The latest IRS step-up in tax collection crackdown has some 14,700 wealthy Americans shaking in their chairs. The IRS reports that it has been seeing an “unprecedented” number of Americans who have come forward before the October 15th amnesty deadline. Offshore account holders who voluntarily disclose their unpaid back taxes on foreign funds by this deadline are able to receive reduced IRS penalties.
For those who did not make the deadline
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The IRS just released its strategic plan for fiscal years 2009-2013. The plan outlines how the agency will improve service to taxpayers and enforcement of the law over the next five years.
According to IRS Commissioner Douglas H. Shulman, the agency’s first goal is to make voluntary compliance easier in an effort to maintain the fairest and most effective system of voluntary compliance in the world.
In other words, their goal is
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The IRS announced new voluntary disclosure practices for offshore account holders. Voluntary disclosure can help taxpayers avoid prosecution for possible tax evasion and reduce taxes, penalties, and interest owed.  The IRS offers leniency for voluntary disclosure and Americans with IRS tax problems should take advantage of this policy to mitigate legal problems later.
While taxpayers can participate in the voluntary disclosure program before the IRS has initiated a civil or criminal
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Though slightly down from 2007, tax enforcement number in 2008 were among the highest in a decade.
By Michael Rozbruch
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The large number of tax evasion and audit cases you’re hearing about today isn’t a symptom of yellow journalism.
In fact, the fiscal-year 2008 tax enforcement numbers released by the Internal Revenue Service are among the highest in a decade.
In fiscal-year 2008, the IRS collected $56.4 billion through collection, examination and document-matching efforts.
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You read in newspapers about big-name celebrities caught violating U.S. tax law. But beware: You’re at risk too.
By Michael Rozbruch
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Celebrity lands in tax trouble.
That story always finds a way into your newspaper or your favorite news website.
After all, who hasn’t read about Brazilian race-car driver and “Dancing with the Stars” winner Helio Castroneves?
The 33-year-old faces trial in Miami on charges he failed to report $5.5 million in income from 1999
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After year after year of news about increasing levels of enforcement at the IRS, government statistics show tax revenue is up — evidence for the new commissioner that tax enforcement is working
By Michael Rozbruch
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Here’s some bad news for taxpayers who thought the IRS’s increasingly aggressive enforcement tactics would end in the near future: Those tactics won’t end any time soon.
The reason is simple. The Internal Revenue Service now has proof
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