About 7,000 Phoenix-area taxpayers who used a Gilbert tax preparation firm will be required to file amended state tax returns, officials said.
The Arizona Department of Revenue said it will contact everyone who used Accountable Business Services, whose operators were indicted last week on multiple counts of forgery and fraud.
The 136-count indictment names Albert Decker, 58, and his wife, Cheryl Decker, 55, and six of their family members.
Authorities said the charges stem from false income-tax returns the Deckers prepared for clients and forging mortgage documents for tax purposes. The illegal activity occurred between December 2000 and last August, authorities said.
"It appears to be solely for their benefit," Dan Zemke, spokesman for Arizona Department of Revenue, said Friday.
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In all, the Decker family is accused of stealing $10 million that should have gone to the state. Zemke said the Deckers stole the money by being creative with income-tax deductions.
Clients of the business should file amended returns immediately and will likely have to pay late penalties and interest.
Officials also said they have passed the investigation onto the federal government, and it is likely the 7,000 clients also will have to answer to the Internal Revenue Service.
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