IRS Highlights New Business Tax Account Features, FS-2024-27
The IRS announced that it is continuing to expand the features within Business Tax Account (BTA), an online self-service tool […]
Read MoreThe Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is seeing a “concerning” increase in state and federal payroll tax evasion and workers’ compensation fraud in the U.S. residential and commercial real estate construction industries.
“FinCEN is committed to combating fraud by shedding light on how illicit actors within the construction industry are using shell corporations and other tactics to commit workers’ compensation fraud and avoid payroll taxes,” FinCEN Acting Director Himamauli Das said in a statement.
The agency in a FinCEN Notice issued August 15, 2023, highlighted how companies evade payroll taxes. Step one has construction contractors writing checks payable to the shell corporation, which creates the façade that the shell company is performing construction projects. Step two sees the shell company operator deposit cash the checks at a check cashing facility or deposit them into a shell company bank account. Step three sees the shell company return the cash to the construction contractor, minus a fee, for renting the workers’ compensation insurance policy and conducting payroll-related transactions. The final step is the construction contractors using the cash to pay the workers without withholding appropriate payroll-related taxes or paying any workers’ compensation premiums.
The notice also draws attention “a range of red flags to assist financial institutions in detecting, preventing, and reporting suspicions transactions associated with shell companies perpetrating payrolltax evasion and workers’ compensation fraud in the construction industry.” Among the 11 red flags highlighted are:
The statement did not provide any statistical data that reflect the rise in payroll tax evasion or workers’ compensation fraud, but said that every year, “state and federal tax authorities lose hundreds of millions of dollars to these schemes, which are perpetrated by illicit actors primarily through banks and check cashers.”
The notice also reminds financial institutions’ obligations to file a suspicious activity report if a transaction could be conducted with the intent for fraud or tax evasion, and it provides instructions on how to file the SAR.
By Gregory Twachtman, Washington News Editor
The IRS announced that it is continuing to expand the features within Business Tax Account (BTA), an online self-service tool […]
Read MoreThe IRS has issued a series of questions and answers for 401(k) and similar retirement plans that provide, or wish […]
Read MoreThe IRS Whistleblower Office has recognized the contributions of whistleblowers on the occasion of National Whistleblower Appreciation Day, which falls on July […]
Read MoreThe floating interest rate applicable to taxes administered by the Florida Department of Revenue on underpayments (deficiencies) and late payments […]
Read MoreThe IRS has issued a reminder that summer day camp expenses may be eligible for the Child and Dependent Care tax […]
Read MoreThe IRS has updated frequently asked questions (FAQs) to provide guidance related to the critical mineral and battery component requirements […]
Read MoreThe IRS has warned taxpayers not to fall for scams centered around the Fuel Tax Credit, the Sick and Family […]
Read MoreThe IRS has issued a cautionary alert to taxpayers about a new scam exploiting clean energy tax credits. This emerging […]
Read More