ATLANTA TAX PREPARER STEALS $15,000 FROM CLIENTS

A significant tax fraud investigation is currently unfolding in South Fulton County, Georgia, following serious allegations against Whitlan Tax Service and its owner, Jahaya King.

Several metro Atlanta taxpayers have come forward to accuse the firm of pocketing their cash instead of filing their returns or paying the Internal Revenue Service.

One of the most high profile cases involves Donna Hines, who reported that she paid over $15,000 to the company to settle back taxes for her 93 year old mother, Edna.

Hines stated that the owner requested payments via cash, Zelle, and wire transfers rather than checks made out to the IRS, claiming the money was being sent to the government on the family's behalf.

The situation turned into a financial nightmare when Hines discovered that not a single penny had actually been deposited with the IRS.

Because the returns were never filed and the original debt went unpaid, the initial $6,500 tax bill has exploded into $28,000 due to the accumulation of massive interest and penalties.

Hines further alleged that the tax service has refused to return her mother's original documents, making it nearly impossible for her to refile or correct the records.

Other clients have shared similar experiences, with one individual expecting a $40,000 refund only to receive warning letters from the IRS about incomplete and altered returns.

Investigations into the business revealed that neither King nor her husband appear to have a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), which is a mandatory federal requirement for anyone who is paid to prepare tax returns.

When customers attempted to confront the owners about the missing funds, they were reportedly met with excuses that the owner was too ill or hospitalized to speak.

South Fulton Police have confirmed that there is an active investigation into these allegations of theft by deception, and the IRS is also reviewing the complaints.

This case serves as a stark reminder that the IRS holds the individual taxpayer responsible for all balances and penalties, regardless of whether a preparer stole the money or committed fraud.