Survalarie Harris, a tax preparer from Jacksonville, Florida, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for aiding and assisting in the filing of a false tax return. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger, who also ordered Harris to pay $1,824,279 in restitution to the United States government. Harris pleaded guilty to the charges in August 2025.
Court documents reveal that Harris operated Tax Genie Tax Service in Jacksonville, where she knowingly submitted false information on tax returns for her clients. This included inventing businesses and fictitious business expenses to reduce clients’ taxable income and increase their eligibility for refunds and credits such as the Earned Income Credit. IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) agents found that Harris repeatedly falsified returns by listing losses for non-existent businesses without requiring any supporting documentation from taxpayers.
In one instance on March 22, 2022, Harris prepared a fraudulent return for an undercover IRS-CI agent posing as a customer. During their interaction, Harris suggested fabricating business activity—hair braiding—to secure a refund. Despite receiving no documentation or evidence of business losses or income from the agent, Harris filed a return showing a net loss for this non-existent business. This manipulation allowed the agent to qualify for an Earned Income Credit.
The investigation determined that Harris had engaged in similar fraudulent practices since at least 2018 and had prepared more than 900 falsified tax returns between the 2020 and 2022 tax years. The total estimated tax loss resulting from her actions was at least $1,824,279.
“Deliberately submitting false, fraudulent, or misleading information to the IRS is a crime,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “We will work with the IRS to vigorously investigate and prosecute those who deliberately seek to defraud our tax system.”
“Most tax preparers play by the rules—but those who don’t will be held accountable,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “Creating bogus businesses to steal refunds isn’t a shortcut—it’s a felony. IRS Special Agents will relentlessly pursue fraudsters and make sure justice is served.”
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation led the investigation into this case. Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams prosecuted it.
