Interesting article out of Napes, Florida: Naples CPA Accused of Preparing Fraudulent Tax Returns; Suit Charges Scheme Shorted Government Up to $7.6 Million, by Chris W. Colby:
The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit Friday alleging a Naples certified public accountant shorted the federal government as much as $7.6 million by preparing fraudulent tax returns that far understated the amount of income taxes his customers owed.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Fort Myers, asks a judge to bar Max Holcher … from preparing any more federal income tax returns. The suit also seeks to bar Holcher "from promoting an alleged tax-fraud scheme that he calls Tax Engineering." The tax program helps customers claim improper tax deductions for nondeductible personal expenses such as home maintenance, swimming pools, vacations and personal vehicles, according to the complaint. "Holcher allegedly also prepares tax returns for customers that falsely report employment income as a royalty in order to evade Social Security taxes," according to a press release issued by the Justice Department.



