Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
The Firm
201-896-4100 info@sh-law.comFirm Insights
IRS Scrutiny Over Spending Continues
Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
Date: June 12, 2013
Key Contacts
Back
The Internal Revenue Service has come under heat recently for questions over spending, particularly as it faces budgetary shortfalls and sequestration cuts that may impact its ability to detect, investigate, and prosecute potential tax law violations.
Most recently, the preliminary findings of a report conducted by the Treasury Department’s inspector general reveals the agency spent roughly $50 million to hold at least 220 conferences for employees between 2010 and 2012. The agency has come under fire for several unrelated incidents as of late, all of which led to the resignation of the agency’s acting commissioner, Steven Miller. In light of the new spending report, new acting commissioner Daniel Werfel is seeking to distance the agency from the previous administration’s spending mistakes.
Some analysts questioned the use of certain funds for IRS employee conferences, specifically one held in Anaheim, California, in 2010. The conference, which brought together more than 2,600 IRS officials, came with a price tag of $4.1 million. However, $3.2 million of these funds came from the agency’s unused enforcement budget, a move that IRS aides said does not violate the agency’s guidelines, the Washington Post reports. At issue, however, are allegations that the agency failed to follow standard government practices of negotiating lower hotel rates and also provided workers with costly perks, such as stays in top hotel suites and tickets to sporting events, according to The Associated Press.
Following acknowledgement of the findings, the agency said it “has already taken aggressive and dramatic action to reduce conference spending,” the AP reports.
“This conference is an unfortunate vestige from a prior era,” said Werfel, according to the AP. “While there were legitimate reasons for holding the meeting, many of the expenses associated with it were inappropriate and should not have occurred.”
The scrutiny comes months after the agency was berated for producing Star Trek-themed IRS training videos to the tune of $60,000.
- Practices: Tax and Trusts & Estates
- Locations: Red Bank, NJ, New York City, Little Falls, NJ
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Related Posts
See all
Scarinci Hollenbeck Expands NYC Real Estate and Litigation Practices ADDING four litigators
NYC Real Estate and Litigation Attorney Ryan O. Miller and Team Join Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC New York City, NY – August 13, 2025 – Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC has strengthened its Real Estate and Litigation practices with the addition of four New York City-based attorneys. Ryan Miller, who joins as a partner, is well known for […]
Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
What is Business Law and Why Is it Important?
Business law plays a critical role in nearly every aspect of running a successful enterprise, from negotiating a commercial lease to drafting employee policies to fulfilling corporate disclosure obligations. Understanding what is business law and your legal obligations can help your business run smoothly and build productive relationships with clients, business partners, regulators, and others. […]
Author: Dan Brecher
Corporate Transactions: Best Practices for Successful Deals
Corporate transactions can have significant implications for a corporation and its stakeholders. For deals to be successful, companies must act strategically to maximize value and minimize risk. It is also important to fully understand the legal and financial ramifications of corporate transactions, both in the near and long term. Understanding Corporate Transactions The term “corporate […]
Author: Dan Brecher
How to Conduct a Fair and Legal Employee Termination in 2025
Ongoing economic uncertainty is forcing many companies to make tough decisions, which includes lowering staff levels. The legal landscape on both the state and federal level also continues to evolve, especially with significant changes to the priorities of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) under the Trump Administration. Terminating an employee is one of the […]
Author: Angela A. Turiano
Admin Dissolution for Annual Report: What You Need to Know
While filing annual reports may seem like a nuisance, failing to do so can have significant ramifications. These include fines, reputational harm, and interruption of your business operations. In basic terms, “admin dissolution for annual report” means that a company is dissolved by the government. This happens because it failed to submit its annual report […]
Author: Dan Brecher
What Is Antitrust Litigation Law?
Antitrust laws are designed to ensure that businesses compete fairly. There are three federal antitrust laws that businesses must navigate. These include the Sherman Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Clayton Act. States also have their own antitrust regimes. These may vary from federal regulations. Understanding antitrust litigation helps businesses navigate these complex […]
Author: Robert E. Levy
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!
Explore What Matters Most to You.
Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.
Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.