Shreveport tax preparer pleads guilty to filing false tax returns for self, customers

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced  that a woman who owned a Shreveport tax preparation business pleaded guilty Monday to filing false taxes for herself and her clients even after her electronic filing number was revoked.

Deborah A. Turner, 47, of Shreveport, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby to one count of making and subscribing a false tax return and one count of aiding and assisting in making and subscribing a false return. The plea will become final after it is accepted by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. According to the guilty plea, Turner owned Tax Express Refund, which is a tax preparation business located in Shreveport. The IRS revoked her Electronic Filing Identification Number (EFIN) in January 2014, but she instead started using her daughter’s EFIN to continue filing tax returns. She filed numerous tax returns for clients for tax years 2011 to 2013 containing false information so they could claim deductions, credits and expenses to increase the size of their refunds. She also filed a false individual tax return for tax year 2013 where she failed to report $336,865 of income she received from her business.

Turner faces up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine for each count. The court set a sentencing date of April 2, 2018.

The IRS-Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tennille M. Gilreath and Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan are prosecuting the case.