared tax returns for customers that falsely understated their federal income tax liabilities by fabricating businesses and business expenses and fabricating and inflating deductions for child, dependent and education expenses.
According to the complaint, the IRS sent Guitron at least 11 letters notifying her of issues with the tax returns she prepared or sought improvements in her preparation from 2011 to 2019. The complaint also alleges that the IRS previously found that Guitron had violated due diligence requirements when determining her customers’ eligibility for tax credits in 2013 and 2014, imposing fines of $23,000 against her in 2015. Despite repeated written warnings and prior fines, Guitron and Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service allegedly continued to prepare and file thousands of false tax returns every year.
As the complaint states, the IRS reviewed tax returns from 2019 through 2023 and interviewed a random sample of 51 customers of Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service from the 2019 tax year. According to the complaint, the IRS found that of those 51 customers, 38 had returns that understated their tax liabilities, resulting in approximately $103,474 in lost tax revenue to the United States from those returns alone. The complaint alleges that Guitron and Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service have prepared and filed more than 2,000 tax returns each year since 2019, likely resulting in millions of dollars each year in direct financial harm to the United States in lost tax revenue.
Guitron’s conduct also allegedly harmed customers by exposing them to statutory penalties and accruing interest for tax underpayments. The complaint seeks to enjoin Guitron and Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing federal income tax returns for others.
Defendant: Maria Guitron, also known as Maria Lopez, both individually and doing business as Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service, with a location in Modesto, California. Charges: Allegedly preparing false tax returns for customers, fabricating businesses and business expenses, and fabricating and inflating deductions for child, dependent and education expenses. City and State: Modesto, California. Exact Date: Not specified in the complaint. Sentence or Outcome: The Justice Department has filed a civil complaint against Guitron and Angel’s Bookkeeping & Tax Service, seeking an injunction against them from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing federal income tax returns for others. Dollar Amounts: $23,000 in fines imposed against Guitron in 2015 and approximately $103,474 in lost tax revenue to the United States from the 51 customer returns reviewed by the IRS.}
Related Federal Cases
- Amy Evangelista, Tax Return Fraud, Lathrop CA, 2023 · California
- Amy Evangelista, Tax Fraud, California 2023 · California
- Christopher Guilford, Tax Refund Scheme, California 2025 · Alaska
- Amy Evangelista, Tax Evasion, California 2026 · New York
- Nazaret Chakrian, ID Theft and Wire Fraud, California 2023 · Idaho
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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