News & Events

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently published a new list of “warning signs” for fraudulent Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claims. This list adds to the IRS’ previous list published in May. As Washington D.C. tax attorney Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group, explains, the new list highlights the IRS’ ongoing prioritization of ERC fraud and the scope of its efforts to uncover and prosecute fraudulent claims.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is prioritizing Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliance in 2024. Employers that are subject to the ACA’s health insurance coverage requirements are at increased risk of facing scrutiny, and penalty audits under the ACA are leading to substantial liability in many cases. What do you need to know if the IRS is auditing your company under the ACA? Washington D.C. tax attorney Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group, explains:

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced that it is entering the “next stage” of Employee Retention Credit (ERC) enforcement after uncovering huge numbers of improper claims. In a June 20, 2024, News Release, the IRS disclosed that it now believes the “vast majority” of ERC claims show signs of being improper, and it is responding accordingly. As Washington D.C. IRS tax lawyer Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group, explains, this includes not only denying improper claims but also pursuing civil and criminal penalties as warranted.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Deputy Commissioner Douglas O’Donnell recently acknowledged that the agency had approximately 1.4 million Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claims pending as of May 2024. This is true even though the IRS issued a moratorium on new claims late last year. There are two primary reasons for this backlog, both of which present concerns for businesses that may have filed invalid claims. Washington D.C. tax attorney Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group, explains.

While several allegations can lead to criminal charges against individual and corporate taxpayers, some of the most common allegations involve making false statements to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Although inadvertently filing a false tax return is not a federal crime, willfully filing a false return is. As Washington D.C. criminal tax lawyer Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group, explains, willfully making false statements to the IRS can have serious consequences—and this is true regardless of whether these statements are made before or during a criminal tax audit.