The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) are targeting taxpayers suspected of fraudulently claiming tax deductions related to conservation easements. The deductions for charitable contributions of conservation easements are intended to promote the preservation of natural resources and historical infrastructure. However, many taxpayers claim these deductions improperly, and these “abusive” deductions result in substantial revenue losses for the U.S. government. Here, Virginia tax lawyer Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group, discusses the qualifications for claiming a conservation easement deduction and the risks of taking “abusive” deductions in violation of federal law.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued a News Release warning about tax scams targeting U.S. taxpayers. The News Release follows similar warnings issued previously; and, as noted by Virginia tax attorney Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group, taxpayers who fall victim to these scams can face a variety of challenges.