A New Orleans tax preparer was arrested after investigators said she used fabricated W-2 withholding information to inflate state income tax refunds for clients.
The Louisiana Department of Revenue identified the tax preparer as Jasmine Iriel Dumas. The agency said Dumas faces multiple felony charges tied to an alleged scheme to steal state income tax refunds.
Investigators said Dumas filed state returns with false W-2 withholding information. The inflated refunds also increased the commissions Dumas paid herself for preparing the returns, according to the department.
The charges are allegations. Dumas is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
A Suspicious 2022 Return Triggered The Case
The Louisiana Department of Revenue said investigators flagged a suspicious return that included a W-2 form for 2022.
The client told investigators he was not employed that year. He also said he had never worked for the company listed on the return and had not given Dumas information claiming he had.
Investigators said the returns Dumas submitted caused the state to issue $6,569 in illegitimate refunds. The investigation stopped another $59,909 in fraudulent refunds before they were issued.
Dumas Was Booked On Felony Charges
Dumas was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on June 30, 2026, according to the Louisiana Department of Revenue.
The listed charges are principal to filing or maintaining false public records, principal to theft, and principal to attempted theft.
FOX 8 reported that jail records also listed an open fugitive warrant and that Dumas remained jailed Wednesday in lieu of a $10,000 bond.
The department said Dumas is the 81st person arrested under a joint anti-tax fraud initiative involving the Louisiana Department of Revenue and the state attorney general’s office.
False Withholding Can Leave Taxpayers Exposed
A false W-2, fake employer, inflated withholding amount, or refund that seems too large can create problems for the taxpayer whose name is on the return.
The IRS says taxpayers are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of every item reported on their tax returns, even when a paid preparer completes the paperwork.
The IRS also warned in its 2026 Dirty Dozen list about overstated withholding schemes, where fabricated wage or withholding data is used to manufacture a larger refund. The agency said inaccurate claims can lead to processing delays, penalties, and enforcement action.
Taxpayers Should Review A Return Before It Is Filed
Taxpayers should review every return before signing or authorizing electronic filing. Income, withholding, dependents, credits, deductions, direct deposit information, and the preparer’s information should match the taxpayer’s actual records.
A paid preparer must sign the return and include a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number. Taxpayers should avoid preparers who refuse to sign, ask them to sign a blank return, base the fee on the size of the refund, or promise a bigger refund without records to support it.
Anyone who discovers that a preparer filed false information should save the return, W-2s, pay records, messages, receipts, direct deposit details, and any paperwork the preparer supplied. Tax preparer misconduct can be reported to the IRS, and Louisiana taxpayers can also contact the Louisiana Department of Revenue if a state return is involved.
