Federal Court in Memphis, Tennessee, Enters Injunction Against Tax Return Preparer

The federal court in the Western District of Tennessee has enjoined Stephanie Edmond and her business, the Tax Factory and the Tax Factory Enterprise Inc., from preparing improper federal income tax returns.  The court’s order, which was entered with the consent of the parties, prohibits Stephanie Edmond and her businesses from engaging in any conduct that interferes with administering the tax laws.  Edmond and her businesses are also prohibited from preparing false returns that include schemes such as reporting non-existent businesses or claiming false education credits.  The court also ordered that Edmond and her companies are required to hire a certified public accountant to act as a monitor who can inspect the company’s books and records.  The monitor will then be required to report to the United States on a monthly basis as to whether the plaintiff has complied with the internal revenue laws.

Return preparer fraud is one of the Internal Revenue Service’S (IRS) Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2015.  The IRS has some tips on its website for choosing a tax preparer, and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers.  In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers and tax scheme promoters.  Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website.  An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on here.  If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.