Hayward Tax Return Preparer Sentenced To Two Years In Prison

OAKLAND – Runnveer Singh was sentenced today to two years in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $124,528 for aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas McMahon.

Singh, 54, of Hayward, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.  According to his plea agreement, Singh admitted that for the tax years 2009 through 2011, he prepared false tax returns claiming both false and ineligible deductions and credits for clients.  The false items included unreimbursed employee expenses, charitable deductions, schedule C business expenses, education credits, personal property tax, and other schedule A expenses.  By including these items on his clients’ tax returns, he caused the IRS to issue inflated tax refunds of at least $130,435.

On November 14, 2012, during the execution of a search warrant at Singh’s Hayward residence, he told IRS Special Agents that he knowingly prepared false tax returns in order to obtain returning customers.  Following the execution of the search warrant and his statement to IRS-CI Special Agents, Singh instructed one of his clients to submit both false and ineligible information to an IRS Revenue Agent during the audit of his 2010 income tax return.  Singh did so to justify the false and ineligible business expenses he reported on the client’s 2010 tax return.

Singh operated his tax return preparation business in Hayward from 2008 through 2013. During the six year period, he obtained clients from the local Fijian community and prepared thousands of income tax returns.  

The sentence was handed down today by the Honorable Jon S. Tigar, U.S. District Judge. Judge Tigar also sentenced the defendant to a one-year period of supervised release, with the condition that the defendant not prepare state or federal tax returns, and ordered him to pay $124,528 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. The defendant will begin serving the sentence on September 30, 2015.

Assistant US Attorney Thomas Moore is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.