An Illinois man, Byron Taylor, of Homewood, has made his initial appearance on an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Chicago. The indictment charges Taylor with 21 counts of preparing false tax returns for others through his business, We Are Taxes Inc.
The indictment alleges that Taylor prepared false tax returns for clients for tax years 2017 through 2020. The returns contained false information, leading clients to claim refunds they were not entitled to. The false information included fraudulent business losses, false deductions like medical expenses, gifts to charity, state and local real estate taxes, and unreimbursed employee expenses.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division announced the indictment. If convicted, Taylor could face a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count.
IRS Criminal Investigation is looking into the case, while Assistant Chief Matthew J. Kluge and Trial Attorney Boris Bourget of the Tax Division are prosecuting the matter. As is standard, an indictment is an allegation, and all defendants, including Taylor, are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.