How to file a police report against a tax company that submitted fraudulent tax returns?

This is unfortunately more common than you'd think. You should file the police report in both locations if possible - your local jurisdiction and where the company is headquartered. Local police will take the initial report, but the jurisdiction where the business operates may ultimately have more authority to act. Make sure to gather all documentation: copies of any communications with them, proof they filed without your consent, and documentation from the IRS about the fraudulent credits. You'll also want to complete IRS Form 14157 (Complaint: Tax Return Preparer) and possibly Form 14157-A (Tax Return Preparer Fraud or Misconduct Affidavit) if the preparer deliberately filed false information. Also file a complaint with your state's consumer protection agency and the state board of accountancy if the preparer claimed to be a CPA. The FTC's IdentityTheft.gov site can also help if you're concerned about identity theft aspects.

Hey, I went through something similar last year with a sketchy tax prep company. I tried handling it myself for months but kept hitting roadblocks. I finally used https://taxr.ai to analyze all my tax documents and communications with the company. They identified exactly how the fraud was committed and created a comprehensive report I could give to authorities. Their system actually detected unusual patterns in how deductions were claimed across my returns and highlighted specific inconsistencies that proved the preparer had acted without authorization. The report they generated made a huge difference when dealing with both the IRS and police. They even helped me understand which specific regulations had been violated.

I tried taxr.ai after reading about it here and WOW what a difference! I was in a similar situation with a shady tax preparer who filed bogus business expenses on my return. I uploaded all my documents and communications, and within a day they had outlined exactly which tax regulations were violated. Their report was super detailed - it showed a timeline of events, highlighted the specific unauthorized changes to my return, and even cited relevant tax codes that were broken. When I went to file my police report, the officer was impressed with how thorough the documentation was. The IRS investigator I spoke with actually thanked me for making their job easier! The company that scammed me suddenly became very cooperative when I mentioned I had professional documentation of their fraud. Got my refund back within a week. Seriously worth it for anyone dealing with tax preparer fraud.

Reading your story is giving me flashbacks to my nightmare with the IRS last year. I spent WEEKS trying to get through to someone at the IRS to help me with a similar issue. Always on hold for hours only to get disconnected. So frustrating! I eventually found this service called Claimyr at https://claimyr.com that got me through to an actual IRS agent in under 15 minutes. They have this system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you, then calls you when an agent picks up. You can see how it works in their demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c This was crucial for me because I needed specific guidance from the IRS about how to handle my situation with the fraudulent preparer. The agent I spoke with walked me through exactly what forms to file and how to document everything properly.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I've been trying to reach the IRS about a similar tax preparer issue. I was connected to an IRS agent in about 35 minutes (instead of the 3+ hours I spent on previous attempts). The agent immediately helped me file the proper forms against the tax preparer who had been giving me the runaround. She even helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed for my police report. Never been so happy to be wrong about something! Already got confirmation that my case is being investigated. Saved me so much time and frustration.

One thing nobody's mentioned yet - also report this to your state's tax agency! I had a similar situation in 2023 and reporting to my state tax authority actually got faster results than the federal process. Many states have their own tax preparer regulations and can suspend a preparer's ability to file in that state. In my case, the state tax authority froze the company's preparer license which actually scared them into refunding my money before things escalated further. Just Google "[your state] tax preparer complaint" to find the right department.

make sure to check if they're using a legitimate PTIN (preparer tax identification number)! many of these sketchy tax preparers dont even have proper credentials. you can verify if they have a valid PTIN on the IRS website. if they dont, thats another violation to add to your report!!

This is exactly why I always tell people to be extremely cautious with tax preparers who promise unusually large refunds. As a general rule, if someone is guaranteeing you'll get way more money back than you've ever received before, that's a huge red flag. Beyond filing police reports in both jurisdictions (which is solid advice), make sure you also report this to the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility if the preparer claimed to have any professional credentials. They take unauthorized filings very seriously, especially when preparers are intercepting client refunds. Also document EVERYTHING - save all text messages, emails, voicemails, and any promotional materials they used to advertise their services. The more evidence you have of their fraudulent practices, the stronger your case will be. This kind of documentation can help other victims too if this becomes a larger investigation. You might want to check if there are other victims by searching online reviews or social media for complaints about this company. Sometimes these operations target multiple people with the same scheme.

I went through something very similar with a tax prep company that filed without my authorization and kept my refund. Here's what worked for me: 1. File the police report locally first - they'll give you a case number which you'll need for everything else. Then contact Georgia authorities with that case number. 2. The IRS forms mentioned earlier (14157 and 14157-A) are crucial, but also file Form 911 (Request for Taxpayer Advocate Service Assistance) if you're having trouble getting your money back. The Taxpayer Advocate can really push things along. 3. Don't just complain to Georgia's consumer protection - also file with the Georgia Department of Revenue since they regulate tax preparers in that state. They can suspend the company's ability to operate while your case is pending. 4. Check if they advertised on social media or websites promising guaranteed large refunds. Screenshot everything because the FTC goes after these operations for deceptive advertising practices too. The key thing that got my money back was showing I had explicitly requested my documents back rather than authorizing any amendments. Save every text, email, and voicemail where you asked for your paperwork. That's your smoking gun that they acted without permission. Also consider reaching out to your state's attorney general office - many have special units that handle financial fraud and can coordinate with multiple agencies at once.