The Justice Department has taken legal action against Dieuseul Jean-Louis, also known as DJL Multiservices, by filing a civil injunction suit to prevent him from preparing federal tax returns for others. The complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, accuses Jean-Louis of engaging in fraudulent activities related to tax preparation from 2019 to 2023.
According to the complaint, Jean-Louis intentionally misrepresented customers' tax liabilities and exaggerated their refunds through various deceptive methods. This included falsifying deductions, inflating business expenses, and making fraudulent claims for tax credits without the customers' knowledge. The Justice Department alleges that Jean-Louis altered customers' income and filing statuses to illegally boost the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert from the Justice Department’s Tax Division announced the legal action against Jean-Louis. The complaint also states that Jean-Louis provided customers with altered copies of their tax returns, resulting in higher refunds being filed with the IRS, with the excess amount being pocketed by Jean-Louis.
The Justice Department claims that Jean-Louis's actions have led to a substantial loss of tax revenue, amounting to over $2.3 million for the tax years 2021 and 2022 alone. The case against Jean-Louis underscores the ongoing effort to combat return preparer fraud, which is highlighted as one of the IRS’s Dirty Dozen Tax Scams.
In response to this case and similar incidents, the IRS advises taxpayers to exercise caution when selecting a tax preparer and provides resources on its website for choosing a reliable preparer. The Justice Department’s Tax Division has a history of obtaining injunctions against dishonest tax preparers, with detailed information available on its website for reference.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the Justice Department's pursuit of justice in cases of tax fraud remains a top priority, aiming to protect taxpayers and uphold the integrity of the tax system.