MICHIGAN COURT ORDERS TAX RETURN PREPARER
ROBERT L. MOSHER TO PROVIDE CUSTOMER LIST TO GOVERNMENT

Injunction Requires Preparer to Submit Returns Bearing His Preparer Identification Number

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Late Monday, a federal judge in Grand Rapids, Mich., issued a preliminary injunction requiring Robert L. Mosher to give the Internal Revenue Service a list of the names of all customers for whom he has prepared any income tax return, amended return or request for refund in the past three years. The court's injunction also requires Mosher to put his preparer identification number on all returns he prepares or files on behalf of customers, as required by a federal law.

"Getting customer lists and making sure that tax return preparers put their identifying numbers on the returns they prepare are important steps in our efforts to stop preparers who promote tax scams," said Eileen J. O'Connor, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Tax Division. "Federal law requires return preparers to turn over their customer lists on request of the IRS and to put their identifying numbers on all returns they prepare. The Justice Department is taking vigorous action to ensure compliance with these laws."

Monday's order represents a step toward the permanent relief sought by the Justice Department in its lawsuit. The Department sued Mosher, Carol L. Mosher and Kimberly Sanders, who do business in their own names and as Mosher Enterprises Trust, to stop them from promoting alleged tax scams based on the use of sham trusts. The Department's suit also seeks to prevent Mosher from preparing federal tax returns and representing clients before the IRS. More information on the suit is available at: http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/txdv03193.htm.

Current or past customers of Robert L. Mosher or the other suit defendants may call the Grand Rapids office of the IRS for more information at (616) 235-2376.

For copies of documents filed in this case and for information on other tax scam enforcement actions, go online to: http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/taxpress2003.htm.

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