Federal Court Bars Louisiana Tax Return Preparer From Preparing Tax Returns

A federal court in New Orleans, Louisiana, entered a permanent injunction judgment against Adrienne Robinson Thomas, doing business as AT Tax Services, barring her from preparing federal tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today.

In its order, the court noted that the government’s complaint alleged that Thomas prepared fraudulent tax returns for her customers and filed false tax returns using taxpayers’ identifying information without their knowledge or authorization.

As stated in the court’s order, the government’s complaint also alleged that Thomas unlawfully prepared federal tax returns that lowered her customers’ federal tax liabilities by claiming bogus earned income tax credits, bogus child tax credits, false education credits, and fabricated household employee income and withholdings.

In addition, the order recites the government’s allegations that Thomas prepared fraudulent returns for taxpayers without the knowledge of those taxpayers, via identity theft.

Return preparer fraud was one of the IRS’s Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2018 and taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant. The IRS has some tips on their website for choosing a return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers.

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’s 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.