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Washington sidelines tax preparer

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 28, 2009

PORT RICHEY - A tax preparer and his firm, accused of claiming millions of dollars in false deductions for clients, have been permanently barred from preparing federal tax returns, the U.S. Department of Justice reported Wednesday.

U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich of the Middle District of Florida entered a permanent injunction against Frank Lighty and his firm, Lighty and Associate, 8816 Huntsman Lane, Port Richey.

Lighty consented to the injunction, the Justice Department reported.

The federal government complaint against Lighty states he claimed false or inflated deductions for medical expenses, charitable contributions and other deductions. The tax loss was said to be as much as $6 million.

In one instance, the complaint states, a customer provided Lighty a receipt for $2,500 in charitable contributions, but he claimed contributions worth $13,000.

The complaint also states that Lighty falsely told customers he was a former IRS agent and had a master's degree in tax administration.

A staff report

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