Justice Department investigating Golden Triangle tax preparer

COLUMBUS — The Justice Department is seeking to shut down a tax preparer, who runs a business in Columbus.

Yesterday, federal prosecutors said they filed a federal civil injunction suit to bar Cynthia H. Carter from preparing federal tax returns for others.

Prosecutors say Cynthia’s Tax Service prepares returns for customers who report false income and expense amounts and falsely claim several tax credits, including the first-time-homebuyer credit.

The Justice Department charges that Carter claimed first-time-homebuyer credit on her customers’ returns even though the customers had not bought new homes in those tax years and were ineligible for the credit.

Carter could not be reached for comment.