Law Enforcement | WPN World People News

A Maryland tax return preparer pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in filing false tax returns and aggravated identity theft, on December 19, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur of the District of Maryland.

A federal grand jury in Springfield, Massachusetts, returned an indictment charging a local golf professional with theft concerning a program receiving federal funds, wire fraud, money laundering-related crimes, and filing false tax returns, on December 19, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling for the District of Massachusetts. The indictment also charges the golf professional and two local home builders with conspiring to defraud the United States.

Leading pensions and tax experts are calling on the Government to act quickly to deliver its manifesto promise to fix an unfair tax flaw. This flaw means around 1.7 million low-income workers (mostly women) are being unfairly charged 25 per cent more for their pensions as a result of the way their employer pension scheme operates.

The Internal Revenue Service on December 20 urged taxpayers involved in designated syndicated conservation easement arrangements to consult with their tax advisors following a recent U.S. Tax Court decision and agency plans to continue enforcement efforts in this area.

A Waco, Texas, tax return preparer was sentenced to 27 months in prison for her role in a conspiracy to defraud the United States, on December 5, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

A Las Vegas resident pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, theft of government property, and access device fraud, relating to a stolen identity tax fraud, on December 4, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

A Shreveport, Louisiana, business owner pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns, on December 3, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph of the Western District of Louisiana.

A spokesman for the Government announced on November 25 that Hong Kong and Macao have signed a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation arrangement (Arrangement), signifying enhanced tax co-operation between Hong Kong and Macao.

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service on November 22 issued final regulations confirming that individuals taking advantage of the increased gift and estate tax exclusion amounts in effect from 2018 to 2025 will not be adversely impacted after 2025 when the exclusion amount is scheduled to drop to pre-2018 levels.

The average tax-to-GDP ratio for the 26 countries participating in the new edition of Revenue Statistics in Africa was unchanged at 17.2% for the third consecutive year in 2017. This was lower than the averages for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) at 22.8% and for the OECD at 34.2%, underlining the need for urgent action to enhance domestic revenue mobilisation in Africa.