D.C. Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Preparing Fraudulent Tax Returns

A Washington, D.C. return preparer pleaded guilty to preparing fraudulent tax returns, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

According to documents filed with the court, Joann Little, 60, of Suitland, Maryland, worked as a return preparer in Washington D.C., at a tax preparation business formerly known as Instant Tax Service and more recently named Speedy Tax Service. Little prepared federal income tax returns for tax years 2009 through 2014 that sought refunds to which her clients were not entitled by including inflated charitable deductions, fictitious unreimbursed employee expenses and false businesses. Little caused a tax loss of at least $262,714.

The court did not set a sentencing date. Little faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison for each count, a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg commended special agents of the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Jason Scheff and Karen Kelly of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.