The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced that, as of 2020, it would prioritize high-income non-filers for additional review. The agency appears to be putting its money where its mouth is, shifting funds to resources that focus on aggressively pursuing...
Two important lessons from the “biggest ever” tax evasion case
Federal prosecutors recently charged Texas billionaire Robert Brockman with multiple tax crimes. Officials state this is, to date, the largest tax evasion crime the country has seen. Mr. Brockman, arguably one of the nation’s most prominent philanthropists, now faces...
What happens when a tax return preparer is accused of tax evasion?
Tax return professionals are subject to penalties if they do not follow tax laws. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state tax agencies may pursue criminal charges against a tax return preparer if they believe the professional has failed to do their job properly....
Outline of a tax evasion case: Construction VP provides an example
There are many situations that can result in allegations of tax evasion. In a recent example, the government accused a vice president of a construction company of evading tax obligations on funds received at work. The case began when the New York State Police and...
IRS, tax enforcement and the numbers: Is there a new trend?
According to recent data, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigated 3,395 cases for tax crimes in 2016, 2,019 in 2017 and 2,886 in 2018. Based on these numbers, it may appear that the agency is moving away from criminal tax enforcement. To believe this is a new...
New IRS program could help those who need to disclose taxes
Government agencies are making announcements about incentives to help people as we navigate the COVID-19 crisis. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently unveiled its effort to help taxpayers, called the People First Initiative. What is the People First Initiative?...
Four examples of evidence used to build a tax evasion case
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) generally looks for more than a failure to file tax returns when building a criminal tax evasion case. In most cases, these allegations require the prosecution establish intentional steps taken to avoid one’s tax obligations. Some...
AG accuses New York camera store of tax evasion
Attorney General Letitia James (AG) recently accused famous New York camera shop, B&H, of failing to pay its fair share in taxes. The local camera specialty shop is fighting back, stating the AG is unfairly targeting their store. What was the basis for the tax...
How far back can the IRS go when they conduct an audit?
A federal tax audit can involve a thorough review of one’s tax filings. The exact period of time the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can “look back” through tax records is generally three years. But, like everything with taxes, the answer is not always as clear as we...
DOJ accuses reality T.V. stars of tax fraud
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has continued its crackdown on tax crimes. The agency will review allegations of wrongdoing wherever they may lead—even to Hollywood. In the most recent example, the DOJ recently charged Todd and Julie Chrisley with tax-related...
