“Law Lets I.R.S. Seize Accounts on Suspicion, No Crime Required”
California stops race-based punishment
October 27, 2014Government’s Taking of Innocent Property Owner’s Property Now a Hot Topic
October 28, 2014“Law Lets I.R.S. Seize Accounts on Suspicion, No Crime Required”
From The New York Times:
For almost 40 years, Carole Hinders has dished out Mexican specialties at her modest cash-only restaurant. For just as long, she deposited the earnings at a small bank branch a block away — until last year, when two tax agents knocked on her door and informed her that they had seized her checking account, almost $33,000.
The Internal Revenue Service agents did not accuse Ms. Hinders of money laundering or cheating on her taxes — in fact, she has not been charged with any crime. Instead, the money was seized solely because she had deposited less than $10,000 at a time, which they viewed as an attempt to avoid triggering a required government report.
. . .
On Thursday, in response to questions from The New York Times, the I.R.S. announced that it would curtail the practice, focusing instead on cases where the money is believed to have been acquired illegally or seizure is deemed justified by “exceptional circumstances.
