White collar crime

This is the second part in our 2023 series examining important trends in white collar law and investigations. Up next: crypto enforcement.

With both tax and non-tax crimes, the number of investigations initiated by IRS-CI increased slightly in 2022, but IRS-CI recommended prosecution in slightly fewer cases than the year before. IRS-CI also relied on its international partnerships, including its leadership of the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5), to identify potential sanctions-evaders or sanctioned assets and to develop a global strategy to deter Russian’s aggression. It is the only agency that dedicates one-hundred percent of its time to financial investigations and the only agency with authority to investigate criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code. Calling it a “strategic realignment,” IRS-CI has focused on building internal capabilities to address cybercrime in recognition of the growing role digital assets play in the global economy and the unique risks they present. IRS-CI Chief Jim Lee, a veteran of the organization, continues to head the division. IRS Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”) is the federal agency responsible for investigating and recommending prosecution of criminal tax violations and other related financial crimes to the Department of Justice.