Kevin E. Thorn
Most people who are audited by the IRS are never placed under criminal investigation. However, there are red flags that can tip you off that an IRS special agent from the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) has taken an interest in your case. Our Boston criminal tax lawyers set out five scenarios that could indicate you are under investigation by the CID. Here are a few reasons to get on the phone with your Boston criminal tax attorney ASAP.
If the agent who is reviewing your returns keeps asking for more and more documents and seems to be focusing on transactions that you know could be considered “iffy,” call a lawyer immediately.
An IRS agent that has been on your tail suddenly goes radio silent.
If you have been in communication with an IRS agent about paying back taxes or any other matters and suddenly he or she is ignoring you by not retuning your calls, this could be a sign that you case is being referred to the IRS Criminal Investigation Division.
You have been undergoing an IRS audit that is having a lot of stops and starts. Your auditor has been away for days with no real explanation for his or her absence. Once a case is referred to the CID, the auditor will put the tax return review on hold. While delays during an audit are not necessarily unusual, if they happen with no explanation and you know there is a possibility that you could be under investigation for civil or criminal tax evasion, it’s safest to assume that this is the case.
You get a call from your bank about a summons or subpoena for financial records. This doesn’t happen unless you are under investigation.
Your CPA has been contacted by IRS agents. They might have gotten a call from CID for an interview or they may even have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury about your tax records. Unlike conversations with your lawyer, which are subject to attorney-client privilege, statements made to accountants are afforded no such legal protection. This is a five alarm fire! If you haven’t engaged legal counsel, you really need to now.
Kevin E. Thorn, the managing partner of Thorn Law Group, is recognized as a leader in his area of practice throughout the country and across the globe. His clients are individuals, tax professional...
