An Atlanta-based tax preparation family is officially out of the business for good after a federal court stepped in to shut down their operations following allegations of widespread fraud.
On Thursday, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia issued a permanent injunction against Mabika Ilunga, Simon Ilunga Sr., and Simon Ilunga Jr. The trio, who operated under the name Metro Insurance and Tax Service, is now legally barred from ever touching a tax return again.
This wasn’t just a slap on the wrist. Beyond being forced to close their doors, the Ilungas have agreed to pay back $600,000 in what the government called “ill-gotten gains.”
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The settlement marks the end of a legal battle where federal prosecutors accused the group of systematically lying on documents to lower their clients’ tax bills—often without the clients even realizing the risks involved.
According to the legal complaint, the scheme involved a laundry list of fabrications. The defendants allegedly padded returns with fake business losses, made-up education expenses, and even “qualified electric vehicle” credits that didn’t actually exist.
In some cases, they reportedly invented entire businesses from scratch or claimed dependents that weren’t real just to trigger larger Earned Income Tax Credits. While this might have resulted in bigger refunds for customers in the short term, it left those taxpayers vulnerable to IRS audits and penalties.
The court’s order is remarkably strict. Not only are the Ilungas prohibited from preparing returns, but they also cannot own, work for, or even help a family member set up a new tax business. They are even blocked from selling their client lists to other firms.
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To ensure the public gets the message, they are now required to post physical copies of this permanent injunction at their business locations and feature a direct link to the court order on their website.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Wu announced the resolution of the case, which was spearheaded by attorney Daniel Causey of the Tax Litigation Branch. The Department of Justice is using this case as a high-profile reminder for Georgians to be careful about who they trust with their social security numbers and financial data.
As tax season approaches, federal officials are urging taxpayers to do their homework. The IRS maintains a free directory of verified preparers on its website and suggests that any “pro” who promises an unusually large refund before looking at your records is a major red flag. For those in Atlanta, the Metro Insurance and Tax Service sign is coming down, but the $600,000 debt to the government is just beginning.
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