Tax fraud is committed every day.  One criminal act that seems particularly popular, that I’ve blogged about again and again, is filing false federal tax returns.  People do it for various reasons - I suspect that two of the top reasons would be to avoid paying taxes or to get a substantial tax return from the IRS, lining their pockets - and offshore bank accounts - with money.   But what good is money when you are in prison?   Wonder how this Miami woman would answer that question?!

A Miami woman was sentenced to 60 months in prison after being convicted by a jury on tax fraud charges.

Maritza Valiente, 41, was convicted on all 11 counts against her relating to a tax fraud scheme that Valiente and others committed in 1999 and 2000. Valiente and three co-defendants were initially indicted in 2004, but Valiente was not located until 2008.

According to trial evidence, Valiente and her co-conspirators created false W-2s claiming wages and withholdings from fiscal year 1999 in the names of bogus employees of Valiente’s company, United Mortgage Financing. They used the false W-2s and other information to prepare fraudulent tax returns claiming refunds for the fictitious employees. Then, in early 2000, Valiente and her co-conspirators filed the false tax returns with the IRS and obtained refund-anticipation loan checks in the names of the fictitious employees. In sum, more than 30 false tax returns were filed with the IRS as part of the scheme, causing the IRS to issue more than $100,000 in fraudulent refunds.

Filing false federal tax returns is not a good idea, as illustrated above.  Some people may do it because they are desperate to get their taxes filed by the April 15th due date.  Did you know that the IRS accepts delinquent tax returns?  No matter how late, you have a right to file your taxes - and if you need help with a late tax filing Tax Resolution Services team of tax attorneys and IRS specialists can help you.   Better late and honest, than never or dishonest!  Free tax consultation available.

More Tax Help, IRS News and Tax Relief Tips:

1. Delinquent Tax Filing is Better than Fraudulent Tax Filing - Nebraska Men Face 10 Years for Tax Fraud
2. Energy Drink CEO Faces Prison for Tax Evasion
3. Payroll Tax Evasion Lands Florida Couple in Prison Plus Hefty Fine by the IRS
4. Filing a Delinquent Tax Return is Better Than Failure to File Taxes
5. Furniture Retailer Guilty of Tax Evasion and What to Do if You are in an IRS Audit

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This entry was posted on Monday, October 12th, 2009 at 9:37 am and is filed under IRS Tax Cases, IRS Times and Inquirer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.