UPDATE: Md. Comptroller stops processing tax returns from 22 more preparers

The Maryland Comptroller has announced 22 more locations that it will not be processing returns from.

On Thursday, Comptroller Peter Franchot announced that he had suspended processing electronic and paper tax returns from 22 private tax preparers at 25 locations throughout the state, along with three out-of-state locations, because of a high volume of questionable returns that his office had received.

Most of the suspended locations are in the Baltimore area, but one is right here on the Shore, Charles Multi Services on Carson Court, in Pocomoke City.

The latest in an apparent series of suspensions in the past several weeks. The Comptroller’s Office stopped processing returns from 37 other tax preparers at 41 locations, including 23 Liberty Tax Service franchises.

The Comproller’s Office say the suspicious characteristics detected on the tax returns prompting the determination included:
• Business income reported when taxpayers did not own a business.
• Refund amounts requested much higher than previous year tax returns.
• Inflated and/or undocumented business expenses.
• Dependents claimed when taxpayer did not provide required 50 percent support or care, and/or
• Inflated wages and withholding information.
• Inflated itemized deductions.

They advise that taxpayers should carefully review their returns for these issues and should be suspicious if a tax preparer deducts fees from their refund, does not sign their tax return, or fails to include their preparer taxpayer identification number “P-TIN” on the return.

Those who are suspicious of their tax preparer, should contact 1-800-MD-TAXES or email TAXHELP@comp.state.md.us.

A full list of suspended preparers can be found on the Comptroller’s Office website.