A Broward County tax return preparer has been ordered to shut down his business and is banned for life from preparing or filing federal tax returns following a civil suit by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Sunil Ramchandani, who operated AHS Income Tax Services in Cooper City, reportedly made errors in a significant number of tax returns he filed during 2022 and 2023.
The civil lawsuit, initiated in January, claimed that Ramchandani often failed to disclose fees to clients and provided them with tax return copies that differed from those submitted to the IRS. It further alleged that refunds were redirected to a bank account controlled by Ramchandani, leaving clients unaware of this arrangement.
The IRS had previously issued multiple warning letters to his business in 2011 and 2012, indicating that such practices were illegal, but the warnings apparently did not deter him, as stated in the complaint. Ramchandani’s business had already accrued civil penalties amounting to over $120,000 for violations in 2017 and 2019.
Additionally, Ramchandani is accused of filing returns that included false or exaggerated residential energy credits, fuel tax credits, and various other deductions.
On Tuesday, a federal judge in Florida signed a permanent injunction against him. This injunction prohibits Ramchandani and his business from preparing or filing any federal tax returns, running a tax preparation business, or assisting in the transfer or sale of customer lists.
The DOJ noted that Ramchandani agreed to the injunction, and violations could lead to civil and criminal penalties as specified in the court order.
