Posted on 05/23/2011 8:41:43 PM PDT by jazusamo
More than 100 employees of the Internal Revenue Service cheated the government by fraudulently claiming a first-time homebuyer tax credit included in the 2008 and 2009 economic stimulus packages, according to federal investigators.
The Treasury Department’s inspector general for tax administration, in several reports over the past few years, has identified a total of 128 IRS employees who claimed the credit but who also made other claims that showed they either weren’t first-time buyers or bought their homes outside the eligibility period for the credit, which was worth up to $8,000.
Meanwhile, one other IRS employee has been charged with using her position to try to help friends and relatives take advantage of the credit, which was signed by President Bush and then boosted under President Obama’s 2009 stimulus law.
The IRS employees represented a small part of the total fraud in the program, which the inspector general said may have totaled more than a half-billion dollars overall. The inspector general said refundable tax credits, which transfer money back to taxpayers even when their tax liability is zero, “are targets for fraud.”
Members of Congress who have oversight over the IRS said it’s particularly egregious when the employees are caught cheating.
“It is incomprehensible that this many IRS employees improperly claimed the homebuyer tax credit,” said Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee. “These are the very people who are supposed to fairly enforce our tax laws, but seem to instead be taking advantage of that expertise for their own personal benefit.”
Asked for comment, the IRS requested that The Washington Times submit questions in writing, which The Times did.
Instead of answering the questions, spokesman Grant William issued a general statement saying the agency takes compliance with tax laws “very seriously”...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Would not expect anything less from 1) an idiot-ridden administration filled with corruption and 2) an IRS headed by a tax cheat “genius” who could not even figure out TurboTax. =.=
Yes indeed! They "very seriously" find ways to cover their behinds, therefore of course the spokesman didn't answer the questions.
We'll hold our breath NOT for the follow up story on this one.
Lamp posts.
Was that wrong? ;’) Thanks jazusamo. Hey, taxes are for people who work for a living, so get off their backs.
hey..taxes are for Flyover Country peons and peasants..
I just got a tax bill today for almost $3,000 on top of what they’ve already gotten. I’ve never had this done before and too angry to read the full RULE BOOK. BA#TARDS!!! I can no longer afford them. I’s soooooo pissed!
And then I read about ALL the slimeball thieves in that WH I could spit nails.
Ok, I feel better now.
I hear you. The IRS is run by computers and I don’t believe most of the workers understand our tax laws, they operate computers.
That doesn’t surprise me in the least.
The stories I could tell having to deal with mostly idiots in the IRS. 95% of them aren’t qualified for the job. Half of them are probably not qualified for any job especially one dealing with taxes and money.
And don’t get me started on their attitude and lack of respect for the taxpayer. I couldn’t count the number of times they have hung up on me for simply asking a question they couldn’t answer.
The few that are helpful and respectful don’t stay around too long and who could blame them. Cleaning out that maggot infested hell hole would go a long way in making government more efficient.
04 February 2011
IRS gives out millions in erroneous hybrid vehicle credits
…”It is important to note that the erroneous claims identified in this TIGTA report represent only a small fraction of Recovery tax relief - less than 0.02 percent of the $260 billion in Recovery Act tax relief taxpayers received through December 2010,” IRS spokesman Grant Williams told Accounting Today. …
IRS Misfired on Plug-in Tax Credit Claims, U.S. Government Audit Discovers
About 20 percent of U.S. tax credits for plug-in electric vehicles and alternative-fuel vehicles were filed in error, according to a government audit.
The credits are important to companies such as General Motors Co. and Nissan Motor Co., which have entered the plug-in market with the $41,000 Chevrolet Volt and the $32,780 Nissan Leaf, respectively. Buyers of those vehicles can claim up to $7,500 from the federal government, and the companies are relying on the credits to be competitive on price with gasoline- based models.
Most of the erroneous credits, according to the audit, went to taxpayers who sought benefits for vehicles such as Hyundai Motor Co.’s Sonata and GM’s Buick Enclave that didn’t qualify for tax breaks. Prisoners and IRS employees were among those who erroneously claimed credits.
The hybrid vehicle credits scam is just beginning. The corruption with this will make the new home buyers credit look like child's play.
IRS Pledges to Stomp Out ‘Egregious’ Violations of Politicking Rules
Grant Williams
The Chronicle of Philanthropy, April 18, 2008
The Internal Revenue Service says that in this election year it is making “extensive efforts” to educate charities and churches about federal law that bans their political campaign activity.
(except for black churches where Democrats openly campaign)
Having had a large amount of inter-action with this particular gov’t agency...I put forward disembowelment as the appropriate penalty.
Guy I know who worked at KC could not get his AA employees to do their jobs, so he retired early, here is hoping that the election of “the one” has motivated them to work.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
