FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2008 WWW.USDOJ.GOV TAX (202) 514-2007 TDD (202) 514-1888 Tax Preparer Allegedly Fabricated Deductions and Credits for Customers WASHINGTONA federal court in Charlotte, N.C., entered a preliminary injunction against Kodjovi Raphael Totou, a Charlotte-based tax preparer who operates Queen City Tax Services, the Justice Department announced today.
The order bars Totou from preparing or filing federal income tax returns for anyone other than himself. It is effective immediately and will remain in effect through Aug. 15, 2008.
The government complaint in the civil case alleges that Totou has claimed fraudulent fuel tax credits on customers returns and fabricates or inflates tax deductions.
According to the governments complaint, Totou prepared more than 450 federal income tax returns for clients, many of whom are from Togo and have limited English-language ability. The complaint further alleges that in 2003, Totou claimed the federal fuel tax credit for all of his customers. The complaint alleged that none of his clients qualified for the tax credit as their businesses or purported businesses do not involve off-highway use of gasoline.
Since 2001, the Justice Department has obtained injunctions against more than 305 tax return preparers and tax-fraud promoters. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department Web site, as is information about the Justice Departments Tax Division. 08-062
Source: US Department of Justice
