Tax Evasion Whistleblower
IRS Whistleblower Law Firm Representing Individuals Who Need to Report Violations of the Internal Revenue Code
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) holds primary responsibility for enforcing the nation’s tax laws. But, while the IRS has substantial resources at its disposal, it still relies heavily on whistleblower submissions to understand when enforcement action is warranted. If you think you may be able to help the IRS as a tax whistleblower, we strongly encourage you to speak with one of our attorneys about coming forward.
Our attorneys help whistleblowers report tax evasion, tax underpayments, and all other types of tax violations under federal law. We help our clients secure the IRS whistleblower protections that are available; and, when our clients’ submissions lead to successful enforcement actions, we help our clients collect their IRS whistleblower rewards. We provide free, no-obligation consultations to potential whistleblowers, and we represent all IRS whistleblowers on a contingency-fee basis.
IRS Annual Report Highlights the Scope of the Problem
Each year, the U.S. Treasury Department publishes an Annual Report to Congress that includes, “a discussion of the year’s ten most frequently litigated tax issues.” This includes issues involved in civil and criminal investigations and enforcement proceedings in the US Tax Court and other federal courts across the country.
These issues play a major role in the widening tax gap—the difference between the amount of tax owed and the amount of tax paid. Today, the tax gap is somewhere in the range of $650 billion. The scale of tax non-compliance highlights the importance of whistleblowers coming forward with credible information, and it is a big part of the reason why the IRS award program has been overhauled to further incentivize whistleblowers to come forward.
Coming Forward Under the IRS Whistleblower Program
Reporting tax fraud and exposing other violations of federal internal revenue laws involves filing a claim under the IRS Whistleblower Program. This program is administered by the IRS Whistleblower Office, and the IRS Whistleblower Office works closely with whistleblowers while protecting their identity throughout the process.
The IRS Whistleblower Office also pays monetary awards to eligible whistleblowers. If an IRS whistleblower assists with tax collection and enforcement (including the imposition of criminal fines or civil forfeitures), the whistleblower may be entitled to an award calculated as a percentage of the proceeds collected. IRS whistleblower awards can be substantial, and our attorneys assist our clients with seeking the maximum award available based on their contributions during the IRS whistleblower program process
We Handle All Types of IRS Whistleblower Cases
We represent individuals who are prepared to file IRS whistleblower claims involving all forms of tax noncompliance. As mentioned above, whistleblowers play a crucial role in the IRS’s tax administration efforts. This includes (but is not limited to) the IRS’s efforts to uncover violations such as:
- Abusive tax shelters
- Foreign financial asset disclosure violations
- Improperly calculating net income
- Income tax evasion and fraud
- Payroll tax evasion and fraud
- Underreporting gross income
- Underpaying federal tax liability
If you have (or believe you may have) specific and credible information about any of these—or any other—federal tax law violations, we strongly encourage you to speak with one of our senior whistleblower attorneys. We provide comprehensive legal representation for tax evasion whistleblowers, including:
1. Determining Your Eligibility to Serve as a Tax Evasion Whistleblower
We will begin by determining your eligibility to serve as a tax evasion whistleblower. If you are eligible, we will walk you through the process of working with the IRS Whistleblower Office, and we will help you make an informed decision about whether to come forward. Timing can be important in whistleblower cases, so we will help you make an informed decision as efficiently as possible.
2. Preparing and Submitting Your IRS Whistleblower Complaint
If you decide to come forward, we will prepare and submit your IRS whistleblower complaint. This is a key step in the process for a few reasons: (i) your whistleblower complaint must strictly comply with the IRS’s filing requirements; (ii) the IRS will use the information provided in your complaint to determine whether further investigation is warranted; and, (iii) the information provided in your complaint will also play a key role in determining the percentage of your whistleblower award (if the IRS’s case is successful).
3. Working with the IRS During Its Investigation
After filing your whistleblower complaint, we will work directly with the IRS on your behalf during its investigation. Our attorneys have extensive experience working with the IRS and other agencies across the federal government, and many of our attorneys served as federal fraud prosecutors at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) before entering private practice.
4. Working with the IRS to Protect Your Identity
The IRS is obligated to protect a whistleblower’s identity consistent with federal law; and, like other federal agencies that work with whistleblowers, it is committed to protecting whistleblowers against all forms of retaliation. Our attorneys will work alongside the IRS to protect your identity throughout the process.
5. Securing Your Whistleblower Award if the IRS’s Case is Successful
As mentioned above, the IRS Whistleblower Office pays monetary awards in successful cases. If you become eligible to receive a monetary award, our attorneys will work with the IRS to calculate an appropriate award amount based on your contributions and the other circumstances of your case (see below for more information).
The Tax Relief and Health Care Act (TRHCA) Serves as the Basis for the IRS Whistleblower Program
The IRS Whistleblower Program has gone through several iterations. The current iteration is largely based on statutory authority granted to the IRS under the Tax Relief and Health Care Act (TRHCA).
Under the TRHCA, the IRS decides to pursue administrative or judicial action based on a whistleblower’s information and that action leads to the recovery of funds from the targeted taxpayer, the whistleblower may be entitled to an award of between 15% and 30% of the collected proceeds. A whistleblower’s specific award percentage is determined based on factors including (but not limited to):
- The value of the information provided in the original whistleblower complaint
- The level of additional assistance provided during the IRS’s investigation
- The amount of money recovered and the importance of the case to effective tax administration
When we represent clients who are prepared to expose tax fraud and other violations of federal tax laws to the IRS, we take the necessary steps to help maximize our clients’ award eligibility. If you are interested in finding out how much you may be able to recover, our attorneys will be able to provide a preliminary assessment of the value of your case after examining the information you have in your possession.
FAQs: Serving as an IRS Tax Fraud Whistleblower
How do I contact the IRS Whistleblower Office?
The IRS Whistleblower Office has published the steps for submitting a whistleblower claim online. With that said before contacting the IRS Whistleblower Office, it is important to consult with an experienced attorney. As discussed above, there are several steps involved in serving as an IRS whistleblower, and working with an experienced attorney is important for both maximizing the IRS’s chances of pursuing a successful enforcement action and your chances of receiving a whistleblower award.
When are awards paid to IRS whistleblowers?
Awards are paid to IRS whistleblowers when the IRS pursues a successful enforcement action based on the information a whistleblower provides. If the IRS recovers taxpayer funds through an enforcement proceeding initiated by a whistleblower, the whistleblower can become entitled to an award of between 15% and 30% of the funds recovered.
How does the IRS Whistleblower Office make award determinations?
The IRS Whistleblower Office makes award determinations based on several factors. These include the value of the whistleblower’s contributions and the overall value of the case, among others. IRS whistleblower awards have the potential to be substantial—potentially in the hundreds of thousands, millions, or even tens of millions of dollars.
Do I need a whistleblower attorney to report tax evasion to the IRS?
Strictly speaking, you do not need a whistleblower attorney to report tax evasion to the IRS. However, as discussed above, there are several important reasons to work with an experienced attorney throughout the whistleblower process.
Will I have to pay out-of-pocket to hire an attorney to help me report tax evasion to the IRS?
No, you will not have to pay anything out-of-pocket to hire an attorney to help you report tax evasion to the IRS. Our whistleblower attorneys handle all cases on a contingency-fee basis. This means that we do not charge any up-front or monthly fees, and we only earn a fee if we help our clients secure a whistleblower award.
Schedule a Free and Confidential Consultation with an IRS Whistleblower Attorney
If you would like more information about serving as a tax evasion whistleblower, we invite you to get in touch. To schedule a free and confidential consultation with one of our senior IRS whistleblower attorneys, call us at 866-320-3959 or tell us how we can reach you online today.