The president outlines a plan to work with overseas banks and target tax cheats. He also wants to hire 800 new IRS agents to hunt down those not complying.
By Michael Rozbruch
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Just months into office, President Barack Obama has publicly announced the targets of his administrations.
Worldwide terrorist networks?
Check.
Guantanamo Bay?
Check.
Carbon emissions?
Check.
Tax cheats?
Che— Say what?!
That’s right. Among President Obama’s high-value targets are tax cheats who hide money in overseas bank accounts. On May
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In an effort to curtail corporate financial irresponsibility, the Obama administration has been working fervently to control white-collar tax cheats. The media has successfully portrayed the businesses that have overseas bank accounts as “suspicious” and potentially guilty of tax evasion.  In 2001, there was a $345 billion tax gap–most of which can be accounted for by the underground economy of tax evaders who have strategically utilized foreign tax havens and
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Some lawmakers have asked the IRS to stop imposing what they say are excessive penalties on small businesses that use questionable tax shelters.
These businesses are being hit with big fines - an unintended consequence of a law aimed at corporations that use the shelters to avoid taxes. The IRS penalties, which can reach $300,000 a year, are automatic under the law.
The 2004 law setting up the automatic penalties was designed
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Obama proposed nearly doubling funds to enforce tax compliance and has asked Congress for a $400 million boost for IRS enforcement activities in fiscal year 2010, to support its goal of cracking down on offshore tax dodgers.
The additional $400 million is an increase of about 8% that would bring the total IRS enforcement budget to around $5.5 billion for FY 2010. By doubling the tax law enforcement budget, the White
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When I was on the BigBiz Show with Russ and Sully ealier this month, we talked about what taxpayers should know about working with the IRS to solve their tax problems.  We also talked about the tough economic times that we’re experiencing and how it’s not so much a Great Depression - but a Great Correction.
And as Sully pointed out, for many Americans, April 15th is not tax filing deadline,
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I recently appeared as the tax expert on Financial Lifeline Radio with hosts Dave Harbison and John March.We talked about all the tax buzz this year. It’s almost become a cultural movement in this bad economy with everyone struggling with tax debt -  we’re seeing all the tax tea parties and stimulus packages making headlines.
Not to mention, it seems like you must have tax problems to be nominated by the
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Victims of dishonest tax return preparers can end up in a world of tax trouble - it’s no wonder return preparer fraud made this year’s IRS Dirty Dozen list of common scams taxpayers should avoid.  The promise of large refunds may be all too tempting in this challenging economy - but taxpayers should still choose their tax preparer wisely.
With IRS enforcement on the rise, struggling taxpayers do not want to
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A recent Los Angeles Times article examined the resentment that’s brewing among Americans who feel that there is a double standard applied to delinquent taxpayers, which appears to favor powerful people like recent Cabinet nominees.
The most highly criticized nominee has been Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, who owed $34,000 in back taxes and didn’t pay all of it until Obama nominated him.
His excuse? Geithner told the committee that he prepared his
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I recently blogged about how frivolous arguments topped the IRS Dirty Dozen list of most common tax schemes. And in this bad economy, there will be more individuals maintaining frivolous arguments for not paying their taxes.
While many Americans were paying their taxes on April 15, there’s a group of citizens known as tax defiers, deniers or protesters who cite many different reasons refusing to pay their income taxes.
Their frivolous arguments
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Internal documents reveal IRS has made offshore tax evasion its highest-priority target; investigators will focus on unreported income
By Michael Rozbruch
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The memo sent to examination staff of the Internal Revenue Service was clear.
Investigators should make sure offshore tax cases “receive priority treatment.”
Indeed, internal documents released by the tax-collecting agency, coupled with public comments from IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman, leave little doubt the government will focus the brunt of its enforcement efforts
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As I’ve mentioned before, average citizens are just as likely to get in tax trouble for tax evasion and filing false tax returns as high profile celebrities. And the individuals who assist tax cheats should also beware!
CCH (http://tax.cchgroup.com/) reports:
A federal district court determined the base offense level and appropriate sentencing enhancement of an individual convicted of aiding and assisting in the filing of materially false tax returns. The court based
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In attempts to close the tax gap, the IRS is increasing tax compliance and aggressively taking action against tax cheats and tax promoters. As the tax gap grows, more Americans than ever will be facing audits and the IRS will be re-asserting it’s position on individuals who maintain frivolous arguments for not paying their taxes.
CCH (http://tax.cchgroup.com/) reports:
Sanctions were properly imposed on an individual who advanced a frivolous argument that he was not
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Bloomberg News columnist John M. Berry makes some interesting points regarding President Obama’s new task force created to close the tax gap by focusing on closing loopholes, streamlining tax code and generating revenue.
“It may not accomplish much,” he says.
Highlights from the article include:
With April 15 fast approaching, stronger enforcement and a lot more resources for the Internal Revenue Service should head the administration’s to-do list.
The tax code could be undoubtedly
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In a blow to tax cheats, Switzerland’s largest bank agrees to divulge the names of those suspect of using offshore accounts to evade U.S. taxes
By Michael Rozbruch
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In the world of tax cheats, the news doesn’t get much bigger.
UBS, the largest bank in Switzerland, agreed to provide to the U.S. government with the names of those it suspects of using its accounts to evade paying taxes in the United States. The
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I’ve blogged before about how closing the tax gap could help fund deficit reduction activities. And the White House is definitely searching for new tax revenues. Plans are underway to create a task force that will be looking to end corporate loopholes and bolster IRS enforcement.
The Wall Street Journal reports:
Mr. Obama’s budget proposal began the process of addressing problems such as the tax gap, the difference between taxes owed and
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