Tax Preparer Accused of Taking Payments From Restaurant Owner

A tax preparer is accused of blowing a financial hole into the budget of a Roswell restaurant by more than $20,000.

The Georgia Department of Revenue's Special Investigations Division has taken arrest warrants out on Todd Kelly, president of Tax Traxx LLC, on theft by conversion charges for allegedly pocketing over $20,000 in client sales tax payments, according to WSB-TV.

Abby Clark, owner of NINE Street Kitchen, said she put her trust in Kelly to file her monthly sales tax returns with the state for over a year. However, Clark received a phone call a few months ago from the state agency informing her she owed back taxes.

A spokesperson with the state agency said Kelly kept the money for himself instead of turning it over to the department, according to the news outlet. 

According to Kelly's biography on the company's website, he has more than 10 years in "state tax administration" experience, including having served in various roles at the Georgia Department of Revenue. 

The restaurant wrote on its Facebook page that the $22,000 is just the "tip of the iceberg." 

"It's about $70,000 with the interest and corrections to his under reporting, but the Department of Revenue has been so great to work with us," NINE Street added.