JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SEEKS TO HALT TAX-FRAUD SCHEME TARGETED AT IMMIGRANTS FROM BOSNIA

Justice Department Alleges Rockford, Illinois Man Prepared Tax Returns Fraudulently Claiming Refunds Based on Customers’ Status as Bosnian Immigrants

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department announced today that it has asked an Illinois federal court to bar Guadalupe Valdez, of Rockford, Illinois, from preparing federal income tax returns for others. The complaint, filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Rockford, alleges that Valdez prepared and filed for customers amended federal income tax returns fraudulently claiming refunds based on their status as Bosnian immigrants. Valdez also allegedly prepares returns claiming false head-of-household filing status and false dependent exemptions.

The government also seeks a court order requiring Valdez to provide the government his customers’ names, mailing and e-mail addresses, and telephone and Social Security numbers.

According to the complaint, Valdez operates his business from his Chestnut Street residence under the name Lupes Tax Service.

“People who prepare false or fraudulent returns are cheating honest taxpayers and creating legal problems for their customers,” said Eileen J. O’Connor, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “The Justice Department and the Internal Revenue Service are committed to stopping the activities of return preparers who provide false advice.”

Earlier this year, the Justice Department sued to stop a former Rockford return preparer who filed false federal income tax returns on behalf of her Bosnian-immigrant customers. Information on that case, in which the Justice Department has moved for a preliminary injunction, is available at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/txdv05110.htm. More information about the Justice Department’s efforts against tax-scam promoters can be found at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax/taxpress2005.htm. Information about the Justice Department’s Tax Division can be found at http://www.usdoj.gov/tax.