South Carolina Return Preparer Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax Returns

A South Carolina return preparer pleaded guilty today, after his jury trial had begun, to two counts of filing false tax returns.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jeffrey Harmon of Lexington, South Carolina, owned and operated TFL Worldwide, a tax preparation business through which he willfully prepared and filed returns for clients that claimed fraudulent deductions relating to, among other things, rent, utilities, meals, gifts, dues, and depreciation.

In his plea, Harmon admitted to filing a false 2012 tax return for himself and to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a 2016 tax return claiming false deductions for rent and depreciation for one of his clients.  Harmon agreed that the total tax loss from his criminal conduct was approximately $320,000. 

Harmon faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each false return count.  He also faces a period of supervised release, monetary penalties, and restitution. U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis will determine any sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Adair Boroughs for the District of South Carolina and Special Agent in Charge Donald Trey Eakins of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office, made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Wilson Stamm of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday and Elle Klein for the District of South Carolina prosecuted the case.