Barry G. Fowler, EA, leading expert in tax resolution issues and CEO of Taxation Solutions, writes about the IRS Civil Asset Forfeiture/Seizure Program that has allowed the IRS to “legally” steal from U.S. citizens with no proof of wrongdoing and talks about the first case of the IRS returning stolen assets.

Houston, TX – February 9, 2015 – Barry G. Fowler, CEO of Taxation Solutions, posted a new article entitled “Finally, IRS Made to Return Money They Stole From Small Business.” According to Fowler’s latest article one need not owe the IRS a penny to get into trouble with them.

Fowler writes, “Issues with the IRS are not exclusively about owing the IRS back taxes. For instance, one activity most Americans are not aware of is the IRS involvement in monitoring bank deposits – and stealing the assets of unsuspecting businesses and individuals.”

As Fowler explains, “The IRS has every financial institution in the U.S. sworn to comply with them in reporting multiple small deposits made over a short period of time that add up to $10,000 or more. This is known as the Civil Assets Forfeiture or Seizure program initiated originally as a means of monitoring the activity of known tax evaders and/or alleged terrorists.” He continues, “Making those kinds of deposits is referred to as “smurfing.”

It almost makes sense, until Fowler writes, “However, the IRS decided to take the liberty of seizing the assets of innocent small businesses and individuals, too. They do not have to notify the account holder. Nor does the IRS have to prove any wrongdoing on the part of the account holder. In fact, the account holder has to prove they didn’t do anything wrong or illegal.” To make matters worse, he says, “Even when they do prove their innocence, the IRS has never returned the monies and assets they seized, until now. “

Fowler reports from an Accounting Today article that in 2012 a small business had all its assets seized to the tune of nearly a half a million dollars seized by the IRS in a Civil Assets Forfeiture.  According to the article, “Last October, the family teamed up with the Institute for Justice and sued to force the government into court. Rather than defend its actions in response to the lawsuit, the government agreed to return all of the seized money and to not pursue forfeiture of the funds in any civil or criminal action in the future.”

Fowler writes, “This is a first. Many businesses and individuals have lost everything to the IRS as a result of their ability to seize assets without proving wrongdoing.”  He adds, “On top of having the government steal your assets and having to prove your innocence, if there is no formal action filed, the taxpayer cannot legally contest the seizure.”

The entire article can be read at http://www.taxationsolutions.net/finally-irs-made-to-return-money-they-stole-from-small-business/

About Barry G. Fowler, EA

Barry G. Fowler founded Taxation Solutions out of a genuine concern for the IRS issues his clients face, many of whom are self-employed, contract employees, or entrepreneurs. For his contributions to his profession and expertise in tax resolution and financial planning, Fowler has been featured as one of America’s Trendsetters on CBS and Yahoo, and as a Premier Expert in Inc. Magazine. He has been instrumental in helping hundreds of people resolve complex tax issues with the IRS.

Fowler is licensed to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service, and is a longstanding member of several tax industry professional organizations: NAEA, NATP, TSEA, ASTPS.