Former IRS commissioner Charles Rettig, who led the agency from 2018 until 2022, described the dwindling numbers as “embarrassing and unacceptable,” while another high-level former IRS official said a “treasure trove of potential fraud cases” had been overlooked.
In comments to ICIJ, the IRS attributed the drop in referrals to understaffing and operational disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The agency also noted that although referrals declined, the proportion of those picked up by criminal investigators rose, and there’s been a slight uptick in referrals so far this fiscal year.
Meanwhile, Treasury estimates that the top 1% of Americans are costing the U.S. tens of billions in unpaid taxes annually.
“It comes down to fairness to taxpayers,” one former official said. Read more here.
BILLIONAIRE TIED TO BORNEO DEFORESTATION
Environmentalists investigating the ownership of an Indonesian pulpwood company allegedly responsible for mass deforestation on the island of Borneo have identified links between it and a conglomerate owned by Indonesian billionaire Sukanto Tanoto. The company is accused of clearing a forested area roughly half the size of Singapore, causing conflicts with indigenous communities and destroying orangutan habitats.
ICIJ’S 2023 ANNUAL REPORT
ICIJ’s latest annual report reflects on a year of growth and groundbreaking journalism, and showcases the ongoing impact of ICIJ’s investigations, including Cyprus Confidential, Deforestation Inc., Panama Papers, Pandora Papers, Luanda Leaks and more.