Comptroller prevents fraudulent refunds

From Fox 5:

The state comptroller's office has halted $16.4 million in personal state income tax refunds, saying it has found 5,903 improper returns among those filed so far this year.

Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says his office has audited and approved 4.7 million refund requests totaling $4.1 billion in 2012, with another 406,000 refund requests totaling $382 million expected to be paid in the coming days.

DiNapoli says Monday most taxpayers play by the rules, but some have claimed tax deductions for children they don't have, listed fictitious day care expenses or tried other schemes to cheat on taxes.

The comptroller's office says it audits all state bills prior to payment, including personal income tax refunds.

The agency says 23 percent of questionable returns were linked to dishonest tax preparers.