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Feds Seek To Shut Down Florida Tax Preparers Allegedly Costing Taxpayers Millions

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Feds Seek To Shut Down Florida Tax Preparers Allegedly Costing Taxpayers Millions


The U.S. Division of Justice has filed a grievance searching for to bar 9 Florida tax return preparers and their related enterprise from helping in making ready federal revenue tax returns for others.

Background

In line with the grievance, Richard Louis—typically often called the “Taxman,” Teddy Davis, James Merrill, Daniel Ouku, Demetrius Knowles, Harold Bornelus, Joseph Garrett, Marlyne Wah, and Romeo Davis ready and filed hundreds of federal revenue tax returns for patrons via or in reference to an unincorporated enterprise known as Taxman.

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Particularly, the court docket paperwork state that Louis is a paid tax return preparer who operates a tax return preparation enterprise, Tax Man Monetary or Tax Man, Inc., in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His codefendants are alleged to have labored with him to arrange tax returns. Louis and his codefendants usually cost between $90 and $250 per return, relying on complexity.

Allegations

Prosecutors declare that Louis and his codefendants understated the tax their clients owed and overstated the refunds to which they have been entitled via varied schemes.

One scheme utilized by the defendants was to assert fraudulent Residential Power Credit on their clients’ tax returns. In line with the grievance, Louis and his codefendants made up purchases for qualifying photo voltaic tools and, generally, didn’t talk about the Resident Power Credit score with the shoppers. Whereas the typical fee of Florida taxpayers claiming the credit score was 2.13%, Louis and his codefendants reported a lot greater charges, starting from 28.74% to a whopping 78.26%.

Louis and Taxman additionally allegedly falsified and overstated enterprise and itemized deductions on their clients’ tax returns, together with submitting Schedules C (enterprise schedules) for patrons they know don’t personal or function a enterprise. Some clients didn’t know that Louis and his codefendants have been submitting returns displaying enterprise losses.

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Returns have been additionally ready for patrons that didn’t appropriately mirror Schedule A deductions, together with charitable deductions. In a single occasion, the grievance alleges {that a} buyer reported donations of $200-300 to church—however Louis reported $8,903 in charitable deductions. In one other instance, a buyer stated she had $1,500 in medical bills, however Louis reported $12,982. The identical sorts of misreporting have been made with respect to actual property taxes and mortgages—on one event, Louis is claimed to have included mortgage curiosity twice.

Louis and his codefendants are additionally alleged to have ready tax returns for patrons claiming the inaccurate submitting standing through the use of the pinnacle of family standing or single submitting standing for married {couples} who ought to have filed as married.

Damages

The IRS estimates that america has misplaced thousands and thousands of {dollars} in tax income as a result of defendants’ actions. The grievance states that if the defendants proceed to behave as tax return preparers, “their conduct will end in irreparable hurt to america.”

A everlasting injunction, the feds argue, is the suitable answer. They’ve additionally requested for, amongst different issues, an inventory of buyer names, Social Safety numbers, and phone info.

Many taxpayers who sought help from the defendants have already needed to amend their tax returns.

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Be Cautious

Keep in mind—it’s your signature on the road. The DOJ reminds you to watch out when selecting a tax preparer. You’ll find a searchable listing of preparers in your space who presently maintain skilled credentials acknowledged by the IRS or an Annual Submitting Season Program File of Completion on the IRS web site.

An alphabetical itemizing of those that have been enjoined from making ready returns and selling tax schemes will be discovered on this web page. If you happen to imagine that a type of individuals or companies could also be violating an injunction, contact the DOJ Tax Division with particulars.



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Florida

Florida-Tulane free livestream: How to watch Gasparilla Bowl, TV, schedule

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Florida-Tulane free livestream: How to watch Gasparilla Bowl, TV, schedule


The Florida Gators play against the Tulane Green Wave in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. The matchup will begin at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN 2. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The Gators enter this matchup with a 7-5 record, and they have played well recently. The team has won three consecutive games, including two victories against ranked opponents.

In their most recent game, the Gators defeated Florida State 31-11. During the victory, Florida accrued 368 total yards. The team rushed for 235 yards and averaged more than six yards per carry.

The Florida defense also played well against Florida State, forcing five turnovers.

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The Green Wave enter this matchup with a 9-4 record, but they have lost back-to-back games. In their most recent game, the Green Wave lost 35-14 against Army.

During the loss, Tulane struggled defensively. The team allowed 335 rushing yards and conceded nearly six yards per carry.

Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.



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How to Watch: Louisville Cardinals at Florida State Seminoles

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How to Watch: Louisville Cardinals at Florida State Seminoles


LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A week removed from falling to Kentucky in the Battle of the Bluegrass, the Louisville men’s basketball program is back in action, traveling to Florida State for their first road game in ACC play.

While the Cardinals might have lost to their most hated rival in their last time out, they certainly gave the Wildcats a run for their money. Despite having only eight healthy scholarship players, Louisville kept within striking distance of Kentucky for the majority of the game before ultimately falling 93-85 in Rupp Arena.

As for the Seminoles, year 23 under head coach Leonard Hamilton is off to a solid start. While FSU is currently six games over .500 and heading into their matchup with Louisville on a two-game win streak, they’re 0-3 against teams ranked in KenPom’s top-100, including an 84-74 overtime loss at NC State.

This will be the 54th all-time meeting between Louisville and Florida State, with the Cardinals owning a 35-18 advantage. UofL won 101-92 back on Feb. 3, 2024 in the last matchup, snapping a seven-game losing streak to the Seminoles.

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(Photo of Terrence Edwards Jr.: Jordan Prather – Imagn Images)

You can follow Louisville Cardinals On SI for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram:

Facebook – @LouisvilleOnSI
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Instagram – @louisvilleonsi

You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @Matt_McGavic on Twitter/X and @mattmcgavic.bsky.social on Bluesky





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More South Florida school zones will be getting speed cameras – how it's been going

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More South Florida school zones will be getting speed cameras – how it's been going


If you don’t look carefully, you could easily miss the cameras set up outside schools. They, however, are watching you, and if you’re going at least 10 miles over the speed limit, you will receive a $100 surprise in the mail. 

“If you don’t want to get one of those violations just stay within the speed limit, very simple,” said Village of Pinecrest Police Chief Jason Cohen. 

Pinecrest and South Miami were the first cities in South Florida to take advantage of a new state law allowing automated cameras to catch speeders in school zones. Since their systems went online in October, they’ve sent out about 7,400 citations in South Miami and about 5,800 in Pinecrest. 

“It’s too early to say from the data on the overall impact it’s going to have around the schools, but we believe it’s going to change peoples’ driving patterns, that they’re going to be cognizant that they’re near a school and they’re going to automatically slow down, that’s the goal,” Cohen said. 

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Diane Gilmore has been a security monitor for decades at Palmetto Senior High School. She said she sees speeders fly past the school all the time as students are trying to cross the street, and she’s glad the cameras have been installed. 

“I think they did a good idea because a lot of times, they be going across the street, these cars don’t respect us at all, they come fast and I say it ain’t careful, somebody gonna end up getting killed,” Gilmore said. 

Students spilling out of school seem to appreciate the cameras. 

“I think it’s good, ‘cause it controls the drivers so the drivers don’t speed and especially in a school zone,” said Nicholas Henriquez, a senior at Palmetto who drives to school. 

Not everyone agrees. Christian Gutierrez picks up a student regularly and he’s not impressed with the cameras’ impact. 

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“Even speedbumps, I feel like, stops speeding,” Gutierrez said. “More than the cameras, yeah, for sure.”

The school zone cameras operate only on school days, starting a half hour before school starts and ending a half hour after school ends, no matter what the speed limit is during those hours. The police departments make $39 for each citation issued. 

“But I think it’s important to highlight that the funds coming in have to be used for public safety,” Chief Cohen said. “Anything that can help make our city safer, especially around the children and the schools, we looked at it as a win.”

Soon, police departments in Miami Gardens, West Miami, Davie and Plantation will be starting up their own school zone camera systems. Miami-Dade Police have also installed cameras outside eleven schools with many more to follow. Cohen predicts almost all South Florida police departments will join the trend.

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