Feds Sue Tax Preparers for Fraud

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 4, 2007 11:45 AM CDT
Feds Sue Tax Preparers for Fraud
IRS Income Tax Preparation    (Getty Images)

Tax preparers Jackson Hewitt have bilked the government out of more than $70 million, alleges a suit filed yesterday by the Justice Department. The suit claims that over 125 of the company's franchises, all owned at least in part by the same Atlanta businessman, engaged in massive tax fraud.

Charges include filing fake W-2s and claiming deductions on nonexistent businesses.Defendants allegedly actively encouraged fraud and deception at the franchises, where employees reportedly took kickbacks from satisfied customers. Jackson Hewitt operates 5,802 franchises and 724 company-owned stores.
(More Jackson Hewitt stories.)

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