Tax Fraud and Forensic Accounting
Tax Fraud and Forensic Accounting
Question 1: During the semester, you have become familiar with various laws, policies, and overall procedures involved in the criminal tax world. Now, put on your two
hats as a CPA in the real world: one as a return preparer and one as a forensic accountant. The first part of the question is, as a return preparer, given what you now
know, what are some safeguards and procedures you will put in place in order to protect yourself from any criminal exposure? Secondly, as a forensic accountant, what
are some strategies you can now employ in terms of ensuring you are value-added to a team in terms of defending a criminal tax case (working with a lawyer). Question
2: Do you think the United States should prosecute tax offenses? Why? Why not? Assuming prosecutions exist, what factors would you consider in deciding the appropriate
punishment and why?