Burlington

Burlington

Tax Preparer Sentenced for Preparation of Fraudulent Tax Returns

Amando Santos, a Burlington Township tax preparer, was sentenced to 12 months in prison and ordered to pay back taxes, interest and penalties totaling $149,921. Santos pleaded guilty on March 6, 2008, to a one count Information that charged him with preparation of fraudulent tax returns. At his plea hearing, Santos stated that from 2001 to 2004, he operated a tax preparation business called “APS Income Tax Service” from his residence. As part of the business, Santos admitted that he prepared U.S. individual income tax returns for client taxpayers which included false or altered information, such as inflated itemized deductions and false or overstated losses and expenses, to either reduce the taxes owed by his clients or obtain larger refunds for his clients. Santos admitted that between April 2002 and April 2004, he prepared at least 43 fraudulent tax returns.