(a) In addition to the criminal penalty provided by Section 20645.9, any tax preparer who endorses or otherwise negotiates (directly or through an agent) any warrant made with respect to assistance claimed under this part which is issued to a claimant (other than the tax preparer) shall pay a penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) with respect to each such warrant. The preceding sentence does not apply with respect to the deposit by a bank (as defined by Section 581 of the Internal Revenue Code) of the full amount of the warrant in the claimant’s account in that bank for the benefit of the claimant.
(b) For purposes of subdivision (a), “tax preparer” means any person who prepares for compensation, or who employs one or more persons to prepare for compensation, any claim for assistance under this part. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the preparation of a substantial portion of such a claim shall be treated as if it were the preparation of the claim.
A person shall not be a “tax preparer” merely because the person does any of the following:
(1) Furnishes typing, reproducing, or other mechanical assistance.
(2) Prepares as a fiduciary a claim for assistance for any person.
(c) This section does not apply where the tax preparer has advanced the taxpayer an amount of money equal to or greater than the amount of the taxpayer’s tax refund.
(Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 106, Sec. 142.)