Survalarie Harris sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,824,279 in restitution after preparing over 900 fraudulent tax returns for clients using fictitious business expenses and fake Schedule C losses.

Tax Genie Tax Service / Survalarie Harris — 900+ Fraudulent Returns (2018–2022)

Outcome: Harris sentenced to 18 months federal prison and $1,824,279 restitution after pleading guilty to aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns.

Survalarie Harris operated Tax Genie Tax Service in Jacksonville, Florida and from at least 2018 through the 2022 tax year prepared over 900 falsified individual income tax returns for clients. The scheme involved knowingly reporting false information on returns, including fabricated Schedule C profit-and-loss statements listing business expenses that did not exist, and false claims of business income to reduce tax liability and inflate refunds.

An IRS undercover operation on March 22, 2022 produced direct evidence: an agent had Harris prepare a return, which resulted in a fraudulent refund of $2,950 based on fabricated deductions. Harris pleaded guilty in August 2025, and sentencing occurred February 18, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger in the Middle District of Florida.

The case demonstrates the risk profile of small independent tax preparation operations with no oversight structure. Harris prepared returns since at least 2018, accumulating over 900 fraudulent filings before criminal charges were filed—a four-year window that a systematic audit trail would have dramatically shortened.

Primary Source: Jacksonville Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Preparing Over $1.8 Million in Fraudulent Tax Returns