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November 2003 : The U.S. Senate Finance Committee holds hearings examining tax shelter abuses. Among those to testify is a man with his identity and voice disguised to protect him from retribution.
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December 2003: The U.S. Justice Department files a lawsuit against Big Four accounting firm KPMG LLC, alleging that the company has obstructed the IRS’s investigation of illegal tax-avoidance schemes allegedly promoted by KPMG.
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January 2004: IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson promises more audits.
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April 2004: U.S. Justice Department reports a 35 percent increase in the number of tax cheaters referred for criminal prosecution.
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May 2004: IRS announces June deadline for taxpayers to come forward if they have employed the “Son of Boss” tax shelter.
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June 2004: Through partnerships with 48 states and the city of New York and the District of Columbia, the IRS identifies 28,000 possible tax cheaters.
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July 2004: 1,500 taxpayers come forward and admit to using “Son of Boss.”
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December 2004: Chemical giant Hercules settles a case with the government in which the IRS alleged that Hercules employed an illegal tax shelter. The company agrees pay $30 million, plus a penalty of about $6 million.
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February 2005: IRS identifies dozens of executives, 42 corporations, and more than $700 million in stock options related to a tax-avoidance scheme. Government offers deal: Come forward to avoid criminal prosecution.
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April 2005: IRS obtains more than 100 injunctions against promoters of tax-avoidance schemes.
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June 2005: U.S. Tax Court threatens to impose fines of up to $25,000 for people bringing frivolous tax-avoidance claims.
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July 2005: IRS reports $4 billion in settlements from “Son of Boss.”
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December 2005: IRS reports enforcement revenues are up 10 percent to a record $47.3 billion.
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January 2006: Richard Hatch, who won $1 million on the original Survivor, is convicted on tax evasion charges.
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February 2006: Will you be the IRS’s next target?
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