#United States #Sacramento #tax scams #California Tax Education Council #ghost tax preparers

Vigilance Against Ghost Tax Preparers: A Call to Action

As tax season approaches, the California Tax Education Council (CTEC) is raising alarms about an increasing trend of ghost tax preparers. These fraudulent individuals offer tempting deals, such as low fees and the promise of significant tax refunds, only to vanish once the tax deadline passes. The tactics of these scammers not only exploit vulnerable taxpayers but are also illegal, as they refuse to sign the returns they prepare.

Understanding Ghost Tax Preparers

Fernando Angell, the chair of CTEC, emphasizes the dangerous nature of ghost tax preparers. "These scammers never sign the returns they prepare. Their lack of accountability makes them difficult to trace," Angell explains. The absence of a signature on a tax return is a red flag, as it indicates they are evading the legal responsibilities associated with tax preparation.

Tactics Used by Ghost Tax Preparers

Ghost tax preparers utilize various deceptive strategies to remain undetected. Some might direct clients to print their returns, sign them, and send them off without listing the preparer's name, while others might file returns electronically and label them as