The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Will Join Forces with Other Countries to Prevent Tax Evasion
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States has announced that it will start working closely with foreign governments to more carefully scrutinize corporate tax returns and those of the rich. The move is designed to stop corporations and wealthy individuals from getting away with "tax arbitrage," a term that describes evading taxes in one country by stashing money in another country with more favorable tax laws.
The program is part of a larger initiative to ensure that wealthy individuals and big corporations comply with US tax laws and pay their fair share. So far, the joint audits will only be held with other countries with whom the US has a treaty to do so. The IRS says they will especially be keeping an eye out for abuses of deferral of taxes on earnings abroad. The crackdown has already netted the US some return; after an investigation UBS AG agreed to pay $780 million in owed taxes.
Corporations and the rich have a duty to pay their fair share of taxes. Those that choose not to comply with US tax laws or try to stretch the rules for their own benefit may very well find themselves the target of a very thorough joint IRS / international audit. Find out more about the new IRS program at US IRS to start co audits with other nations.
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