(Photo: Stock Unsplash @kellysikkema)
March 11, 2021 By Christian Murray
Three tax preparers—one from Flushing and two from Woodside—were busted for fraud following sting operations conducted by undercover investigators.
Yachun Lin, of ETS Tax Services on Main Street, was charged with tax fraud after she filed a return on behalf of an undercover investigator that contained bogus information in order to reduce the amount of taxes owed.
Meanwhile, Maria Isabel Chabur and her husband Nayib Chabur, who operated La Oficina en Astoria on 69th Street in Woodside, were also charged in a separate incident for also submitting a bogus return in order to decrease a “client’s” tax liability. The client was an investigator.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz warned the public to be careful when hiring someone to handle their taxes. Some preparers, authorities say, cut corners to please clients.
“We are now in the midst of tax season when thousands of people will seek assistance in filing their tax returns,” Katz said. “Unscrupulous action taken by a preparer could lead to serious liabilities for individuals.”
Lin, 53, was arraigned Wednesday and charged with criminal tax fraud, attempted grand larceny, forgery and other charges. She faces up to 18 years in prison.
According to the charges, an undercover investigator visited her office on March 22, 2019, and told Lin he needed his tax returns completed for 2017 and 2018.
Lin allegedly advised her “client” to use an address outside of New York City to save approximately $2,000 per year. She used a Westchester address that the investigator suggested and filled out the tax return. She allegedly forged the investigator’s signature and left the tax preparer’s information blank.
The maneuver allegedly saved her “client” approximately $4,500.
Meanwhile, the Chaburs were also arraigned Wednesday on charges of criminal tax fraud, forgery and other charges. The pair both face up to nine years in prison.
According to the charges, an uncover investigator entered the Chaburs’ office and sought assistance in filing a tax return in 2018.
The Chaburs allegedly filed a return that included a $5,500 IRA deduction that was never made and was not discussed with their “client.” They filled out the return and left the tax preparer’s signature blank.
The scheme saved the “client” just under $500.
“Hard-working New Yorkers entrust their tax preparer to operate in their best interest—and with integrity and honesty,” said New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Michael Schmidt in a statement.
“Tax preparers who abuse that trust are imperiling their clients, who are ultimately responsible for the returns they sign, and depriving the state of tax revenue for vital services,” Schmidt added.
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6 Comments
That’s what happens when you take people you don’t know.
They won’t face nothing but a fine.
TAXATION IS THEFT
If it’s good enough for the President it should most certainly be good enough for the common folk. Let’s see, the elitist Trump fraudulently avoids the draft without penalty. The elitist evades his taxes and the most he paid in personal income tax was $750. The elitist Trump contracts Covid and gets a helicopter ride to Walter Reed and receives cutting edge treatment while he tries to deny people healthcare and dismantle The ACA and pushes snake oil treatment like hydroxychloriquine and bleach injections to his gullible followers. Laws and ethics are for the little guy.
hah, was just going to say the same. politicians are the biggest thieves in the world! you never see them doing prison time.
Trump has not been convicted of tax fraud!
Federal and state tax authorities are responsible for auditing his and his company’s tax returns.
Do you want politicians examining your tax return?
The politicians are suggesting that he personally valued his corporate assets on loan applications, at more than they are “worth”. Why? Because loans on real estate are maxed at a percentage of their“worth.” So if he phonies the value above their “worth” and the bank accepts that phones value, the risk of loss to the bank is magnified.
Anyone who has gotten a mortgage on a house or a loan on a coop, knows that the bank requires an independent professional to make an estimate of the value of the property.
Does anyone know how to appraise what a property was worth 10 or more years ago?
Appraise it- The post isn’t about Trumps businesses. The $750 was Trumps “personal” income taxes not his corporations. Fact! Trump did avoid the draft. Fact! He publicly stated several times he wanted to over turn the ACA. Fact!! We all waited the multiple two weeks he told us it would take him to produce his healthcare plan. It never materialized. Fact! He took a helicopter to Walter Reed. Fact! He publicly pushed snake oil treatment like hydroxychloriquine and bleach injections to his gullible followers.Fact!
To answer your question, “ Does anyone know how to appraise what a property was worth 10 or more years ago? “ “Search online for the tax authority (for example, BLANK city assessor’s office), and contact them for historic assessment values. They will also be able to give you the last sale price . . . which, upon freemarket transfer, set the bar for the property’s “market” value.”