Posts Tagged criminal tax
New Directive Says IRS Can Seek Metadata
by Brian Mahany
An Information Letter Memorandum issued by the Chief Counsel of the IRS (ILM 201146017) says the IRS can summons metadata from taxpayers. Just about everything we do on a computer carries a trail of metadata. This stored information tells how data was formatted, modified and created.
Traditionally, the IRS accepts paper documents from taxpayers. [...]
Monkey See, Monkey Don’t
Posted by admin in Tax, White Collar Criminal on December 9, 2011
by Brian Mahany
Most of the articles we post are designed to help people who themselves the victim of fraud or have difficult tax problems. Sometimes, however, we have to remind ourselves that we can’t save people from themselves. Take the example of Kemp Shiffer, an IRS Special Agent.
Several years ago Shiffer was [...]
3 Strikes Equals 7 Years of Prison
by Brian Mahany
Welcome to the fascinating world of Sharon Kukhahn of Tacoma, Washington. As of today, Kukhahn’s address will be in care of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. On November 16th, she was sentenced to 7 years of prison for tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud the US Treasury. Her story is an interesting one.
Kukhahn [...]
Being Broke No Excuse For Failing To Pay Trust Fund Taxes
by Brian Mahany
In this economy, many of us struggle to meet day to day obligations. Just look at the national statistics and one realizes that tens of millions of homeowners can’t even make their mortgage payments. Small businesses are especially hurting as they struggle to keep doors open and make payroll. A recent federal appeals [...]
Send in the Auditors!
by Brian Mahany
Business owners and corporate CFO’s all agree that tax audits aren’t fun. Let’s face it, “audit” is a dirty word. As our economy still continues to sputter, many state and local governments are getting frantic - the money needed to fund government simply isn’t coming in fast enough. What will the politicians do? [...]
The Thin Line Between Creativity and Tax Fraud -Former IRS Special Agent In Hot Water With… The IRS, Of Course
by Brian Mahany
We handle many criminal IRS cases. Many of those cases are business owners who slide down the slippery slope when at first they “rob Peter to pay Paul” by not paying the IRS. The problem snowballs and next thing they know, the guys and girls with calculators and guns come knocking. This story, [...]
Rare Appeals Court Victory For Criminal Defendants
Posted by admin in White Collar Criminal on July 8, 2011
by Brian Mahany
Very often criminal trials devolve into a “he said, she said” battle of the witnesses. Sometimes witnesses have different perceptions of the same event. On other occasions one of the witnesses is simply lying. Figuring out who is telling the truth is in the hands of a jury. Although neither the defense attorney [...]
Employers Who Don’t Turn Over Withholding Tax Risk Prison
by Brian Mahany
In the last several months, just about every new client call we receive involves offshore taxes and the current IRS amnesty program. There are many other tax problems, however, that can get you tossed in prison. The obvious ones, of course, are having two sets of books or hiding money in Swiss accounts. [...]
Feds Target CPA’s, Lawyers
by Brian Mahany
Earlier this week, the Justice Department convicted the former chairman of prominent CPA firm BDO Seidman as well as two attorneys from Jenkens and Gilchrist for their role in promoting abusive tax shelters. The government has announced that it is targeting lawyers and financial professionals involved in illegal tax schemes.
The defendants argued that [...]
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