wistv.com - Columbia, South Carolina |Tax preparer arrested for falsifying tax returns without clients' knowledge

Tax preparer arrested for falsifying tax returns without clients' knowledge

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By Jason Old - email
Carlotta M. Watson (Source: Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center) Carlotta M. Watson (Source: Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center)

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COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - SC Department of Revenue investigators arrested a woman Tuesday morning on 14 counts of assisting in the preparation of a false return.

Carlotta M. Watson, 33, is accused of entering false figures and false itemized deductions during the preparation of income tax returns for tax years 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Investigators said Watson, owner and tax preparer at Jonathan & Watson Tax Service in Columbia, wrongfully generated tax returns for her clients without their approval or knowledge.

By purposely inflating deductions on each of the returns that she prepared, Watson caused taxpayers to receive inflated refunds from the state of South Carolina, according to investigators.

If convicted of all of the 14 charges, Watson could face penalties of up to 70 years in prison and/or $7,000 in fines.

A judge set a $65,000 recognizance bond for Watson Tuesday morning. At last check, she was being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia.

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