Tax Controversy & Financial Crimes Report

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July 2019

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By: Fox Rothschild LLP

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Fox Rothschild LLP
Charles Bender
Fox Rothschild LLP
Jessica Labella Kitain
Matthew D. Lee
Fox Rothschild LLP
Jacob D. Millis
Fox Rothschild LLP

Latest from Tax Controversy & Financial Crimes Report

Joshua Ashby and Kimberly L. Kwan have co-authored a Corporate Compliance Insights article entitled “How the Corporate Transparency Act Shakes Up AML: Beneficial Ownership Updates and More.” Their article addresses the recently-enacted Corporate Transparency Act, and how that new law changes what constitutes beneficial ownership and establishes more robust automated data collection. In addition, the law increases responsibilities and incentives for employees to blow the whistle on money-laundering activity. You can read the full article…
By Matthew D. Lee and Marissa Koblitz Kingman The Justice Department has widened its crackdown on COVID-19 fraud, announcing the first criminal case alleging misuse of federal relief funds designated for medical providers. The egregious nature of the alleged fraud and relatively small amount of funds involved provide valuable clues about the pace, breadth and focus of future prosecutions. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, enacted March 29, 2020, established the Provider…
In recognition of the continuing economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Internal Revenue Service is easing its collection activities to avoid the seizure of bank accounts containing either Economic Impact Payments or Paycheck Protection Program loan proceeds. In a guidance memorandum issued to all collection employees, the IRS has directed that before issuing a levy, employees should contact the taxpayer in question to determine if it received a PPP loan, and if so,…
The U.S. Justice Department announced its first civil settlement with a Paycheck Protection Program borrower alleged to have committed fraud in connection with this highly popular COVID-19 relief program. A bankruptcy online retailer and its chief executive officer agreed to pay $100,000 in damages and penalties to resolve claims that they committed fraud in connection with multiple PPP loan applications. The company, SlideBelts Inc., also agreed to repay its PPP loan in full. The Paycheck…
On January 12, 2021, please join members of Fox’s Tax Controversy team for a review of recent developments in federal tax controversy and civil and criminal tax enforcement, as well as a look ahead at what 2021 may hold.  Matthew D. Lee, Jerald David August and Vivian Hoard will review recent developments in federal tax controversy with a focus on the following topics: Developments in IRS enforcement regarding conservation easements Latest updates and guidance…
By Maureen Monaghan and Adam Young  The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Act), signed into law on December 27, 2020, amends certain tax provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). It also clarifies the tax treatment of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness, extends certain deferred payroll taxes and expands the deduction for business meals, among other provisions. While the Act is…
By Gabriel B. Herman The $900 billion Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the Act) modifies the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in a variety of business-friendly ways likely to benefit both existing PPP borrowers and businesses that receive a second PPP Loan. Specifically, the Act includes the following noteworthy changes: Uses Eligible for Forgiveness The Act expands on the types of expenses that PPP borrowers may use their proceeds to pay and later seek forgiveness. Notably,…
By Matthew D. Lee and Marissa Koblitz Kingman This month’s court-ordered release of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan data is expected to result in intense scrutiny of the loan forgiveness process, highlighting the need for recipients to proceed with caution when filing forgiveness applications. Multiple news organization sued the Trump administration in May demanding that it release information on the businesses that benefited from federal pandemic relief programs. A federal judge ordered the administration to disclose the…
By Paul B. Edelberg, Elizabeth J. Hampton and Gabriel B. Herman In its massive new pandemic relief and stimulus package, Congress has significantly modified the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to allow for second draws from the program, to simplify the loan forgiveness process, to provide restaurants access to greater relief and to extend the program through March 2021. The proposed law also includes economic disaster grants and debt relief provisions, as well as bolstering…
November 23, 2020 – Alerts By Ernest E. Badway An unprecedented explosion of government investigation and enforcement is at hand as federal regulators focus their efforts on ferreting out any fraud or abuse of the $1 trillion in COVID-19 relief funding programs through loans, grants and tax credits. For pharma and bioscience companies, it is imperative to take steps now to limit the risks and consequences of such investigations. Regulatory threats to these companies may be forestalled…