March 15,2004

New Report Shows Poor Follow-up in Criminal Tax Cases

M E M O R A N D U M

To: Reporters and Editors
Re: New report on civil tax liabilities
Da: Monday, March 15, 2004

Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today made the followingcomment on a new report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. The reportis “Courts Are Not Always Notified When Criminals Fail to Comply With Their Sentences to SettleCivil Tax Liabilities,” Reference Number: 2004-10-060. The report is attached.

“The old saying is, if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime. Now it seems you don’t haveto do the time or even pay a dime. The IRS appears to be ignoring its greatest weapon to stop taxcheating. That’s making the cheaters pay. It looks like the IRS has locked the jailhouse door andleft the key in it. The message seems to be that crime pays. The IRS needs to use its resources toenforce these penalties.”