- Cortez Hollis was convicted on twenty counts of tax fraud by a federal jury in Minnesota.
- The preparer submitted one million dollars in losses using fictitious business records and claims.
- Hollis faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison for each individual count of conviction.
(MINNESOTA) – A federal jury convicted Cortez Hollis, owner of Hollis Tax Time, on June 25, 2026, of 20 counts of aiding or assisting in the preparation of false tax returns tied to fraudulent refund claims.
Federal prosecutors said the Minnesota preparer inserted more than $1,000,000 in fraudulent losses into client returns and sought about $387,000 in refunds that clients were not entitled to receive.
Hollis was tried in the District of Minnesota. The conviction was announced by the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.
Free toolSubstantial Presence Test CalculatorAssistant Attorney General Colin McDonald and U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen announced the verdict. IRS Criminal Investigation handled the investigation.
Prosecutors said Hollis told clients he could obtain tax credits that other preparers did not know about. At trial, the government said the returns instead listed fictitious businesses and phony business losses.
Court findings in cases like this often reach beyond one preparer. Tax filings may later appear in financial reviews, loan applications, and some immigration background checks, where false records can trigger separate legal problems.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Cortez Hollis |
| Business | Hollis Tax Time |
| Conviction date | June 25, 2026 |
| Charges | 20 counts of aiding or assisting in the preparation of false tax returns |
| Fraudulent losses | More than $1,000,000 |
| Refunds sought | Approximately $387,000 |
| Investigating agency | IRS Criminal Investigation |
| Announced by | Colin McDonald and Daniel Rosen |
| Prosecutors | Eric B. Powers and Megan E. Wessel |
| Maximum prison exposure | Three years per count |
Prosecutors also said Hollis paid himself tax preparation fees of $2,000 or more from refund proceeds. In some instances, they said, clients did not know those payments had been taken.
That conduct sits at the center of many refund fraud prosecutions. A preparer controls the return entries, while the taxpayer may not see invented losses or fabricated business activity until the IRS examines the filing.
Taxpayers who signed returns prepared by someone else still may face civil exposure if the filing contains false information. Whether a person knew about the false entries typically shapes the next steps in any IRS review.
✅ If you are a taxpayer who used a preparer recently, review your filings for accuracy and consider consulting a tax professional to ensure compliance.
The prosecution team included Assistant Chief Eric B. Powers and Trial Attorney Megan E. Wessel. The case was brought through the federal court process in Minnesota, where sentencing follows a separate hearing after conviction.
Federal judges usually weigh the counts of conviction, the loss amounts, sentencing guidelines, and arguments from both sides before imposing sentence. In tax cases, restitution and supervision may also be addressed.
Hollis faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison on each count. Sentencing is scheduled to be set later by the federal district court judge.
⚠️ Note: This case involves convicted tax fraud with potential prison time; readers should seek qualified tax or legal counsel for personalized guidance.
The case adds to a steady line of federal prosecutions aimed at return preparers who create false deductions, losses, or credits to inflate refunds. Those cases often turn on patterns across many client filings, not a single disputed return.
Immigration consequences can also arise in many cases where tax filings are later reviewed in visa, naturalization, or benefits matters. A criminal conviction or false financial record may draw added scrutiny, but outcomes depend on individual facts and legal history.
This article reports on a criminal conviction and is not legal or tax advice.
Tax and immigration consequences can vary; consult licensed professionals for guidance.
