With tax season approaching, Americans are turning to tax preparation professionals. However, some encounters have led to fraudulent behavior. Such is the case with Raudel Sandoval, a licensed tax preparer and owner of RSE Sandoval España, Inc. Recently, Sandoval was sentenced to 2½ years in prison and ordered to pay $758,550 in restitution for preparing fraudulent tax returns, leading to a loss of over $750,000 for the IRS.
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that on March 22, Sandoval pleaded guilty to two counts of aiding in the preparation of false tax returns. For tax years 2015 through 2018, he prepared fraudulent federal and state income tax returns for clients, altering figures and manipulating deductions.
Sandoval, besides fabricating deductions and credits, tricked his clients by providing them with accurate tax returns while submitting fraudulent versions to the IRS. The larger refunds were allotted to his bank account, while the smaller refunds were given to clients. Fraudulent submission of at least 389 income tax returns led to Sandoval causing a loss of $758,550 to the IRS between tax years 2015 and 2018.
In response, prosecutors have highlighted Sandoval’s disregard for his clients, who could potentially be held accountable by the IRS for these fraudulent refunds, and to accurately maintain the tax return process, Sandoval is accused of defrauding both his clients and the United States Treasury.
