FEDERAL COURT BARS DALLAS MAN FROM PREPARING TAX RETURNS FOR OTHERS

Dallas Man Claimed Bogus Fuel Tax Credits for Customers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A U.S. District Court judge has permanently barred Farai Mushaninga of Dallas from preparing federal income tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. Judge David C. Godbey held that Mushaninga prepared fraudulent tax returns claiming the fuel tax credit. The IRS has identified more than $900,000 in fraudulent fuel tax credits claimed on returns Mushaninga prepared.

The court also found that Mushaninga’s had falsely claimed head-of-household filing status, the Lifetime Learning Credit, the Hope Credit, earned income credits, child tax credits, and schedule A and C deductions on customers’ returns. Mushaninga operates FW Hawk Services and FW Hawk Taxes in Dallas.

The Justice Department obtained an injunction in April against a Miami tax preparer in a case involving allegations of similar fraudulent fuel tax credits. http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/txdv07254.htm.

Since 2001 the Justice Department has obtained injunctions against more than 240 tax preparers and tax-fraud promoters. Information on those cases is available at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/taxpress2007.htm. More information about the Justice Department’s Tax Division can be found at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax.