Tax fraud

The Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee is recommending ways for the Internal Revenue Service to combat tax fraud and identity theft with better cybersecurity.

National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson said in a report Wednesday the Internal Revenue Service ran a generally successful filing season this year, but it needs to assign more employees to taxpayer service instead of enforcement.

Four Senate Democrats have written a letter to one of the companies hired by the Internal Revenue Service to collect tax debts after complaints that some of its employees encouraged people to use money from their 401(k) retirement funds or take out a second mortgage to pay off their tax debts.

The Internal Revenue Service, along with state tax agencies and the tax industry, is cautioning tax preparers to beware of a new phishing scheme revolving around emails claiming to be from a tax software education provider.

Stolen names and SSNs; ‘substantial’ fees in a $1.1 million scheme; Canadian conspiracy; and other highlights of recent tax cases.

The number of victims of employment-related identity theft is far larger than previously estimated and the Internal Revenue Service’s processes aren’t able to keep up, according to a new report.

Madoff victims still wait; suing the IRS anonymously; where tax dollars go; other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers.

Bogus gifts, job expenses; ‘varying fees’ for fraud; Crazy skin game; and other highlights of recent tax cases.

The Internal Revenue Service issued a warning Thursday cautioning taxpayers and tax professionals about a new scam revolving around the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, in which criminals are calling innocent taxpayers demanding they make an immediate tax payment through a prepaid debit card.

Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has been accused of failing to pay 14.7 million euros ($16.5 million) in taxes.

Cigars and nose jobs; ‘training’ to manipulate numbers; and other highlights of recent tax cases.

The Internal Revenue Service is making strides in assisting victims of tax-related identity theft more promptly and making fewer errors on cases, thanks to a more centralized approach, according to a new government report.

More than 70 ministers and high-level representatives from countries around the world signed a tax treaty to prevent base erosion and profit shifting, but not the U.S.

The Internal Revenue Service has updated its online registration system for the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act to allow foreign financial institutions to renew their agreement with the IRS.

Deep trouble for Deepwater scam; $6K in false HSH income; and other highlights of recent tax cases.

More than $1 million bilked in state taxes; dead wrongs; life goes on (trial); and other highlights of recent tax cases.

A federal court in Minneapolis has found Wells Fargo liable for a 20 percent negligence penalty for participating in a tax shelter sold by Barclays Bank that generated $350 million in foreign tax credits.

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration has concerns about the Internal Revenue Service’s recently revived private debt collection program in light of the ongoing problem of scammers pretending to be IRS employees calling taxpayers to demand bogus tax debts be paid immediately.

On Avenida Borinquen in San Juan, you can buy a DVD of “La La Land” or “Moonlight” for just $2. Cash only.

More expenses than wages; fake medical, education deductions; stealing from the elderly and veterans; and other highlights of recent tax cases.