Shandon Allen, Tabitha Tunstall, Shewanda Hamilton, Tax Return Preparation Fraud, Tennessee 2023

Shandon Allen, Tabitha Tunstall, and Shewanda Hamilton, three individuals previously associated with Mo' Money Taxes stores in Memphis, Tennessee, have been sued by the United States in a civil injunction suit to bar them from owning or operating a tax return preparation business or preparing tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today.

The defendants, who have recently prepared tax returns under the names Southern King Taxes, Tabitha's Taxes, LaQuita's Professional Tax Service, and Cash King Tax Service, allegedly prepare fraudulent tax returns that cause their customers to incorrectly report their federal tax liabilities and underpay their taxes, according to the complaint.

The complaint alleges that the defendants and their employees prepare federal tax returns on which they falsely claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, improper filing status, and bogus education credits. Additionally, the defendants and their employees allegedly improperly prepare tax returns using paystubs rather than W-2 forms, fabricate bogus W-2 forms, and file tax returns without customers' consent while charging deceptive and unconscionable fees, according to the suit.

The United States previously obtained an injunction permanently barring the owners of Mo' Money Taxes, Markey Granberry and Derrick Robinson, as well as a former Mo' Money manager, Eumora Reese, from preparing tax returns for others and owning or operating a tax return preparation business.

The case is part of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2014. The IRS has some tips on their website for choosing a tax preparer. 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 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.

Defendant/Respondent: Shandon Allen, Tabitha Tunstall, and Shewanda Hamilton

Criminal Charges: Tax Return Preparation Fraud

City and State: Memphis, Tennessee

Exact Date: Not specified

Sentence or Outcome: Civil injunction suit

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-three-owners-memphis-area-tax-return-preparation-stores