Federal Court Holds Mississippi Tax Return Preparer in Contempt

A federal court in Jackson, Mississippi, held that Kavivah Branson, aka Kavivah Bradley, has violated a permanent injunction entered against her on July 3, 2014, which barred her from preparing tax returns for others.

Branson admitted, in documents filed with the court, that she had violated the injunction by directly or indirectly preparing returns for others. She also agreed to pay the United States a total of $55,000 as reimbursement of its investigation expenses and disgorgement of fees she received from refunds claimed on returns she prepared in violation of the injunction. That investigation was undertaken by the Tax Division as part of its effort to monitor the conduct of return preparers who have been enjoined from preparing returns, and hold those who have continued to do so accountable for violating that ban. 

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi ordered Branson to pay these amounts. Also, the court barred her from working at or maintaining any interest in any entity that offers tax preparation services.

The injunction barring Branson from preparing tax returns remains in effect, and the court authorized the United States to continue to monitor her compliance with its orders.

In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers and tax scheme promoters. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found here. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.