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Maritza Villanueva, Tax Return Fraud, Texas 2024
A federal court in Texas has dealt a devastating blow to a local tax return preparer, permanently barring her from preparing federal income tax returns for others. Maritza Villanueva of Irving, Texas, was handed the permanent injunction order by Judge Jane J. Boyle of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
According to court documents, Villanueva worked for Action E-File Services in Irving, and allegedly claimed false tax credits and deductions for her customers, including false earned income tax credits. The Internal Revenue Service estimated that Villanueva’s customers underpaid their taxes, or received tax credits to which they were not entitled, in an amount exceeding $3 million.
The government complaint in the case alleged that Villanueva’s actions were a deliberate attempt to deceive the tax authorities and cheat her customers out of their hard-earned money. The court also ordered Villanueva to hand over any lists she possessed identifying individuals for whom she prepared any tax-related documents since Jan. 1, 2007.
Since 2001, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained hundreds of injunctions to stop the promotion of tax fraud schemes and the preparation of fraudulent returns. Information about these cases is available on the Justice website.
Villanueva’s actions are a stark reminder of the need for vigilance when it comes to dealing with tax return preparers. Homeowners and businesses in Texas and beyond are advised to exercise extreme caution when selecting a tax return preparer, and to always check for any red flags before handing over their financial information.
The court’s decision sends a clear message to would-be tax cheats and scammers: we will not tolerate this kind of behavior, and we will take swift action to protect the public from these types of crimes.
The case highlights the importance of the Justice Department’s efforts to combat tax fraud and protect the integrity of the tax system. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who seek to cheat the system are held accountable for their actions.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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