IRS Whistleblower Rules Hearing on May 11 Attracts Global Attention
A frequent question I receive is whether non-US citizens can receive rewards under the IRS Whistleblower Program. There is no limitation to US citizens, and persons around the world are eligible to participate in the IRS Whistleblower Program, regardless of citizenship. Perhaps this is one reason why the May 11 hearing in DC on the […]
Financial Fraud Cases Under False Claims Act Continue, As Deutsche Bank and MortgageIT Face Mortgage Fraud Suit
The 2008 financial sector collapse has led to another False Claims Act case against financial institutions. Today, Deutsche Bank and MortgageIT were named in a mortgage fraud case under the False Claims Act, filed by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara of the Southern District of New York. The government’s Complaint alleges that Deutsche Bank and MortgageIT […]
Tax Whistleblower Rules to “Expand” Whistleblower Program Actually Restrict and Discourage Participation, Say Whistleblower Lawyers
Earlier this week we wrote about our urging the IRS to remain true to Congress’s plain intent to attract a greater number and variety of tax whistleblower claims. Our written comments on changes needed to the IRS Whistleblower regulation were published in today’s Tax Notes. We will be in Washington on May 11 to address […]
New IRS Whistleblower Rules Still Need Substantial Changes
Since tax returns were due today, it was fitting that today was the deadline for comments on an important proposed new regulation for tax whistleblower claims. We have submitted formal comments today to the IRS excerpted below, and have asked to speak to the IRS to urge important changes on May 11 in Washington. We […]
First Reported IRS Whistleblower Award Is Made–Finally!
The floodgates may be opening for the IRS Whistleblower program for tax whistleblowers, which we have written about since its birth in late 2006.Today, a law firm announced that its client received yesterday a $4.5 million award after filing a Form 211 reporting tax violations by a financial services firm. The IRS Whistleblower Office cannot […]
International and Offshore Tax Whistleblower Issues Among Topics for Next IRS Whistleblower Boot Camp
We have written about the first two highly successful “IRS Whistleblower Boot Camps” in 2009 and 2010, at which the IRS Whistleblower Office and whistleblower lawyers gathered to discuss the latest developments in pursuing tax whistleblower cases. It is sponsored by Taxpayers Against Fraud. The Third Annual IRS Whistleblower Boot Camp will be held on […]
IRS Whistleblower Rules For Disclosure of Tax Return Information to Whistleblowers and Their Attorneys
The IRS announced today final regulations for sharing of tax return information with IRS whistleblowers and their lawyers, as the IRS pursues tax whistleblower claims. Under these regulations, officers and employees of the Treasury Department may disclose tax return information to whistleblowers and, if applicable, their legal representatives, in connection with written contracts for services. […]
Offshore Alert Conference: Protecting Whistleblowers from Criminal and Civil Liability
Of interest to whistleblowers reporting fraud under the False Claims Act, the IRS Whistleblower Program, or the brand new SEC Whistleblower and CFTC Whistleblower Programs is an upcoming presentation, “Avoiding the Mistakes of the UBS/Birkenfeld Case: Protecting Whistleblowers from Criminal and Civil Liability.” This discussion is part of a fascinating gathering this April in South […]
SEC Whistleblower Office Has First Director–Sean McKessy
Just as we have followed closely the development of the IRS Whistleblower program since Congress authorized it in December 2006, we are watching the birth of the new SEC Whistleblower program. In 2010’s Dodd-Frank Financial Reform law, Congress mandated the creation of what could be the first meaningful SEC and CFTC Whistleblower programs. Today, the […]
SEC Resolves FCPA Case With Maxwell Technologies, Inc. Alleging Millions in Bribes to Chinese Officials
As we have discussed previously, bribery of foreign government officials is the subject of many cases filed by the SEC under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Those cases, which often bring significant recoveries, will increase in number as a result of rewards to whistleblowers under the new SEC Whistleblower program that we have followed. The […]