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IRS: 'UNSCRUPULOUS FEW' TARNISH TAX PRACTICE

January 25, 2005

Cono Namorato, who directs the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility, told the American Bar Association tax section that the IRS is beefing up its enforcement arm for tax professionals to deal the the "corrosive effect" of unethical practicitioners. Tax Analysts reports:

   Namorato acknowledged that the tax bar faces a 
   daunting task in staying current on difficult and 
   technical areas of the law. The tax field is fortunate to
   have practitioners with high standards, but the 
   "unscrupulous few" tarnished the standing of the 
   entire tax community, he said.

Still, Mr. Namorato is puzzled about how we got to this point.

   OPR is more interested in getting a positive "do the 
   right thing" message out, Namorato said, but a 
   troubling aspect is the number of "high-prestige 
   institutions" involved in abusive practices.

   "Where was the firm management?" Namorato asked.
   "Where were the internal controls?" 

The Tax Update has the same questions. Our investigations have given us some tentative answers:

Where firm management was:

Where the internal controls were:

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