A United States federal court has permanently prohibited former tax return preparer, Oladapo Olagbemi, from preparing federal tax returns for anyone other than himself following his conviction for helping clients file fraudulent tax returns.
The court also barred Olagbemi from owning or operating any business involved in tax return preparation and from training individuals to prepare tax returns.
The Department of Justice (DOJ), in a statement, disclosed that Olagbemi agreed to the permanent injunction after pleading guilty to the offences.
According to the department, he operated a tax preparation firm, D.A.O. Accounting, Consulting, and Taxation, Inc., based in San Diego, California.
On June 4, 2026, Olagbemi pleaded guilty to four counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. He was subsequently sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $1.9 million in restitution to the United States.
The DOJ said that between 2019 and 2024, he deliberately submitted inaccurate information in clients’ tax returns to lower or completely eliminate their tax obligations and obtain refunds fraudulently.
It explained that he carried out the scheme by inserting false schedules and forms, including Schedules 1, A, C and E, as well as Forms 2106 and 5695.
The permanent ban was announced by Joshua Wu, Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the DOJ’s Civil Division, Tax Litigation Branch. Attorneys Azer Habashi and Jeffery N. Nunez represented the government in the case.
The department urged taxpayers to be careful when engaging tax return preparers, warning against fraudulent individuals and businesses offering such services.
It also advised taxpayers to visit the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website for information on selecting qualified tax preparers and accessing its free directory of federal tax return preparers.
The IRS further provides guidance on identifying tax-season scams and safeguarding personal information.
