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Expensive free tax help

December 17, 2008

Almost everyone who does volunteer tax preparation through the VITA program does it in a true spirit of public service. Almost everyone. But not James R. Mullen. From a Department of Justice press release:

For example, in 2005, while working at the IRS VITA site, MULLEN prepared an income tax return for a particular taxpayer. The return that MULLEN prepared, and which the taxpayer signed, included no exemptions for dependents and calculated a refund of approximately $2,211. However, MULLEN did not file the return on behalf of the taxpayer. Instead, he prepared a different return in the taxpayer's name adding several children as dependents. As a result, the refund amount was increased to approximately $5,493. MULLEN then filed the false return electronically and included on the return the bank account number for his girlfriend so that the refund would be routed directly to her bank account. MULLEN then obtained the refund money from his girlfriend.

What a nice boyfriend.

Mr. Mullen has pleaded guilty to federal charges arising out of his tax prep work. He faces up to ten years in prison; for stealing from his clients and the IRS, he just might do some time.

Tags: tax crime.