A Texas tax preparer, Siza Mhlanga, is now prohibited from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing tax returns for others, as part of a deal with the Justice Department. Mhlanga consented to the relief after he was accused of tax fraud.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Mhlang was doing business as Tax Refund Express, Camp Bowie Tax, Camp Bowie Tax Services, Tax Refund Company, and United Tax Refunds, in Fort Worth.
Mhlanga allegedly repeatedly prepared returns that report fake deductions for charitable donations, business losses, and fabricated education and energy credits to generate tax refunds. For example, the complaint alleges that Mhlanga prepared a customer’s 2017 tax return on which Mhlanga fabricated a business for the customer and reported a fake business loss of $21,720.
The complaint alleges that, over the course of tax years 2017 and 2018, Mhlanga filed hundreds of returns, and that by repeatedly understating his customers’ tax liabilities, Mhlanga caused the United States to lose substantial tax revenue.