A. The Department may commence a civil action to enjoin any person who is an income tax return preparer from further engaging in any conduct described in subsection B or from further action as an income tax return preparer. The venue for any action under this section shall be brought in the circuit court in the circuit where the income tax return preparer resides or has his principal place of business or in the jurisdiction in which the taxpayer with respect to whose income tax return the action is brought resides. The court may exercise its jurisdiction over such action separate and apart from any other administrative or judicial action brought by the Commonwealth against such income tax return preparer or any taxpayer.

B. In any action under subsection A, the court may enjoin the income tax return preparer from further engaging in any conduct specified in this subsection if the court finds that injunctive relief is appropriate to prevent the recurrence of such conduct. The court may enjoin conduct when an income tax return preparer has:

1. Engaged in any conduct subject to penalty under § 6694 or 6695 of the Internal Revenue Code, or subject to any criminal penalty provided by the Internal Revenue Code or this title; or

2. Engaged in any other fraudulent or deceptive conduct that substantially interferes with the proper administration of the tax laws of the Commonwealth.

C. If the court finds that an income tax return preparer has continually or repeatedly engaged in any conduct described in subsection B and that an injunction prohibiting such conduct would not be sufficient to prevent such person's interference with the proper administration of the tax laws of the Commonwealth, the court may enjoin such person from acting as an income tax return preparer. The fact that that person has been enjoined from preparing income tax returns for the United States or any other state in the five years preceding the petition for an injunction shall establish a prima facie case for an injunction under this section.

D. 1. The Department may bar or suspend any income tax return preparer, without resort to the injunctive remedies described in this section, from filing returns with the Department for repeated violations of § 58.1-348.4. Such disbarment or suspension shall be subject to appeal pursuant to the procedures described in subdivision D 2.

2. a. Any income tax preparer barred or suspended pursuant to subdivision D 1 may, within 30 days from the date of such barring or suspension, apply for relief to the Commissioner or appeal directly to the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond. Such application shall be in the form prescribed by the Department, and shall fully set forth the grounds upon which the tax preparer relies and all facts relevant to the tax preparer's contention. The Commissioner may also require such additional information, testimony, or documentary evidence as he deems necessary to a fair determination of the application.

b. Any income tax preparer barred or suspended against whom an order or decision of the Commissioner has been adversely rendered pursuant to subdivision D 2 a may, within fifteen days of such order or decision, appeal from such order or decision to the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond.

c. Any income tax preparer barred or suspended shall not file any Virginia income tax returns pending application for relief to the Commissioner and appeal to the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond.

2005, c. 48; 2018, c. 150.