Birmingham Tax Preparer Indicted On Federal Charges

BIRMINGHAM, AL — A federal grand jury has indicted the owner and operator of a Birmingham tax preparation service on tax fraud charges. A 37-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Ametra Q. Wooden, 33, of Birmingham, with 35 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns and two counts of willfully failing to file personal income tax returns.

According to the indictment, Wooden owned and operated A Plus Tax Experts & Financial Services, a tax preparation firm with locations in Birmingham and Jasper, Alabama. The indictment alleges that Wooden "knowingly and willfully aided and assisted in the preparation of 35 fraudulent tax returns on behalf of clients for the tax years 2014 through 2017. In 2014 and 2016, Wooden allegedly failed to file personal income tax returns despite being required to do so by law."

The penalty for aiding and assisting in the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns is a maximum of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The penalty for willfully failing to file a tax return is a maximum of one year in prison and a fine of $100,000.

IRS Criminal Investigations Atlanta Field Office is conducting the investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Canter is prosecuting the case.