Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
The Firm
201-896-4100 info@sh-law.comFirm Insights
Department of Justice Considers Personal Benefit an Important Factor in Prosecuting Employment Tax Cases
Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC
Date: September 24, 2013
Key Contacts
Back
Since 2008, the U.S. economy has struggled and employers faced with the dilemma of either paying employees and vendors, or paying employment tax often chose the former. The belief is that they can always catch up. Unfortunately, I have seen many employers incur substantial tax liability for employment taxes, interest and penalties, and have found themselves personally liable.
The Department of Justice will now consider whether an individual personally benefited from employment taxes that were not properly withheld or paid as a key factor in considering whether it will criminally prosecute a case.
“Using the money to keep a business afloat is not a defense against criminal liability for an employer, but the DOJ is less likely to prosecute in that case than when the employer is using the funds to purchase homes, cars, and other luxury items,” said Margaret Leigh Kessler, Assistant Chief (Western Criminal Enforcement Section), DOJ Tax Division.
Speaking during the “Civil and Criminal Tax Penalties” session of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation meeting in San Francisco, Kessler pointed out that no one factor is dispositive as to whether a case will become criminal. She said there are many different factors that may cause the IRS to refer a case to the DOJ for criminal prosecution, including engaging in a course of illegal conduct over a long period; taking aggressive measures to actively hide assets once the Service has determined noncompliance; and lying to the IRS agents reviewing the case.
“The size of the business is not a driving factor,” Kessler said. “While a case involving large amounts of money may be more attractive to the DOJ, officials wouldn’t be eager to prosecute it criminally if they didn’t have evidence that the money was being used for personal benefit.”
Those employers who use employment taxes for cars, vacation homes and the like now face not only personal liability but criminal prosecution.
- Practices: Tax and Trusts & Estates, Sophisticated Estate Planning & Wealth Preservation
- 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
Understanding Chattel Paper: A Key Component in Secured Transactions
Using chattel paper to obtain a security interest in personal property is a powerful tool. It can ensure lenders have a legal claim on collateral ranging from inventory to intellectual property. To reduce risk and protect your legal rights, businesses and lenders should understand the legal framework. This framework governs the creation, sale, and enforcement […]
Author: Dan Brecher
Crypto Compliance: A Comprehensive Guide
For years, digital assets operated in a legal gray area, a frontier where innovation outpaced the reach of regulators and law enforcement. In this early “Wild West” phase of finance, crypto startups thrived under minimal oversight. That era, however, is coming to an end. The importance of crypto compliance has become paramount as cryptocurrency has […]
Author: Bryce S. Robins
Supreme Court and Title VII: Implications for Reverse Discrimination
Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services vitiating the so-called “background circumstances” test required by half of federal circuit courts.1 The background circumstances test required majority group plaintiffs pleading discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to meet a heightened pleading standard […]
Author: Matthew F. Mimnaugh
SPACs Are Back, What You Need to Know
Special purpose acquisition companies (better known as SPACs) appear to be making a comeback. SPAC offerings for 2025 have already nearly surpassed last year’s totals, with additional transactions in the pipeline. SPACs last experienced a boom between 2020–2021, with approximately 600 U.S. companies raising a record $163 billion in 2021. Notable companies that went public […]
Author: Dan Brecher
Short Form Merger: Streamlining the Process for Businesses
Merging two companies is a complex legal and business transaction. A short form merger, in which an acquiring company merges with a subsidiary corporation, offers a more streamlined process that involves important corporate governance considerations. A short form merger, in which an acquiring company merges with a subsidiary corporation, offers a more streamlined process. However, […]
Author: Dan Brecher
Tariff Response Options for Small Businesses Facing Financial Distress
The Trump Administration’s new tariffs are having an oversized impact on small businesses, which already tend to operate on razor thin margins. Many businesses have been forced to raise prices, find new suppliers, lay off staff, and delay growth plans. For businesses facing even more dire financial circumstances, there are additional tariff response options, including […]
Author: Brian D. Spector
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.