Did my tax preparer file fraudulent returns with the IRS?

I used a tax preparer for the first time last year instead of doing it myself, and something feels off. I got back around $9,200 total ($7k federal and $2.2k state) deposited to my account. No audit from the IRS yet, but when I checked my tax transcript from the IRS website, some things looked suspicious. A family member recommended this preparer and swears they've used them for years with no issues. I normally just file my own taxes, but went with this preparer based on family recommendation and the possibility of a bigger refund. I'm trying to figure out if this preparer found legitimate deductions I was missing when I did my own taxes, or if they did something sketchy that could get me in trouble. For reference, I had a W-2 from my main job, a 1099-NEC from some restaurant work I did on the side, and a 1099-R from my old employer's retirement plan. Has anyone dealt with something similar or know what I should look for to determine if this was legitimate?

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19 comments

Evelyn Rivera

•8M

The size of your refund alone isn't necessarily a red flag, but it's smart to review what was actually filed in your name. You should compare what's on your tax transcript with the actual copy of the return the preparer gave you. Look closely at: 1. Reported income - Does it match your W-2, 1099-NEC, and 1099-R exactly? 2. Deductions - Are there any unfamiliar Schedule A deductions or credits you don't qualify for? 3. Filing status - Did they change your filing status without discussing it? 4. Dependents - Were any added that shouldn't be there? If the preparer found legitimate deductions or credits you weren't aware of, they should be able to explain exactly what they found and why you qualify. If they can't provide clear explanations or if you find discrepancies between what they gave you and what the IRS has, that's concerning.

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Evelyn Rivera

•8M

You can access your tax transcripts directly from the IRS website by creating an account at IRS.gov and requesting a "tax return transcript" or "account transcript." The account transcript will show what was actually filed with the IRS including any adjustments they made. Some common schemes dishonest preparers use include claiming fake business expenses on Schedule C when there's no actual business, inflating charitable contributions, claiming education credits when you didn't attend school, creating fake dependents, or manipulating income to maximize earned income credit. They might also include false itemized deductions like unreimbursed employee expenses (which aren't even deductible for most people since 2018) or medical expenses you never incurred.

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Arjun Patel

•8M

I went through this exact nightmare last year! After getting audited and facing penalties, I found out my preparer had claimed business expenses I never had. I was completely stressed trying to deal with the IRS until I found https://taxr.ai which literally saved me thousands in potential penalties. They analyzed my filed return and IRS notices, then highlighted exactly where my preparer had filed fraudulent items. The report they generated showed precisely what was wrong and gave me documentation to prove I wasn't the one trying to commit fraud. They also explained exactly what I needed to do to fix the situation. Honestly way easier than trying to figure everything out myself.

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Arjun Patel

•8M

They don't contact the IRS for you - they analyze your documents and provide a detailed report on what's wrong with your tax return. I uploaded my tax documents and within like 24 hours received a complete breakdown showing the fraudulent items my preparer had added. The report flags specific entries that don't match your documentation. It was definitely effective because I used their report when responding to the IRS. Having that third-party verification that showed I wasn't trying to commit fraud myself made a huge difference. The IRS still required me to pay the correct tax amount, but they removed most of the penalties when they saw I had been misled by my preparer.

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Tony Brooks

•8M

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai since I was skeptical at first. I ended up trying it after discovering my preparer claimed a bunch of business deductions that weren't legitimate. The analysis was super thorough and highlighted exactly where my return had problems. It even showed me which tax forms were affected and what the correct numbers should have been based on my actual documents. The best part was having documentation from a third party that I could show the IRS to prove I wasn't the one trying to commit fraud. Saved me from the fraud penalties which would have been thousands more. They also explained exactly what I needed to say to the IRS when I called. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind alone.

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Ella rollingthunder87

•8M

After dealing with a similar situation last year, my biggest problem was actually getting through to someone at the IRS to fix the issues my preparer caused. Spent HOURS on hold only to get disconnected. Finally found https://claimyr.com and used their IRS callback service. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Basically they navigate the IRS phone tree for you and get you in the callback queue without you having to wait on hold. They called me when an actual IRS agent was on the line ready to talk. Managed to get everything resolved in one call instead of the multiple attempts I had been making for weeks. The agent was super helpful once I finally got to speak with a human.

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Ella rollingthunder87

•8M

It doesn't actually skip the line - they just handle the waiting for you. Their system navigates the IRS phone menu and stays on hold so you don't have to. When an IRS agent finally picks up, you get a call connecting you directly to that agent who's already on the line. The IRS doesn't even know you're using the service - from their perspective, you've just been patiently waiting on hold. It's basically like having someone else sit on hold for you. I know it sounds too good to be true, but after wasting entire afternoons on hold only to get disconnected, I was desperate enough to try it.

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Isaac Wright

•8M

I need to publicly admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After calling the IRS myself for THREE DAYS with no success (kept getting disconnected after 2+ hours on hold), I broke down and tried it. Within 2 hours, I got a call connecting me directly to an IRS agent who was already on the line. The agent helped me start the process to dispute the fraudulent return my preparer had filed. They even flagged my account to note that I was reporting potential preparer fraud. No more endless hold music or getting disconnected just as someone picks up. I've already told 5 friends about this because it actually works exactly as advertised.

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Maya Diaz

•8M

They absolutely do investigate preparer fraud, especially when multiple people report the same preparer. The IRS has a dedicated office for this because preparers filing fraudulent returns is a huge problem that costs them billions. They don't have resources to go after every small discrepancy, but preparer fraud is one of their priority areas. I know someone who works for the IRS, and they said these reports definitely get reviewed, but it can take time. The more documentation you provide with your complaint, the more likely they'll act on it quickly.

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Rami Samuels

•8M

I'm a seasonal preparer and just want to point out that sometimes legitimate preparers DO find deductions/credits that people miss when they self-prepare. Before assuming fraud, check if: 1) You might have qualified for EIC you didn't know about 2) Your education expenses qualified for American Opportunity Credit 3) You had self-employment deductions you didn't realize were valid 4) Your filing status changed in a beneficial way Not all big refunds are fraud - sometimes it's just expertise! Ask your preparer to walk through each deduction with you.

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