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COVID-19: Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Stealing Nearly $5M From Pandemic Relief Fund COVID-19: Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Stealing Nearly $5M From Pandemic Relief Fund
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Man Accused Of Stealing Nearly $5M From Pandemic Relief Fund A man from the Hudson Valley allegedly took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to live a lavish lifestyle by allegedly illegally obtaining nearly $5 million in loans meant for struggling businesses. Ulster County resident Jean Lavanture, of Saugerties, also known as Rudy Lavanture, was arrested this week on a bank fraud complaint that alleges he obtained millions in government-backed loans that were earmarked for businesses struggling during the pandemic. Lavanture was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 17 at a new 8.54-acre estate that he allegedly purchased with the illegally obtained funds. It…

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by Zak Failla
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Former Town Justice In Westchester Sentenced For Tax Evasion Former Town Justice In Westchester Sentenced For Tax Evasion
Former Town Justice In Westchester Sentenced For Tax Evasion A former town justice in Northern Westchester will spend time behind bars after admitting to a decade-long tax evasion scheme. Former Lewisboro Town Justice Marc Seedorf, a Carmel attorney, was sentenced in White Plains Federal Court to six months in prison following his guilty plea to tax evasion last December. Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said that between 2009 through October 2019, Seedorf was a Town Justice for the Town of Lewisboro, and an Administrative Law Judge for Westchester County.  He also received income from the private practice of law.  Strauss said tha…

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by Zak Failla
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Here's Why IRS Is Sending Money To 13.9 Million Americans Here's Why IRS Is Sending Money To 13.9 Million Americans
Here's Why IRS Is Sending Money To 13.9 Million Americans Americans who filed their 2019 tax returns on time but still haven't received their refunds will be getting interest payments from the IRS, which attributes delays in payments to complications caused by COVID-19. The deadline to file tax returns on time was July 15, which was postponed by three months from the original deadline on April 15 due to COVID-19. Payments will be $18 on average, according to a press release from the agency.  Taxpayers whose refunds are typically received via direct deposit -- 12 million of the total 13.9 million set to receive payouts -- will also have this …

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by Christina Coulter
Business
Don't Toss That Envelope From Omaha -- It Has Your Federal Stimulus Prepaid Debit Card Don't Toss That Envelope From Omaha -- It Has Your Federal Stimulus Prepaid Debit Card
Don't Toss That Envelope From Omaha -- It Has Your Federal Stimulus Prepaid Debit Card If a plain white envelope from Omaha, Nebraska arrives in the mail, don’t throw it away. It may be your federal stimulus payment. Last week, the IRS and U.S. Treasury Department began mailing Economic Impact Payments as prepaid debit cards. In addition to a P.O. Box in Omaha, the return address says the letter is from "Money Network Cardholder Services." Nearly 4 million Americans waiting for their slice of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act are expected to get their stimulus money in the form of an EIP Card, as opposed to a paper check signed by President Donald J. Trump. The trouble is, th…

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by Jon Craig
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Alert Issued For Department Of Treasury Stimulus Scams COVID-19: Alert Issued For Department Of Treasury Stimulus Scams
Covid-19: Alert Issued For Department Of Treasury Stimulus Scams As more than 80 million Americans have either already received or are awaiting economic stimulus automatic deposits in their bank accounts or checks through the mail,  the Treasury Department is warning of scams associated with the payments. "If you receive calls, emails, or other communications claiming to be from the United States Treasury Department and offering COVID-19 related grants or stimulus payments in exchange for personal financial information, or an advance fee, or charge of any kind, including the purchase of gift cards, do not respond, "the department said. The Federal T…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Some Could Now Start Getting Stimulus Checks By Direct Deposit COVID-19: Some Could Now Start Getting Stimulus Checks By Direct Deposit
Covid-19: Some Could Now Start Getting Stimulus Checks By Direct Deposit Relief is coming for millions of Americans coping with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as the federal government begins making payments. The House Ways and Means Committee said the IRS will make approximately 60 million payments to Americans through direct deposit in mid-April, with some expected as soon as Thursday, April 9. Those without direct deposit information on file at the IRS may not receive their checks until the summer or fall. U.S. residents will receive the Economic Impact Payment of $1,200 for individual or head of household filers, and $2,400 for married filing jo…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: Social Security Recipients Will Automatically Receive Economic Impact Payments COVID-19: Social Security Recipients Will Automatically Receive Economic Impact Payments
Covid-19: Social Security Recipients Will Automatically Receive Economic Impact Payments Seniors and others who receive Social Security will automatically receive an economic impact payment associated with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS announced on Wednesday, April 1, that Social Security beneficiaries who are not typically required to file tax returns will not need to file an abbreviated tax return to receive the benefit, payments will be automatically deposited into their bank accounts. “Social Security recipients who are not typically required to file a tax return do not need to take any action, and will receive t…

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by Kathy Reakes
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Here's What You Need To Know About Amount, Timing Of Federal Stimulus Checks COVID-19: Here's What You Need To Know About Amount, Timing Of Federal Stimulus Checks
Covid-19: Here's What You Need To Know About Amount, Timing Of Federal Stimulus Checks The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced Tuesday, March 30, that economic impact payments will begin in the next three weeks and will be sent automatically, with no action required for most people.  However, some seniors and others who typically do not file returns will need to submit a simple tax return to receive the payment. Who is eligible for the economic impact payment? Tax filers with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns will receive the full payment.  For filers with inco…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
NYS On Pause: Cuomo Orders COVID-19 100 Percent Non-Essential Workplace Reduction, New Rules NYS On Pause: Cuomo Orders COVID-19 100 Percent Non-Essential Workplace Reduction, New Rules
NYS On Pause: Cuomo Orders Covid-19 100 Percent Non-Essential Workplace Reduction, New Rules Click here for an updated story - COVID-19: Here's When NYS PAUSE Measures Take Effect, What You Need To Know Amid the novel coronavirus crisis (COVID-19), Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he's taking the most dramatic action he can - reducing the non-essential workforce 100 percent. There will be fines and closures if businesses do not cooperate with the state order, Cuomo said in a news briefing in Albany on Friday, March 20. The measure in which only essential businesses can have workers commuting takes effect Sunday night, March 22. "This is the most drastic action we can take," Cuomo said, off…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Westchester Businessman Admits To Tax Evasion, Must Pay $395K Westchester Businessman Admits To Tax Evasion, Must Pay $395K
Westchester Businessman Admits To Tax Evasion, Must Pay $395K A Westchester County businessman has admitted to tax evasion for more than four years to the tune of almost $400,000. Antonio Nikc, 58, of Chappaqua, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, March 3, to tax evasion for the years 2010 to 2014, for a total $395,745, said the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. According to the statements made in court, during the time period of the tax evasion, Nikc managed a number of family businesses that operate large rental buildings in New York and Connecticut, in a manner to conceal his sources of income to prevent the IRS from assessi…

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by Kathy Reakes
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Scam Alert: Don't Fall For These Tax Season Schemes Scam Alert: Don't Fall For These Tax Season Schemes
Scam Alert: Don't Fall For These Tax Season Schemes As tax season heats up, officials are warning area residents to be wary of opportunistic fraudsters looking to scam them in new ways. Scammers have found new ways to defraud their victims, from mailbox phishing to new electronic means. The IRS stated that hackers attempted to claim more than $3 billion in false refunds last year using stolen information. “Thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and their personal information to tax scams. Scammers use the regular mail, telephone, or email to set up individuals, businesses, payroll and tax professionals,” the IRS stated. “The …

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by Zak Failla
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Tax Preparer From Westchester Admits To Filing False Returns, Ordered To Pay $476K Tax Preparer From Westchester Admits To Filing False Returns, Ordered To Pay $476K
Tax Preparer From Westchester Admits To Filing False Returns, Ordered To Pay $476K As filing season nears, a former Westchester-based tax preparer is facing time behind bars after admitting to preparing and filing nearly $500,000 in false income tax returns. Michael Magnaldi, formerly of Pelham, who now lives in Florida, pleaded guilty in White Plains federal court to one count of aiding and assisting in the filing of false tax returns for tax years 2014 to 2017 and one count of subscribing to a false tax return in 2016. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said that between 2014 and 2017, Magnaldi prepared 37 false Forms 1040 that contained, false information, false Schedule D …

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by Zak Failla