Local

Matthews woman accused of filing false tax returns despite injunction, federal warrant says

MATTHEWS, N.C. — A Matthews woman who claimed she deserved a religious tax exemption on her home is now accused of preparing false tax returns, according to a newly unsealed federal search warrant.

A special agent with the IRS was granted access to Dianne Carter’s emails.

The warrant application said in 2017, the court issued a permanent injunction against Carter that prohibited her from acting as a preparer for federal income tax returns. It said she prepared tax returns for inmates in Nash County, North Carolina but filled out fake incomes and withholdings.

But the warrant shows that the injunction didn’t stop Carter. She continued preparing people’s taxes from 2018 until now.

The document said at least 19 people admitted that Carter prepared their taxes. One person told the IRS Carter has prepared hers for the past five years.

The warrant was executed last month, but it was just unsealed. Documents show agents seized spreadsheets containing contacts’ data, and zip folders with emails.

Channel 9 previously reported on Dianne Carter in an investigation back in 2015. She claimed she should pay less in taxes than her neighbors because her home was owned by the Moorish Science Temple.

She strongly fought the case in court, but a Mecklenburg County tax assessor ultimately ruled she did not deserve the religious tax exemption.

(WATCH BELOW: Customers say Charlotte tax preparer didn’t do their taxes, is nowhere to be found)