Criminal tax fraud investigations can lead to various charges under federal law. When targeted in these investigations, taxpayers must execute informed, comprehensive, and cohesive defense strategies that take into account all of the allegations (and potential allegations) involved. This starts with engaging an experienced New Jersey criminal tax lawyer promptly.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently labeled most Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts (CRATs) as “listed transactions.” While this does not mean that CRATs are inherently unlawful, it does mean that the IRS is paying particular attention to U.S. taxpayers who use CRATs for tax mitigation purposes.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is sending settlement letters to eligible taxpayers with pending conservation easement disputes. Taxpayers who receive these letters must accept the IRS’s offer within 90 days to avoid additional liability, though taxpayers must also make informed decisions about whether to settle with the IRS at all. Taxpayers who have claimed valid conservation easement deductions should not accept liability unnecessarily.

The Internal Revenue Service is ramping up investigations into high-income taxpayers’ conservation easement deductions. It has also recently launched a “time-limited” settlement program for taxpayers accused of claiming fraudulent deductions. For high-income taxpayers targeted in these initiatives, working closely with an experienced New Jersey tax attorney will be critical for making smart and strategic decisions.

Small businesses and construction companies in New Jersey are increasingly facing scrutiny from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding their federal tax filings. These companies’ executives are increasingly facing scrutiny as well. For these corporate and individual taxpayers, a criminal tax fraud investigation can pose substantial risks, and a proactive, strategic defense is critical to avoiding unnecessary consequences. Learn more from New Jersey criminal tax lawyer Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group: