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What Triggers an IRS Criminal Investigation
An IRS audit can quickly escalate into a criminal investigation if you say the wrong thing.
What starts as a routine IRS audit doesn’t always stay civil. In this episode, we break down when and why an IRS investigation turns criminal—and the warning signs taxpayers and business owners often miss until it’s too late.
You’ll learn the key red flags that trigger criminal exposure, including badges of fraud, unreported income, false deductions, and what happens when your case is referred from an IRS Revenue Agent to IRS Criminal Investigation (CI). We explain how civil audits differ from criminal investigations, what not to say to the IRS, and why early representation can make the difference between penalties and prosecution.
Whether you’re facing back taxes, under audit, or simply want to understand how the IRS builds criminal cases, this episode provides real-world insight from a tax defense perspective—before the stakes become life-changing.
If the IRS is already knocking, this is the episode you can’t afford to ignore.
I am a CPA, a Circular 230 Professional, entitled to represent taxpayers in any of the 50 states in representation matters before the IRS – inclusive of tax notice letters, audits, appeals, statutory notice of deficiency issues et al. Over 10 million notices a year are issued by the IRS. A large number of taxpayers receive IRS Audit Notices. A quarter of a million taxpayers a year decide to pursue Offers in Compromise, and 25,000 taxpayers a year proceed to US Tax Court because they have received a Statutory Notice of Deficiency. 99.2% of them don’t make it – for a good reason – their case is settled or dismissed before it reaches the Court. That’s why pro se representation, representing yourself with a measure of professional assistance, such as a CPA to prepare exhibits, handle analysis of complex issues, recommend negotiation strategies, write memos of facts, explanations of case history and so forth is such a valuable combination of strategies. I have background in auditing and I’m a researcher and a writer. I’ve written a book as well. You can buy it on Amazon, and other platforms.
The IRS Tax Debt Survival Guide is a practical, plain-English roadmap for taxpayers facing audits, notices, back taxes, liens, levies, or U.S. Tax Court proceedings. Written by a tax professional and CPA, this guide explains how the IRS really operates, what your rights are under the Internal Revenue Code, and how to respond strategically—without panic or misinformation. Readers will learn how IRS notices work, when a statutory notice of deficiency creates a defense, how payment plans and Offers in Compromise are evaluated, and what to expect if a case escalates to collection. The IRS Tax Debt Survival Guide provides clear explanations, real-world insight, and step-by-step guidance to help you make informed decisions and protect yourself throughout the IRS process.
My firm’s name is Tax Options, LLC. It’s a Wyoming LLC. You can just enter the keyword Tax Options, LLC on Google or Bing and my site will come up right away. I also of course have a YouTube channel with a variety of videos. At the end of this presentation I provide my email address. Here it is: [email protected].
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By Tax Options LLCAn IRS audit can quickly escalate into a criminal investigation if you say the wrong thing.
What starts as a routine IRS audit doesn’t always stay civil. In this episode, we break down when and why an IRS investigation turns criminal—and the warning signs taxpayers and business owners often miss until it’s too late.
You’ll learn the key red flags that trigger criminal exposure, including badges of fraud, unreported income, false deductions, and what happens when your case is referred from an IRS Revenue Agent to IRS Criminal Investigation (CI). We explain how civil audits differ from criminal investigations, what not to say to the IRS, and why early representation can make the difference between penalties and prosecution.
Whether you’re facing back taxes, under audit, or simply want to understand how the IRS builds criminal cases, this episode provides real-world insight from a tax defense perspective—before the stakes become life-changing.
If the IRS is already knocking, this is the episode you can’t afford to ignore.
I am a CPA, a Circular 230 Professional, entitled to represent taxpayers in any of the 50 states in representation matters before the IRS – inclusive of tax notice letters, audits, appeals, statutory notice of deficiency issues et al. Over 10 million notices a year are issued by the IRS. A large number of taxpayers receive IRS Audit Notices. A quarter of a million taxpayers a year decide to pursue Offers in Compromise, and 25,000 taxpayers a year proceed to US Tax Court because they have received a Statutory Notice of Deficiency. 99.2% of them don’t make it – for a good reason – their case is settled or dismissed before it reaches the Court. That’s why pro se representation, representing yourself with a measure of professional assistance, such as a CPA to prepare exhibits, handle analysis of complex issues, recommend negotiation strategies, write memos of facts, explanations of case history and so forth is such a valuable combination of strategies. I have background in auditing and I’m a researcher and a writer. I’ve written a book as well. You can buy it on Amazon, and other platforms.
The IRS Tax Debt Survival Guide is a practical, plain-English roadmap for taxpayers facing audits, notices, back taxes, liens, levies, or U.S. Tax Court proceedings. Written by a tax professional and CPA, this guide explains how the IRS really operates, what your rights are under the Internal Revenue Code, and how to respond strategically—without panic or misinformation. Readers will learn how IRS notices work, when a statutory notice of deficiency creates a defense, how payment plans and Offers in Compromise are evaluated, and what to expect if a case escalates to collection. The IRS Tax Debt Survival Guide provides clear explanations, real-world insight, and step-by-step guidance to help you make informed decisions and protect yourself throughout the IRS process.
My firm’s name is Tax Options, LLC. It’s a Wyoming LLC. You can just enter the keyword Tax Options, LLC on Google or Bing and my site will come up right away. I also of course have a YouTube channel with a variety of videos. At the end of this presentation I provide my email address. Here it is: [email protected].