IRS Turns up The Heat on Tax Cheats

2002 Year-in Review

Facing a shrinking budget and limited resources, the IRS is using every available resource it has to catch tax cheats, which outgoing Chairman Charles Rossotti identifies as the biggest problem facing the IRS today. Random audits are back after a 14-year hiatus, and the IRS is using the long arm of the law to prosecute legitimate promoters of questionable tax shelters, forcing credit card companies to assist in identifying offshore havens for tax cheats, and utilizing aspects of the new Homeland Security bill to identify those individuals and corporations who are abusing the system to shelter, hide, or otherwise cheat the US government out of the taxes it is due.

01/18/02 IRS Announces Plans for Random Audits in 2002

03/04/02 Federal Court Takes Action Against Illegal Tax Promotions

03/12/02 IRS Eyes Offshore Funds and Credit Card Schemes

03/21/02 Treasury Department Will Remove Abusive Tax Shelter

03/27/02 Feds Order Credit Card Company Cooperation to Curb Tax Evasion

05/13/02 Accounting Firms Face Penalties Under Tax-Shelter Bill

05/20/02 Treasury Takes Aim at 'Unpatriotic' Tax-Dodgers

05/24/02 Department of Justice Attempts to Thwart Tax Evasion

07/01/02 PwC Makes Cash Settlement With IRS

07/15/02 IRS Names Names of Tax Shelter Participants

09/13/02 IRS Vows to Catch Big Fish With New Technique

11/14/02 Treasury Announces New Tax on Offshore Companies