ATLANTA — A metro Atlanta tax preparer has been ordered to pay more than half a million dollars to the federal government after investigators found she filed fraudulent tax returns for clients.

According to federal court documents, Griffin-based tax preparer Tanja Hollis knowingly submitted returns containing false business and education expense claims to reduce her clients’ tax liabilities.

Investigators say approximately 90% of the tax returns Hollis prepared between 2022 and 2025 included fraudulent claims.

Court documents show Hollis collected hundreds of thousands of dollars through the fraudulent returns during that period.

A federal court has ordered Hollis to pay the government $567,000 and permanently barred her from preparing federal tax returns.

The IRS says it offers a free online directory to help taxpayers find legitimate tax preparers.

WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons & Jonathan O’Brien contributed to this story.