Grover Beach-based tax preparer is accused of identity theft, forgery

By Cynthia Lambert | clambert@thetribunenews.com

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The Arroyo Grande Police Department issued a crime alert Tuesday after a local resident learned that fraudulent amended tax returns had been filed in his name from 2005-07.

The resident, who was not identified, had used a Grover Beach-based tax preparer called Exact Tax during those years. Arroyo Grande detectives found that amended tax returns, as well as a request for a refund and a change of address, had been filed without the resident�s knowledge.

Arroyo Grande detectives tracked the owner of Exact Tax to an address in the Los Angeles area, where they found Internal Revenue Service documents and personal identification information about at least eight different individuals. They also discovered documents suggesting that the account holder had opened a joint account with the Arroyo Grande resident without his knowledge.

Police are not naming the business owner of Exact Tax until he is located and arrested, according to a news release. The business closed and left the county about three years ago.

Police have asked the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney�s Office to file multiple charges of identity theft and forgery against the business owner.

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