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Steven Doletzky, Tax Return Preparer Fraud, Florida 2024
A federal court in Tampa, Florida has permanently barred Steven Doletzky, formerly doing business as Liberty Tax Service, from operating a tax return preparation business and preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today.
According to the complaint, employees at stores owned by Doletzky prepared federal income tax returns that claimed fraudulent claims for tax credits, including for education credits and the Earned Income Tax Credit (“EITC”). For example, the complaint alleges that from 2013 to 2015, Liberty Tax Service stores owned by Doletzky or his co-defendants prepared and filed federal income tax returns that claimed over 500 false claims for education credits.
The court also ordered Doletzky to disgorge $175,000 of ill-gotten gains that the United States alleges he received from filing federal tax returns that claimed improper tax refunds, understated customers’ federal tax liabilities, or otherwise included false or fraudulent claims.
Doletzky was sued along with two co-defendants, Michael Garno and Michael Bass. According to the complaint, employees at stores owned by Doletzky, Garno, and Bass prepared federal income tax returns that claimed fraudulent claims for tax credits.
“Fraudulent tax return preparers too often seek to take advantage of their customers and the U.S. Treasury, which undermines our tax system,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division Richard Zuckerman. “The Justice Department will pursue those who would abuse our nation’s tax laws.”
The IRS has information on their website about things taxpayers should remember when searching for a tax preparer and has a free directory of federal tax preparers. In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers.
If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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