November 22, 2013 — The Internal Revenue Service’s Whistleblower Office was put into place by the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 to give tipsters with information about tax fraud a clear path to notify the IRS. Whistleblowers who collaborate with the government may be eligible for financial rewards ranging from 15 to 30 percent of the amount the government recovers. When available, the rewards offer a substantial incentive to blow the whistle on tax cheats who flout the laws the rest of us live by.
Physician Admits to Withholding Over $500,000 in Taxes
An Indiana doctor has pleaded guilty to willfully failing to file quarterly employment tax returns, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Dr. Ronald Eugene Jamerson, an ear, nose and throat specialist in Schererville, has consented to pay $541,083.20 in restitution to the IRS. Jamerson was indicted for failing to pay federal income taxes and Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes from the second tax quarter of 2006 through the fourth quarter of 2008.
Jamerson has had his own medical practice since the late 1990s. The government alleges that, between 2003 and 2008, the physician deducted FICA taxes and federal income tax from his employees’ paychecks, but then held onto the money himself rather than file the appropriate employment tax returns and corresponding employment taxes.
As part of his plea agreement, Jamerson has admitted that the total tax loss based on his misconduct is $541,083.20. When Jamerson is sentenced in January 2014, he faces a maximum fine of $250,000 and a maximum five-year prison sentence with three years of supervised release.
Insider Informants Are Central to Battle Against Tax Fraud
Prior to contacting the IRS, tipsters should seek out a knowledgeable qui tam lawyer to make sure they understand how the process works. Rewards for tips about a corporation’s tax violations may be available no matter the size of the government’s recovery. But rewards are available for tips concerning an individual’s tax violations only in particular circumstances. Waters & Kraus has tax fraud lawyers available to help whistleblowers with the sound advice they deserve. Contact us by email or call our whistleblower attorneys at 855.784.0268 to learn how we can protect your interests while guiding you through the process.
