LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A Las Vegas woman is sharing her family’s costly experience with the IRS to warn others about the importance of properly preparing taxes and verifying the credentials of tax professionals.
For Melyssa Lopez, the upcoming tax season brings up anxiety from the past. After coming to the U.S. From Venezuela, she says as a business owner, her taxes look a bit more complex than the typical W-2.
Lopez trusted her husband’s friend, an enrolled agent, to handle their taxes. With no receipts and little understanding of the process, the IRS came knocking.
“The IRS does not forgive you, Lopez said. “They want their money, and they might give you a refund, but if you lie or something it might not come out right there, but it will in the future.”
Lopez and her husband were audited and ended up owing nearly $200,000. For them, it was a wake-up call about the importance of working with qualified professionals and following the rules.
“So, I’d rather pay a CPA and make sure that everything is done correctly than doing it for free and then I get a letter saying, ‘Oh, you did this wrong’,” Lopez said.
As a bilingual CPA, Mariana Lomeli says Lopez’s story is all too common. Lomeli warns against preparers who promise large refunds or questionable deductions, especially in immigrant communities
“I hear stories of the Hispanic community,” Lomeli said. “Some people who, you know, say, ‘I can claim this many people on my return or I can get a bigger deduction,’ If somebody is telling you that, that’s probably not a good sign.”
As for Lopez, she said she will continue to utilize professional help and avoid the mistakes that cost her family so much.
“I know it’s hard because you see that you’re taking that much money, but that’s why we’re here in the United States and we have good streets,” Lopez said.
To avoid problems, Lopez urges taxpayers to verify their preparers’ credentials.
- To look up a CPA, visit the Nevada State Board of Accountancy website.
- To verify an Enrolled Agent, check the IRS Directory of Credentialed Preparers.
Those with simple tax returns – such as W-2 employees with no additional income or deductions – can file for free through the IRS Free File Program. This program provides access to software for individuals with basic tax needs.
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