Apple Valley woman charged with multiple felony tax crimes
FILE - This Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019 file photo shows part of a 1040 federal tax form printed from the Internal Revenue Service website, in Zelienople, Pa. Tax filing season will start a bit later and look a bit different this year. That’s because the pandemic that defined 2020 has seeped into tax time as well. If you worked from home, received a relief payment, took on some gig work or filed unemployment benefits _ or someone filed a fake claim in your name _ there are things you need to be aware of. Likewise if you normally receive certain tax credits. The IRS will begin accepting tax returns on Feb. 12, 2021.[AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File]
An Apple Valley woman is charged with three felony counts of knowingly aiding in the preparation of a fraudulent tax return and three felony counts of willfully underpaying sales tax.
The Minnesota Department of Revenue says the Dakota County Attorney’s Office recently charged Rong Qiao Zheng, of Apple Valley.
According to the complaint, Zheng is the owner of Super World Buffet, a restaurant located in Apple Valley. The complaint alleges that Zheng underreported taxable cash transactions made at her restaurant to her accountant, who subsequently used that information to file the fraudulent sales tax and use tax returns on the restaurant’s behalf for multiple months from 2017 through 2019.
The complaint states that Zheng owes more than $138,000 in sales and use tax, penalties and interest.
Each tax-related felony charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both.