The Rahman Case is a Cautionary Tale of What Can Go Wrong under the IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures

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Matthew L. Roberts

Matthew L. Roberts

Principal

469.998.8482
mroberts@freemanlaw.com

Mr. Roberts is a Principal of the firm. He devotes a substantial portion of his legal practice to helping his clients successfully navigate and resolve their federal tax disputes, either administratively, or, if necessary, through litigation. As a trusted advisor he has provided legal advice and counsel to hundreds of clients, including individuals and entrepreneurs, non-profits, trusts and estates, partnerships, and corporations.

Having served nearly three years as an attorney-advisor to the Chief Judge of the United States Tax Court in Washington, D.C., Mr. Roberts leverages his unique insight into government processes to offer his clients creative, innovative, and cost-effective solutions to their tax problems. In private practice, he has successfully represented clients in all phases of a federal tax dispute, including IRS audits, appeals, litigation, and collection matters. He also has significant experience representing clients in employment tax audits, voluntary disclosures, FBAR penalties and litigation, trust fund penalties, penalty abatement and waiver requests, and criminal tax matters.

Often times, Mr. Roberts has been engaged to utilize his extensive knowledge of tax controversy matters to assist clients in their transactional matters. For example, he has provided tax advice to businesses on complex tax matters related to domestic and international transactions, formations, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, spin-offs, liquidations, and partnership divisions.

In addition to federal tax disputes, Mr. Roberts has represented clients in matters relating to white-collar crimes, estate and probate disputes, fiduciary disputes, complex contractual and settlement disputes, business disparagement and defamation claims, and other complex civil litigation matters.

Introduction  

The IRS recognizes that many taxpayers fail to timely and properly file income tax returns, information returns, and/or FBARs.  Sometimes these failures are honest mistakes; but, other times such failures may be due to willful conduct.

The distinction between willful and non-willful conduct is an important one for purposes of certain programs the IRS offers to non-compliant taxpayers, i.e., the Voluntary Disclosure Program and the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures (“Streamlined Procedures”).  Taxpayers who have engaged in willful conduct are not permitted into the Streamlined Procedures.  This is significant because the lookback period for prior years’ unpaid income tax and the amount of the penalty is generally lower under the Streamlined Procedures.[1]

Predictably, because of the extra costs of the Voluntary Disclosure Program, many taxpayers attempt to shoehorn their facts into a Streamlined Procedures submission. However, such taxpayers should recognize under the Streamlined Procedures that they are required to submit information (including a narrative of the non-willful conduct) to the IRS under penalties of perjury.  If the IRS reviews the information and determines (even much later) that the information is untrue and/or not complete, the IRS can (and often does) initiate criminal investigations based on the information that was voluntarily submitted by the taxpayer as part of the Streamlined Procedures submission.  In other words, taxpayers who incorrectly file Streamlined Procedures submissions to the IRS run the real risk of handing the government the information it needs (and may not have previously had) to prosecute the taxpayer for willful conduct.

The Rahman Case  

The Allegations in the Indictment[2]

The Rahman case is an interesting one, at least according to the Indictment, which was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on March 3, 2021.  According to the allegations in the Indictment:

Alleged Violations of Section 7206(1)

The Indictment seeks seventeen counts against Mr. Rahman. These include violations under:  (1) 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1); (2) 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(3); and (3) certain provisions under Title 31 (i.e., the Bank Secrecy Act).

One of the counts against Mr. Rahman under 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1) is a felony charge for his statements in the Form 14654. Under 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1), it is a felony for any person to willfully make and subscribe to any return, statement or other document, which contains or is verified by a written declaration that it is made under penalties of perjury, and which such person does not believe to be true and correct as to every material matter.  Put simply, it applies to any untrue assertions set forth in “any return, statement, or other document” signed under penalties of perjury.

Federal tax returns fall squarely under the umbrella of “any return.”  Indeed, the government commonly uses 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1) to prosecute certain types of untrue statements made in a federal income tax return.  But, the government has in the past (as it seeks to do in this case) used 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1) to bring criminal prosecutions against taxpayers who made untrue assertions in “other documents.”  For example, the government has successfully brought 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1) claims against taxpayers for false statements on: (1) IRS Forms 433, Collection Information Statements, see, e.g., U.S. v. Holroyd, 732 F.2d 1122, 1127-28 (2d Cir. 1984); (2) IRS Forms 656, Offer in Compromise, see, e.g., U.S. v. Cohen, 544 F.2d 781 (5th Cir. 1975); and (3) Schedule B, Interest and Ordinary Dividends, see, e.g., U.S. v. Clines, 985 F.2d 578 (4th Cir. 1992).

Here, the government alleges that Mr. Rahman made untrue statements in another document, the IRS Form 14654. Specifically, the allegations against Mr. Rahman are that he made the following untrue statements on that Form:  (1) that he met the eligibility requirements to come within the Streamlined Procedures; (2) that his failure to report all income, pay all tax, and submit all required tax returns, including FBARs, was due to non-willful conduct; and (3) that his reportable foreign financial assets, as reported on the Form 14654, constituted only three foreign Swiss bank accounts.

According to the Indictment, Mr. Rahman learned of the criminal investigation and left the country on or around December 17, 2019.  Moreover, the government believes that he has relocated from the United States to a foreign country that has no extradition treaty with the United States.  An arrest warrant, however, has been issued for him.

Summary  

Taxpayers often routinely believe that nothing can go wrong if they submit a Streamlined Procedure to the IRS.  Rahman shows this is certainly not the case.  Indeed, taxpayers (and their attorneys) should be careful in carefully scrutinizing the facts and making a complete and truthful disclosure to the IRS.  Moreover, attorneys working with taxpayers on Streamlined Procedures should ensure they ask their clients whether all information reported on the Form 14654 is truthful, accurate, and complete and also advise their clients of the risks of filing under the wrong IRS program.  In the event the taxpayer mistakenly files a Streamlined Compliance procedure with inaccurate information, the Rahman case makes it crystal clear that the government will use the information submitted to try a case against the taxpayer under 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1).

 

Tax Litigation Attorneys 

Need assistance in managing the Tax Compliance process? With our unique substantive and procedural knowledge, we can provide a comprehensive approach to the tax dispute resolution process, often collaborating with clients’ existing tax professionals to formulate creative solutions to the most complex tax problems. Freeman Law offers value-driven legal services and provides practical solutions to complex tax issues. Schedule a consultation now or call (214) 984-3000 to discuss your tax concerns and questions. 

 

[1] In exchange for additional income tax years as part of the extended lookback period and a higher penalty, the IRS generally offers criminal amnesty for taxpayers who make voluntary disclosures.  No such amnesty is available under the Streamlined Procedures.

[2] The Allegations in the Indictment are only the government’s assertions and claims against Mr. Rahman.  He is entitled to fight the claims in the Indictment through judicial proceedings and therefore any of the statements in this Insight should not be deemed as true assertions against him at this early stage.  That is, he is presumed innocent until the government is able to prove its case against him.