Author Archives: Russ

Harassing IRS Agents Isn’t a Bright Idea

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Russ

Speaking of ways to get in trouble with the IRS, one is to harass an IRS agent. They don’t like it (and it’s a crime). Scott Bodley of Silver City, New Mexico apparently didn’t care. Back in 2003 Mr. Bodley … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Evasion | 1 Comment

Former NFL Player Alleged to Have Fumbled His Sales Tax Returns

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Russ

I’ve said repeatedly that if you want to get in trouble with the IRS, one of the easiest ways to do so is to collect payroll taxes but not remit them. Less frequently I’ve commented about state tax agencies and … Continue reading →

Posted in Sales Tax, Tax Evasion, Washington State | Comments Off on Former NFL Player Alleged to Have Fumbled His Sales Tax Returns

We’re Moving (Blog Hosting)

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Russ

On Friday night we’ll be changing hosting companies for this blog. It can take up to 48 hours for this to cascade through the tubes of the Internet name servers of the Internet (though it usually takes about ten minutes). … Continue reading →

Posted in Taxable Talk | Comments Off on We’re Moving (Blog Hosting)

IRS Launches Directory of Tax Professionals

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Russ

This morning I received an email noting that the IRS has released an online directory of tax professionals. The system lists EAs, CPAs, attorneys, and participants in the IRS’s Annual Filing Season Program. The first time I tried to use … Continue reading →

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Fake Interest Income, Fake Withholding, Real Fraud at the Tax Court

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Russ

One of the more popular tax fraud schemes is the OID scheme. The idea is that there’s a “secret account” held by the US government and you can obtain a refund from that account. All you have to do is … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

This Never Works…

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Russ

If you want to go to prison for tax evasion, there’s an easy method: Withhold payroll taxes and don’t remit them to the IRS or your state tax agency. The government investigates all such actions (or should I say inactions). … Continue reading →

Posted in Payroll Taxes, Tax Evasion | 1 Comment

Golf or Sentencing?

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Russ

It’s a gorgeous day here in Las Vegas today, a perfect day for a round at one of the many golf courses in town. It apparently was just as nice Wednesday in Colorado when three individuals chose to a play … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Evasion | Comments Off on Golf or Sentencing?

Caesars Wins Round One: Chicago, not Delaware

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Russ

Judge Kevin Gross ruled on Wednesday that the bankruptcy case of Caesars Entertainment Operating Company will be tried in Chicago, not Wilmington, Delaware. Caesars’ second-tier creditors wanted the case tried in Delaware; Caesars preferred the Windy City. As Bloomberg reported, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

One Good Crime Deserved Another

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Russ

Let’s say you’re involved in a 20-year scheme that has successfully evaded millions of dollars in payroll and income taxes for your largest client. However, you’ve only had minor profits from the scheme. So why not embezzle millions of dollars … Continue reading →

Posted in Tax Evasion | Tagged | 2 Comments

The Form 3115 Conundrum

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Russ

[Accounting Today readers: Here’s a link to Fail, Caesar.] Form 3115 is the form used to request an accounting method change. For example, if your business is changing from cash to accrual, this form is filed. Many such changes are … Continue reading →

Posted in IRS, Taxable Talk | Tagged | 3 Comments