A former IRS employee from San Antonio, Hector Cavazos, has been sentenced to two years in prison for filing false tax returns. At 63 years old, Cavazos had a history with tax-related crimes dating back to 1996 when he first faced federal charges in California.
Recently, he was indicted on 27 counts for preparing misleading tax returns between 2016 and 2021. This included helping 13 clients, along with one undercover agent, file incorrect information. The total tax loss calculated from his actions reached nearly $580,000.
What makes this case more alarming is that Cavazos did not sign the returns as a paid preparer, violating IRS regulations. In addition to his prison sentence, he has been ordered to pay a fine of $150,000 and is banned from working in any capacity related to tax preparation.
According to recent data from the IRS, tax fraud remains a significant issue, costing the government billions each year. Experts estimate that fraudulent returns can account for about 5-7% of all filed returns annually. This highlights the need for vigilance in tax preparation and the importance of using reputable services.
Cavazos’s past is also noteworthy. After a previous conviction for conspiracy and collusion to defraud the government, he was sentenced to two months in prison in 2000. This pattern raises questions about the effectiveness of sentencing in deterring future fraud.
With tax season approaching, taxpayers are urged to double-check their returns and work only with trusted professionals. Misleading tax preparation can lead not only to financial loss but also to legal troubles.
For more information on tax fraud and the IRS’s ongoing efforts to combat it, you can visit the IRS’s official page on tax fraud and scams.
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