By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – The Alabama House favors penalizing unscrupulous tax preparers and shutting down their operations. The House has passed a bill that would give the state that authority. Representative Mac Gipson says the bill would bring Alabama law in line with federal law on that matter. Under current Alabama law, taxpayers are liable for fraudulent entries on their return, but not the person who prepared the form. The bill doesn't list specific penalties, but it would allow the Alabama Revenue Department to set fines and a procedure for shutting down fraudulent tax preparers. That bill now goes to the Senate.