DIRTY DOZEN SCAM LIST:

The IRS publishes the Dirty Dozen as part of a broad ranging effort to inform taxpayers. People should be careful not to get conned into using well-worn abusive arrangements with high fees as well as the other Dirty Dozen schemes.

International tax compliance is a top priority of the IRS. New patterns and trends emerging in complex international tax avoidance schemes and cross-border transactions have heightened concerns regarding the lack of tax compliance by individuals and entities with an international footprint. As international tax and money laundering crimes have increased, the IRS continues to protect the integrity of the U.S. tax system by helping American taxpayers to understand and meet their tax responsibilities and by enforcing the law with integrity and fairness, worldwide.

Over the years, numerous individuals have been identified as evading U.S. taxes by attempting to hide income in offshore banks, brokerage accounts or nominee entities. They then access the funds using debit cards, credit cards, wire transfers or other arrangements. Some individuals have used foreign trusts, employee-leasing schemes, private annuities and structured transactions attempting to conceal the true owner of accounts or insurance plans.

The IRS urges taxpayers to not be misled into believing that digital assets cannot be monitored and possibly exposing themselves to civil fraud penalties and criminal charges that could result from failure to report transactions involving digital assets. "The IRS is able to identify and track otherwise anonymous transactions of international accounts as well as digital assets during the enforcement of our nation's tax laws," Commissioner Rettig said. "We urge everyone to come into compliance with their filing and reporting responsibilities and avoid compromising themselves in schemes that will ultimately go badly for them."