The Justice Department has filed to stop Ohio twin brothers Joseph and Edward Flickinger from promoting alleged tax fraud schemes.The suit also asks the court to permanently bar the Flickinger brothers from preparing federal income tax returns for others.
The suit alleges that the Flickingers helped customers submit false and frivolous documents to their employers to stop tax withholding from wages on the baseless theory that income earned in the United States is not taxable.
According to the suit, Joseph Flickinger prepared approximately 384 tax returns, that falsely listed the number zero on all lines for reporting items of income or deductions, except for the lines claiming refunds. These tax returns claimed refunds totaling more than $2 million.
"The Justice Department and the IRS are working tirelessly to stop the promotion of fraudulent tax schemes," said Eileen J. O'Connor, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Tax Division.
Since 2001, the Justice Department has obtained injunctions against more than 120 tax-scam promoters.
