Lanett business owner charged with tax crimes

Published 6:00 pm Monday, July 1, 2019

LANETT — A Lanett tax preparer was arrested Thursday on federal charges. 

Gladys Rosalynn McCauley, owner of Roz House of Tax, was charged with 20 counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of a false federal income tax return, according to a 20-count indictment filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama Eastern Division. According to the indictment, McCauley willfully aided and assisted in the preparation of several tax forms to the IRS for multiple individuals.

From Jan. 20, 2015, to April 12, 2017, the indictment alleges McCauley assisted in false tax returns to 11 individuals. Some of the individuals listed in the indictment filed multiple returns with McCauley from 2015 to 2017.

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Several of the alleged false returns filed involved telling individuals they were entitled to tax credits that they were not eligible for. Additionally, the indictment alleges McCauley informed some people they were entitled to tens of thousands of dollars in business losses.

In one instance, the indictment alleges McCauley informed a customer they were entitled to more than $59,000 in losses from a sole proprietorship business. The indictment also says McCauley knew the customer was not actually eligible.

According to federal documents, the federal indictment was returned on June 5 and McCauley has been released from jail.

According to Douglas Howard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, McCauley has not been arraigned because she did not have an attorney as of Monday afternoon. A court date for the arraignment had not been set as of Monday.

Howard said each count against McCauley carries a maximum of three years in prison, and there is no mandatory minimum. The charges were recommended by the IRS.