IRS Forming ‘SWAT Team’ to Nab Tax Evaders

The IRS is assembling what Eric Solomon, a director at Ernst & Young, calls a “SWAT team” to crack down on tax evaders.

IRS Forming SWAT Team to get Tax EvadersWith a staff of 90,000 people and a budget of $11.8 billion (after a 2.5% cut for 2012), the IRS is particularly looking to crack down on “transfer pricing,” which occurs when companies shift their profits from country to country in order to pay the lowest tax rate.

According to Reuters:

IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman made changes at the agency in mid-2010 that set the stage for bringing in [transfer pricing director Samuel Maruca], who has filled 40 positions so far and plans to bring on up to 60 more staffers.

‘The economic crisis allowed the IRS to attract talented, experienced industry professionals who might not have been available previously,’ said ex-deputy IRS Commissioner Michael Dolan, now director of KPMG’s Washington national tax practice.

‘The [question] is, what will he be able to do … and will he really have enough resources to change the game?’

Reuters, which describes the IRS as “underpaid and outgunned,” continues:

Federal agencies often struggle to keep up with higher-paid private-sector professionals. The IRS is no exception and there is some skepticism about Maruca’s chances.

[...]

‘The valuation problems are insurmountable,’ said Edward Kleinbard, a professor at the University of Southern California and former chief of staff at the Joint Committee on Taxation, which analyzes tax policy for the U.S. Congress.

‘There are billion-dollar disputes on just the arms-length transfer pricing of intangibles.’

In December, payment transfer firm Western Union Co announced it was part of a $1.2 billion transfer pricing settlement with the IRS for taxes owed from 2003 through 2011. The dispute included intangible property and trademark royalties.

IRS Forming SWAT Team to get Tax Evaders

(Photo: Forbes)

While many find the IRS’ new policies troubling, maintaining that 90,000 bureaucrats who exert absolute authority over the citizenry is not a worthy tax expenditure, men like Richard Harvey remain unruffled.

A tax professor at Villanova University and former IRS advisor, he said, “Anybody who thinks the IRS can ultimately enforce transfer pricing is either an eternal optimist or delusional…[the changes will ] will help them on the margins, but they’re still fighting a very difficult battle where the deck is stacked against them.”

But the IRS is beginning more than one new initiative.

Reuters is also reporting that, because of a “surge” in tax refund fraud and identity theft, the IRS may soon be sharing personal tax return information with the police.

Though Congress made it a crime for IRS workers to share this information in 1976, a pilot program could soon begin in Tampa, FL where victims of identity theft and tax return fraud could give permission to the IRS to share their personal information.

Critics of the program note that it is a “slippery slope,” and while the program may begin with victims giving permission to the IRS, it is only a matter of time before the information is shared without consent, or before the information goes public.  They also say that, perhaps if the tax code was simplified, the IRS would not need to go to such lengths to collect their dues.

According to Business Insider, Citigroup’s chief economist Willem Buiter said on Bloomberg Radio Tuesday, “As a U.S. citizen, I had to try and get the data together to give to the person who prepares my tax returns, and I almost had a nervous breakdown collecting the data!  The US tax system is completely incomprehensible! My wife and I are both PhD’s in economics—both of us!—and we can’t make head or tails of it.”

Comments (65)

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  • Knucklenose
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 1:23pm

    sounds like a prince john complex,

    Report Post »  
    • TH30PH1LUS
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 2:04pm

      That better be one BIG team to snatch up 40% of the population.

      Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
    • lukerw
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 2:37pm

      As the Fear of the Gestapo (Secret Police) increased… members of other Government Agencies accepted membership in the SS (Personal Guard of the Fuhrer)!

      Police State!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • black9897
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 9:31pm

      Police state anyone? These criminal are now taking the next step in violating rights. Ron Paul was right..end the Fed before it’s too late!

      Report Post » black9897  
    • turkey13
      Posted on March 22, 2012 at 4:43pm

      They may need to go after these companys and start with GE. They need to set aside about 100 agents to go after Congress People. Remember when Obama was selecting his Zars. I remember 5 of 6 people had to decline because they owed taxes. And then there was Timmy who we couldn’t do without and he killed a company called Turbo Tax.

      Report Post »  
  • Boycott the Media Let the People Decide
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 1:14pm

    There is NO LAW requiring anyone to pay income taxes….Here is Proof>>> http://youtu.be/nX-03Sf1wDo

    Report Post »  
    • youdidthis
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 1:29pm

      that is true…

      this is also true.
      Radiation treatments create cancer cells 30 times more potent than regular cancer
      http://www.infowars.com/radiation-treatments-create-cancer-cells-30-times-more-potent-than-regular-cancer/

      In a groundbreaking new study just published in the peer reviewed journal Stem Cells, researchers at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Department of Oncology found that, despite killing half of all tumor cells per treatment, radiation treatments on breast cancer transforms other cancer cells into cancer stem cells which are vastly more treatment-resistant than normal cancer cells. The new study is yet another blow to the failed and favored mainstream treatment paradigm of trying to cut out, poison out or burn out cancer symptoms (tumors) instead of actually curing cancer.

      Report Post »  
    • Boycott the Media Let the People Decide
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 1:42pm

      What does that have to do with the IRS or paying taxes?

      Report Post »  
    • Jefferson
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 2:12pm

      @BOYCOTT
      You saved me some typing. Thanks.
      “America Freedom to Fascism” is a film that woke me up to Ron Paul and how the 16th amendment was never ratified. It is a must see for anyone who cares to expand their knowledge base.
      Think RomneySantyNewtOhmamma will tell you that? They are part of the scam.

      Report Post »  
    • youdidthis
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 3:42pm

      what you cant handle more than one topic at a time?

      have a problem with truth being displayed?

      as far as taxes…medical bills, increased rates. where have you been during the discussion?

      Report Post »  
    • youdidthis
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 3:45pm

      sorry , did not mean to flash on ya.
      just a bit angry.

      Report Post »  
    • Boycott the Media Let the People Decide
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 4:34pm

      Just pointing out your inability to read the headline to this story. Your complaint should be in an “open thread”

      Report Post »  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 6:24pm

      http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am16

      Ratified details –
      http://www.usconstitution.net/constamrat.html#Am16Amendment 16 — Income taxes authorized

      Notes regarding the Amendment not being ratified –
      http://www.usconstitution.net/constnotes.html#Am16 –

      A bit more study may be in order to adopt the conclusion desired from the videos and other “support”

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
    • Boycott the Media Let the People Decide
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 6:49pm

      @ Kaydee

      Yes what you post is correct, however the Supreme Court has ruled the definition of “income” is of capital gains and specifically states “income” is NOT defined as wages, yet they describe “wages” as personal property. As in you trade your labor to your employer for the result of wages deemed.

      I’m glad you brought up the Constitution because if you would click on your own link and scroll up to the 5th Amendment, It states you cannot be forced to incriminate yourself which is what you do if you incorrectly fill out a 1040. Therefore the government can make you fill out a 1040, however it is against the 5th Amendment for them to give you a punishment based on the information you provide. Thereby, voiding the whole 1040 validity as there has never been any changes made to the 5th Amendment.

      Lastly, The IRS code states it’s “voluntary compliance” to abide by the IRS code. By any dictionary that cannot be deemed a requirement.

      http://www.givemeliberty.org/rtp2/updates/update2006-06-09.htm There are thousands of cases just as this. Tossed out because there is NO LAW.

      Report Post »  
    • Boycott the Media Let the People Decide
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 7:20pm

      Another interesting read http://www.givemeliberty.org/freedomdrive/redress/PetitionTax.htm

      Report Post »  
    • black9897
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 10:09pm

      Doesn’t matter if there was one. All the IRS has is their opinion, no facts. a Group of men and women during service at the barrel of a gun. Forcing people to give them money. Privatize the Gov. http://www.marcstevens.net

      Report Post » black9897  
  • BEAR0571
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:55pm

    Maybe they are going to be coming after all that gold people bought. Could be another gold confiscation on the horizon. Just saying….

    Report Post » BEAR0571  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 2:32pm

      This is what they will do.
      Did you buy something online and didn’t claim it on your taxes.
      You may receive a notice to pay up.
      Yes they will supeona your credit card and bank statements and stores.
      They will go after anyone to get that precious penny you owe.

      Report Post »  
  • desertspeaks
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:48pm

    irs swat teams??? is the irs now telling us that paying taxes is NOT VOLUNTARY NOW?!?!?! you remember that quaint little white lie don’t you??

    Report Post » desertspeaks  
  • OperationNorthwoods
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:44pm

    I‘m sure this will be used to go after buisineses that don’t give money to Obama.

    Report Post » OperationNorthwoods  
  • Mess23
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:40pm

    Tell them to start with thier boss, and his boss… The real criminals

    Report Post »  
  • CulperGang
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:33pm

    here is some civil servants that “get it”
    http://policelink.monster.com/topics/84480-new-information-about-the-ayersobama-connections/posts
    lets hope the goon squad is preparing to turn the guns on the renegade rogues in government……FREEDOM from rogues in elected positions.

    Report Post » CulperGang  
  • TEIN
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:20pm

    IRS, KGB..who will know the difference soon???

    Report Post »  
  • love the kids
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:19pm

    Why is it that the IRS is so worried about idenity theft here, but not during voting???

    Report Post »  
    • encinom
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:51pm

      1) IRS has nothing to do with voting

      2) The GOP has created an issue where none exisited. Voting is a fundimental right, there is no evidence of widespread fraud, and the majority case have been against GOP local leaders attempt ing to surpress the vote.

      So lets call this what it is, the OGP can not win in a fair election so they are attempting to prevent Obama’s base from voting. Florida has all buth out lawed voter drives, to the point where the League of Women Voters will no longer run them and a school teacher was arrested to for collecting voter applications from her high school students over the age of 18.

      Report Post »  
    • Boycott the Media Let the People Decide
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 1:20pm

      @ecinom If your idea of suppressing the vote is not allowing those who are ineligible to vote do so, you are correct. However, your statement is backwards, if Obama can only win by allowing those the right in which they don’t have, he cannot win.

      You have to have an ID to do almost anything or get access to anything, and voting should be the same way as to prove one “legal” person is allowed “one” vote.

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 2:40pm

      encinom

      It is a good sign that encinom is desperate. Usually he is snide & sarcastic. In this post he was matter of fact although still dissembling.

      You need ID to board planes & soon to be buses & trains but not to vote?

      I can see encinom arguing until he is blue in the face & the average man will think he is a nut.

      :)

      Report Post »  
  • love the kids
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:17pm

    GE…GE….GE….GE….SOROS…SOROS…SOROS…. Buffet…..Buffet….Buffet

    Report Post »  
  • CulperGang
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:16pm

    This “goon” squad has NO place in a free, civilized society. THIS is the earners money NOT the politicians. The earners have to determine what they are willing to give to support the government what they want IN A FREE SOCIETY. The IRS is the FEDERAL RESERVE/TREASURY which is PRIVATE persons of oligarch bankers. The Federal Reserve and the IRS is an Extortion RACKET.
    NONE of this can exist without American citizens taking this “goon” job and enforcing it for foreign bankers to rip off the country.
    Why was this yanked from the DruReport??? http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/03/what_the_mailman_knows_about_ayers_and_obama.html

    Report Post » CulperGang  
  • COFemale
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:16pm

    Who wants to bet that more than half of the tax evaders in this country are Liberal Progressive Democrats. I mean look at Bono he just moved his company from one country to another. Didn’t Kerry move his boat under the guise of getting it serviced to avoid taxes.

    While the rest of us do our civic duty they are finding new ways to not pay taxes and then they blame the Republicans for getting tax breaks.

    This is why the Democrats oppose a flat tax. All their loop holes they passed will be wiped clean. Time to clean house of these vermin and any Republican that fits the description also.

    Report Post » COFemale  
    • Boycott the Media Let the People Decide
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 1:22pm

      Or wants to bet most of them have actually read the Constitution and the Supreme Court rulings as to where there is no law requiring individuals to pay an income tax.

      Report Post »  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 4:10pm

      Here is how the biggest liberals in this country operate. “Through a trust, Bruce Springsteen owns more than 200 acres in Colts Neck. the taxes for his house and three acres are more than $138,000. But because of the farm tax break, the tax bill on a little more than 200 additional acres is less than $5,000. Town officials say he has horses and an organic farmer working some of the land. A lawyer for the trust had no comment.”

      Liberals want to raise taxes on everyone but themselves. HYPOCRITES!

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
  • mrmachaveli
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:14pm

    Does anyone find this shocking? The fact that people like Blago are sent to jail for fourteen years and a child molester receives about seven years for their first offense, if found guilty. So why wouldn‘t the government go after law abiding gun owners and people who evade paying taxes that are not Timothy Geithner and others of Obama’s cronies.

    Report Post » mrmachaveli  
  • Third Horseman
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:12pm

    Here is one link: http://voices.yahoo.com/irs-purchasing-shotguns-no-really-5405505.html

    Report Post » Third Horseman  
  • Third Horseman
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:10pm

    If I recall, somewhere in the not-too-distant-past, there was an article talking about “..what the hell does the IRS need thousands of shotguns for…..?” I am just sayin’…….

    Report Post » Third Horseman  
  • republic2011
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:07pm

    Don’t need a SWAT team.. Just check out the folks on Capitol Hill, Warren Buffet, etc. They are our biggest tax evaders and it is already all over the news. This is an all out war on the working class, US citizens. Bye, bye middle class. Hello ultra wealthy and ultra poor!

    Report Post »  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:03pm

    I have an idea, how about make an easy and affordable flat tax code so people and companies don‘t need attorneys and cpa’s to figure it out and they would actually pay their taxes instead of dodging them or shifting their money out of the country. boom I just saved our country a ton of money. I am sure obama’s way is encouraging more folks to do business in our country with the swat teams and all.

    Report Post »  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:33am

    Are they going after geitner, barney frank, and GE

    Report Post »  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 4:57pm

      No theyre coming for you
      Did you buy something online and didn’t claim it on your taxes.
      You may receive a notice to pay up.
      Yes they will supeona your credit card and bank statements and stores.
      They will go after anyone to get that precious penny you owe.

      Report Post »  
  • nocalifornia
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:33am

    Just remember, “we are from the IRS and we are here to help are selves, sorry I meant you”

    Report Post » nocalifornia  
  • Lumbar Spine
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:26am

    WTF…? Talk about a misleading headline…on a blog where, in my observation, viewers are more inclined to read just the headlines than the article itself. This is about corporations shifting around profits to foreign entities to avoid paying U.S. taxes.

    Report Post »  
    • cessna152
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:06pm

      Yup… I have to agree on that. However, we should be focused on the unfair tax structure because roughly 50% of the nation pay no INCOME tax at all…That would account for a lot of money. But one final note… it ain’t a taxing problem it is a SPENDING PROBLEM!

      Report Post » cessna152  
    • COFemale
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:21pm

      Well this should be a clear clue there is something wrong with our TAX system. Ya think? But our clueless DEMOCRAPS rather go after those tax evading varmints rather than sit back and say, Hey maybe we are taxing too much. When you boycott or make something so outrageous to follow, your first instinct is to find a way around the system. DEMOCRAPS DON’T GET THIS. They are clueless.

      If you want more money to stay here in the United States then QUIT BEING A BULLY.

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • SoupSandwich
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:46pm

      Spiney-
      Since when do fat bureaucrats need 870 pump shotguns? Now ID is impo tant (Sharpton), but not so much when voting for the D over and over and raise the dead again over again. Troll much?

      Report Post »  
  • gretsch62
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:21am

    Good, they can start with Buffett, Geithner, Bill Gates and Zuckerman.

    Report Post » gretsch62  
  • justangry
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:21am

    I‘m guessing they won’t be going after Warren Buffet.

    Report Post » justangry  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:18am

    Oh, goody!!! Buffet, black caucus in not-our-congress, big time tax evaders, you go first!!!

    MAKES MY DAY just thinking about it! : )

    Report Post »  
    • CulperGang
      Posted on March 21, 2012 at 12:22pm

      keep dreaming ………..if this was about EQUAL JUSTICE FOR ALL the whole hill/pentg/whH would have been locked up for tax evasion.
      This is about open genocide on those that resist the dictatorship of the nwo/bankers and their puppets in US governments. THEY are trying to employ your neighbor to shoot you down for them to take your goods. They did it at Ruby Ridge and WAco………your own countrymen…..doing their bidding.

      Report Post » CulperGang  
  • barber2
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:16am

    When an administration backs the idea that some people should not pay any taxes and are entitled to the ” re-distributed” funds of others who do, the IRS becomes a danger to those tax payers from whom taxes will be ” re-distributed.” Big Brother is not only watching you, but he has his Big Hand in your wallet !

    Report Post »  
  • CatB
    Posted on March 21, 2012 at 11:13am

    They should start with the tax cheats in Congress and throughout the government … yea I know FAT CHANCE … More Obama brown shirts .. Obamacare expands the IRS.

    Report Post »  
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