A husband and wife team of tax preparers have pleaded guilty to crimes relating to the preparation of false tax returns. The couple, Detrick Tucker faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison while Natashia faces a possible maximum of five years. Sentencing is set for March 24. They are both subject to fines and mandatory restitution.
Natashia Tucker admitted that she conspired with Detrick Tucker to fraudulently inflate refunds on their clients' tax returns in order to generate more business for T&T. He applied for an Electronic Filing and Identification Number and a Preparer Tax Identification Number since Natashia is a convicted felon and then allowed his wife to use the registration numbers to file returns in 2010 and 2012. The Department of Justice prepared statement did not explain Ms. Tucker's background.
During its three years of operation, T&T Express Tax filed over 2,200 federal tax returns that claimed more than $1 million in false refunds.
Natashia Tucker was the main tax return preparer at T&T and beefed up refunds primarily through the unwarranted use of the Earned Income Tax Credit and by creating false business information for her clients. She also used false information on her own returns.
