An accountant from New York falsified $100 million in returns and broke all possible records in tax fraud.

A New York tax preparer has been arrested on charges of causing more than $100 million in losses, according to the report. CNBC, this is one of the largest tax frauds ever committed by a tax preparer.

Prosecutors say Rafael Alvarez, who prepared the documents, orchestrated a “large-scale scheme” from his firm ATAX New York in the Bronx. He filed tens of thousands of federal income tax returns that contained false information.

The false statements included fictitious itemized deductions, fictitious capital losses, fictitious business expenses and tax benefits. “Most of the numbers that Alvarez entered were completely fictitious and were not supported by any evidence or documents,” the indictment against him alleges.

According to Thomas Fattorusso, IRS Special Agent in Charge, ATAX New York had more than $2016 million in revenue from 2019 to 15. Alvarez was the CEO, owner and operator of ATAX from 2010 to 2020, and during that time the firm produced more than 90 tax returns.

'Wizard'

The man became famous among his clients as a “wizard” for his “ability to relieve people of tax burdens,” Manhattan prosecutor Damian Williams said.

In 2021, a Manhattan federal court judge permanently barred Alvarez and ATAX from preparing federal tax returns for others after Manhattan prosecutors alleged in a civil lawsuit that they prepared and filed fraudulent returns. Alvarez and ATAX agreed to pay $159 in damages in this case.

On the subject: How to File New York Tax Returns for Free

In the new criminal case, Alvarez is charged with one count each of conspiracy to defraud the government and making false statements. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. In addition, the defendant is charged with four counts of aiding and abetting the preparation of fraudulent U.S. personal income tax returns and attempting to interfere with the administration of internal revenue laws.

In addition, Alvarez is charged with aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison.