Tempted to hire a tax preparer who promises — even guarantees — a fat refund?
I’d like to introduce you to Andrew Zepeda Hansack, a 39-year-old tax preparer who worked in Riverside, Calif.
He pleaded guilty last month to federal criminal charges for knowingly filing thousands of tax returns that claimed deductions taxpayers weren’t entitled to take, such as fake medical expenses, sales tax and gifts.
In some cases, he filed returns that included a deduction for mortgage interest — except the clients didn’t own a home. One of those returns falsely claimed $30,488 in itemized deductions, including for mortgage interest. The taxpayer received a refund for $7,318.