With hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars lost to fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, exposing pandemic-era fraud remains a top priority for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Audits and investigations targeting fraud under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) programs can pose substantial risks, and targeted businesses and individuals must be prepared to protect themselves by all available means. Learn more from experienced Virginia tax lawyer Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group:

Taxpayers who are behind on their federal filing and payment obligations will want to come into compliance before the IRS opens an audit or investigation. Facing an audit or investigation presents substantial risks—especially when taxpayers know they haven’t fully complied with the requirements. In many cases, coming into compliance will involve utilizing one of the IRS’ streamlined voluntary disclosure programs. Learn more from Virginia international tax attorney Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group:

The IRS is aggressively pursuing criminal tax audits in 2026, with a particular focus on targeting large accounts with the potential for significant recoveries. Along with back tax liability, taxpayers targeted in these audits can also face fines and prison time—as well as levies, liens, and other means of enforcement. As a result, when facing an IRS criminal tax audit, avoiding mistakes is critical. Learn more from Virginia criminal tax attorney Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group.

For taxpayers who are facing IRS criminal tax audits, knowing what to expect during the process is critical. It is also critical to know what to expect in terms of potential outcomes. Here is a brief introduction from Virginia tax attorney Kevin E. Thorn, Managing Partner of Thorn Law Group: