Yellowhammer Times

A Birmingham tax preparer has been sentenced for preparing false tax returns for clients, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.

U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Blackburn sentenced Geta Barr to 18 months in prison. In February 2025, Barr pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of a false and fraudulent tax return.

According to the plea agreement, Barr was the owner of Maxi Tax Resource, LLC, a tax preparation business in Birmingham. Of the approximately 900 returns that Barr prepared for tax years 2017, 2018, and 2019, 96% claimed refunds. Barr prepared false tax returns for at least 14 different clients between tax years 2016 and 2020. During this time, Barr included false Schedule Cs reporting losses for fabricated businesses, as well as false itemized deductions and standard deductions. This fraudulent conduct resulted in a total tax loss to the IRS of over $300,000.

The Internal Revenue Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan S. Rummage prosecuted the case.