A Florida man received a huge IRS refund by falsely claiming he paid $1 million in taxes, authorities said Friday, NBC News reported.
The IRS has recouped much of the $980,000 refund from Tampa resident Ramon Christopher Blanchett, who federal prosecutors said told a seven-digit lie on his 2016 income tax returns.
Blanchett called himself a "freelancer" and reported $18,497 of income that year, according to an asset forfeiture complaint filed last month by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tampa.
But in that same self-prepared 1040 return, filed Feb. 21, 2017, Blanchett also reported that $1 million had been withheld in taxes, which led to a $980,000 refund check, federal authorities said.
Blanchett used $49,117.59 to buy a Lexus — which has since been seized by federal authorities, along with three bank accounts worth $919,251.94, court documents showed.