Alabama Tax Preparer Indicted for Filing False Returns

A federal grand jury in Birmingham, Alabama, returned an indictment today, charging an Alabama tax preparer with filing a false tax return for herself and preparing false tax returns for clients, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town for the Northern District of Alabama.

According to the indictment, Shuntan Renee Rue owned and operated Rue Tax Service, a tax return preparation business in Birmingham, Alabama. From at least 2014 to 2016, Rue allegedly falsified clients’ tax returns by claiming business losses and charitable gifts, as well as medical, unreimbursed employee, and education expenses that her clients did not incur, in order to fraudulently increase their refunds. The indictment further alleges that Rue falsely reported education expenses on her own 2013 tax return. 

If convicted, Rue faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison on each count. Rue also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Town commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Michael Jones, Jessica Kraft, and Kevin Schneider of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Posey, who are prosecuting the case.

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