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IRS

American Express To Pay $230M For Misleading Small Business Customers American Express To Pay $230M For Misleading Small Business Customers
American Express To Pay $230M For Misleading Small Business Customers American Express said it will pay $230 million to resolve federal investigations into deceptive sales tactics and recordkeeping violations involving small business credit card and wire transfer products. The credit card company agreed to pay a $108.7 million civil penalty, the Department of Justice said in a news release on Thursday, Jan. 16. The settlement resolved claims against American Express of deceptive marketing and "dummy" account information. American Express was accused of engaging in unlawful sales tactics and falsifying records between 2014 and 2021. "When financial companies …
2025 Tax Season Begins: What You Need To Know About Expanded Options, New Tools 2025 Tax Season Begins: What You Need To Know About Expanded Options, New Tools
2025 Tax Season Begins: What You Need To Know About Expanded Options, New Tools Early filers, get ready. The 2025 tax season is here! The IRS will start accepting and processing tax returns on Monday, Jan. 27, the agency said in a news release. IRS Free File also became available on Friday, Jan. 10 to taxpayers who qualify through private-sector partners. With more than 140 million tax returns expected, the IRS urged taxpayers to take advantage of updated online resources and consider using trusted tax preparers to avoid scams. "This has been a historic period of improvement for the IRS, and people will see additional tools and features to help them with filing their …
IRS Sending Special Payments To 1 Million Americans: Here's What To Know IRS Sending Special Payments To 1 Million Americans: Here's What To Know
IRS Sending Special Payments To 1 Million Americans: Here's What To Know The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced it will issue automatic payments this month to nearly one million taxpayers who didn’t claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns.  These payments aim to assist eligible individuals who missed claiming the credit, which provides up to $1,400 per person for those who didn’t receive the full amount of their Economic Impact Payments (EIPs). Who Will Receive Payments? Eligible taxpayers include those who filed a 2021 tax return but either left the Recovery Rebate Credit field blank or entered $0 despite qualifying. Payments wil…
Holiday Deals Or Fraud? IRS Issues Warning For These Scams Holiday Deals Or Fraud? IRS Issues Warning For These Scams
Holiday Deals Or Fraud? IRS Issues Warning For These Scams As the holiday shopping season begins, the IRS reminds everyone that it’s not just your credit card balance you need to watch — it’s also your personal information. As part of its ninth annual National Tax Security Awareness Week, the IRS is warning taxpayers about a rise in holiday scams.  The scammers aren’t interested in gifts under your tree; they’re after your Social Security number and financial information instead. Here’s how scammers are getting creative—and how you can stay safe: Phishing Emails: Be wary of emails pretending to be from reputable retailers, shipping companie…
Mass IRS Agent Busted Filing Fake Tax Returns: Feds Mass IRS Agent Busted Filing Fake Tax Returns: Feds
Mass IRS Agent Busted Filing Fake Tax Returns: Feds The only certainty in life is death and taxes, but that doesn't stop people from trying to cheat them. A Swampscott woman hired to stop tax cheats is now accused of being one herself, police said.  Ndeye Amy Thioub, 67, was indicted on Wednesday, April 17, on three counts of filing false tax returns and three counts of filing false tax returns as an employee of the United States, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Thioub joined the IRS in 2006 and worked as an investigative auditor. Put simply it was her job to root out anyone who didn't give the government its due.&nbs…
Ex-State Senator Charged With 28 Counts Of Fraud: Feds Ex-State Senator Charged With 28 Counts Of Fraud: Feds
Ex-State Senator Charged With 28 Counts Of Fraud: Feds A former Republican state senator who represented Worcester and Middlesex counties was charged with illegally taking thousands in COVID relief money and concealing cash from the IRS, federal authorities said.  Dean Tran, 48, of Fitchburg, was indicted on 25 counts of wire fraud and three charges of filing false tax reports on Friday, Nov. 17, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.  Tran served in the Massachusetts Senate from 2017-2021.  Investigators said Tran collected $30,120 in unemployment benefits after being voted out of o…
Ex-Mass Police Union Chief Gets 2.5 Years In Prison After Fraud Conviction: Feds Ex-Mass Police Union Chief Gets 2.5 Years In Prison After Fraud Conviction: Feds
Ex-Mass Police Union Chief Gets 2.5 Years In Prison After Fraud Conviction: Feds The former president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts and the group's ex-lobbyist were sentenced Wednesday, May 10, after they were convicted on charges that they turned the union into a "criminal enterprise" that defrauded its members, authorities said.  Dana A. Pullman, 60, of Worcester — the former president of SPAM  — was sentenced to 30 months behind bars and three years of probation, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Anne M. Lynch, 71, of Huff, the union's lobbyist, received two years in prison and two years of supervised release, the prosecutor add…
$1M Fraud: CT Business Owner Gets Prison Time $1M Fraud: CT Business Owner Gets Prison Time
$1M Fraud: CT Business Owner Gets Prison Time A Massachusetts business owner from northern Connecticut will spend time in prison for tax fraud after failing to report just under $1 million in income for several years, federal officials said.  Windham County resident Mariusz Kalinowski, age 48, of Woodstock, was sentenced to seven months in prison on Wednesday, April 26 for tax fraud, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.  According to federal officials, Kalinowski is the owner of Webster, Massachusetts-based Kalinowski General Construction, Inc., in Worcester County, which provides&n…
Weymouth Paving Business Owner Hit With $784K Tax Bill Weymouth Paving Business Owner Hit With $784K Tax Bill
Weymouth Paving Business Owner Hit With $784K Tax Bill A judge ordered the owner of a Weymouth paving company to pay more than $784,799, seven years' worth of income and employment taxes, authorities said.  Robert Brainard, 52, who owns Got Pavement Needs, Inc. pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion earlier this year after the IRS said it found he'd underreported his income and pocketed $593,993 in unpaid taxes from 2014 through 2021, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. The IRS said he used that extra money to pay his employees in cash to avoid employment taxes. Federal regulators also accused Brainard of transferring own…
Swampscott Man Who Ripped Off Congolese Immigrants In Boston Headed To Jail: Prosecutor Swampscott Man Who Ripped Off Congolese Immigrants In Boston Headed To Jail: Prosecutor
Swampscott Man Who Ripped Off Congolese Immigrants In Boston Headed To Jail: Prosecutor A Swampscott man will spend more than two years in jail after he pleaded guilty to ripping off after a court found that he had ripped off Congolese immigrants in Boston, authorities said. He must also repay what he reportedly stole.  Boris Shadari, 46, pleaded guilty to a slew of fraud charges earlier this year, the Department of Justice said. A judge sentenced him on Tuesday, Aug. 2, to 30 months in prison. He must also repay $496,082, prosecutors said. His co-conspirator Christian Zynga, a former bank manager, pleaded guilty to the scheme as well.   The U.S. Attorney a…