Some Philadelphia Area Tax Preparers Charged With Fraud

Some professional tax preparers in the Philadelphia area have been charged with tax fraud for alleged misdeeds on client tax returns.

2012-07-25

July 25, 2012 (Press-News.org) "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." It is an old adage, but it bears repeating. Unfortunately, a recent article in Forbes magazine reveals that many innocent taxpayers who think they are getting something good and having their taxes professionally prepared for a low price are instead becoming the victims of tax scams by trusting "unscrupulous preparers."

Although most tax preparers continue to run honest and legitimate practices, some are taking advantage of clients. Three professionals in the Philadelphia area alone were barred from continuing to offer their services. Although clients may have trusted the professional advice of these wrongdoing preparers, the taxpayers themselves are still on the hook for back taxes, interest and any associated penalties.

Taxpayers are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of their tax returns, so trusting a dishonest professional tax preparer could result in charges of criminal tax evasion or other tax-related criminal offenses.

The Forbes magazine report detailed a number of improper deductions submitted by unscrupulous tax preparers on behalf of innocent taxpayers. These include:
- Claiming the first-time homebuyer credit
- Claiming an earned-income credit
- Claiming false dependents
- Claiming deductions for business expenses that did not qualify

The penalties associated with tax evasion and tax fraud are steep. A person found guilty of purposeful tax evasion can face up to five years in federal prison and a maximum fine of to $250,000. As a result, it is important to distinguish between an honest mistake and a willful violation, but any allegation of tax fraud or evasion must be taken seriously. If you or a loved one is charged with such an allegation, it is important to seek the counsel of an experienced tax attorney to help ensure that your legal rights are protected.

Article provided by The Law Offices of Mark J. Werksman
Visit us at www.werksmanlaw.com

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Tasers: Useful Tool or Excessive Force?

2012-07-25

The United States Supreme Court has refused to hear two cases regarding the use of Tasers by law enforcement, missing an opportunity to clarify existing law and better protect Taser victims injured by law enforcement in the line of duty. While the high court has yet to evaluate their use, many in the legal community question the use of these painful devices when trying to subdue individuals suspected of a crime. A Missed Opportunity to Clarify Taser Law In one case, three police officers from Seattle wanted a chance to clear their names from an excessive use of ...

Is it Constitutional to Ban Sex Offenders From Social Networks?

2012-07-25

Last month, a Federal District Court Judge in Indianapolis upheld an Indiana law prohibiting sex offenders from accessing social networking websites after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) challenged the law as part of a class action on behalf of sex offenders. The judge reasoned that the law did not violate the constitutional rights of a defendant. The constitutionality of banning sex offenders from Internet websites has been brought to light recently and continues to be a hot topic. The Case In the most recent case of Doe v. Prosecutor, Marion County, ...

Texas Child Support Orders After the Age of Majority

2012-07-25

Most people understand the basics of child support. They know that child support payments are ordered to provide funds for the care and welfare of children. The money is generally paid with blanket instructions to the children's caregivers to use the money for the children's physical, mental, educational and religious upbringing, but some child support orders are more detailed, breaking down precisely how the money is to be spent. Some child support orders are valid for particular lengths of time, and some are open-ended. For the most part, though, Texas child support ...

New Fall Protection Measures Soon to Take Effect

2012-07-25

In an effort to reduce the number of falls in residential construction projects, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) will soon begin its enforcement measures stemming from its latest residential fall protection directive (STD 03-11-002). Under this new directive, employers are required to provide roofers and construction workers with fall protection equipment whenever work is performed six feet or higher above the ground. The new directive will become effective on September 15, 2012. It allows workers to use a number of safety measures, including ...

Illinois Drivers Must Carry Liability, Uninsured Motorist Coverage

2012-07-25

Illinois requires all drivers to carry minimum amounts of automobile insurance to operate vehicles in the state. Unfortunately, some motorists choose to ignore this law, which means that drivers they injure in an accident could be left high and dry with burdensome medical costs. In anticipation of these situations, it is imperative that drivers purchase uninsured motorist insurance to cover themselves in the event of car accidents with uninsured motorists or hit-and-run accidents. Minimum Uninsured Motorist Coverage in Illinois Illinois requires that all drivers have ...

Taser Debate Increases as the Supreme Court Declines to Hear Excessive Force Cases

2012-07-25

The debate on whether Taser use by police officers constitutes excessive force is gaining more steam even after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear two cases coming from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In one case, a pregnant woman was shocked three times by Seattle police officers after she refused to sign a traffic ticket for driving 32 miles per hour in a 20 m.p.h. school zone. Another case involved a Hawaii woman who was "Tasered" while officers attempted to arrest her husband following a domestic abuse call. Both women filed suit against ...

Understanding Summer Rental Car Insurance Options

2012-07-25

Now that summer is here, many Americans are taking vacations and consequently using rental cars at increasing rates. Navigating the convoluted world of car rental insurance can put a damper on the season's festivities. Fortunately, there are a few things consumers can learn and act upon to ensure they are protected in the event of a motor vehicle accident involving a rental car. Rental Car Insurance Options Car renters have a few options for rental car insurance, including coverage provided by their personal automotive policies, non-owner automotive insurance policies, ...

New Massachusetts Alimony Law Makes Divorce Less of a Gamble

2012-07-25

Until recently, the prospect of alimony in Massachusetts was filled with uncertainty for spouses in a divorce. Courts had significant latitude to order lifetime alimony, even after short marriages. Going to court to overturn alimony in a divorce could be a gamble. Sparked in part by a Massachusetts man who spent more than $250,000 and entered bankruptcy after a judge refused to reduce his $45,000-a-year alimony payments, a task force of family law attorneys, legislators and others created a proposal for the most dramatic and fundamental changes to the state's divorce ...

Study: Connecticut Women Less Likely to Violate Cellphone Ban

2012-07-25

A recent study of Connecticut drivers has disproven the old myth that women can't stop talking on the phone. Since the law banning hand-held cellphones went into effect six years ago, men have consistently been ticketed more often than women for talking on hand-held cellphones or texting while driving. The study, conducted by the Associated Press, found that, of the total number of drivers ticketed for distracted driving in 2006, between 52 and 54 percent were men. In 2011 alone, men received nearly 16,000 tickets while women got only 13,690; in 2010, the tally of tickets ...

Recent Crane Incidents in Texas Give Rise to Safety Questions

2012-07-25

Construction of the 420,000 square-foot Paragon Outlet Mall in Grand Prairie, Texas, is set to open late this summer - a boon for the city of Grand Prairie - but in 2011 it was the site of a fatal accident involving a crane and falling wall panels. The victim, Sean Taylor, was a master welder who once served in the U.S. Navy, and was part of the construction crew erecting the walls, when the crane caused a deadly chain reaction. Rob Crain is representing the Taylor family in a wrongful death claim. As Chris Hawes reports for WFAA-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth, Crain said, ...