Bellevue, Washington tax preparer indicted for aiding and assisting with false tax returns

Seattle – A 63-year-old Bellevue, Washington, tax preparer was indicted this week on 14 counts of aiding and assisting with the preparation and presentation of false tax returns, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Thanjavur Manavalan, the owner and operator of Mano Accounting Services, made his initial appearance on the indictment today. He entered a plea of “not guilty,” and trial was scheduled in front of U.S. District Judge Lauren King on February 20, 2024.

According to the indictment, Manavalan falsified a variety of items on clients’ tax returns, including charitable contributions, proceeds and initial price (basis) of investments sold, business losses, rental income, and private loans. Manavalan’s tax preparation business filed thousands of returns and grew substantially over the course of the fraud scheme.

The indictment lists 14 different tax returns for tax years 2018-2020 alleged to contain false and fraudulent information. The total tax loss to the U.S. Treasury from the 14 counts charged in the indictment is estimated to exceed $500,000. Manavalan has owned and operated Mano Accounting Services since 2004.

Aiding and assisting with the preparation and presentation of a false tax return is punishable by up to three years in prison.

The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David T. Martin.