24 IRS employees indicted for fraud

So now it won’t be a lie when you say the IRS is stealing from taxpayers, right?

Federal prosecutors in Memphis have their hands full as they’ve charged 24 current and former IRS employees for fraudulently obtaining what amounts to $250,000 worth of government benefits.

Thirteen of those charged were accused of making false statements to obtain unemployment insurance payments, food stamps, welfare and housing vouchers. All 13 were individually charged in separate indictments and allegedly stated that they were unemployed while applying for or re-certifying those government benefits, though they were not unemployed.

“According to the allegations in the indictment, while these IRS employees were supposed to be serving the public, they were instead brazenly stealing from law-abiding American taxpayers,” U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton III said in a statement. “These charges demonstrate our unwavering resolve to work with our law enforcement partners and hold accountable anyone who fraudulently obtains government benefits and violates the public’s trust.”

Eleven other former and current IRS employees were charged by the District Attorney General’s Office with theft of property over $1,000.

Try not to clench your teeth too much when paying those taxes.

Extension for Boston taxpayers

In some better news, the IRS granted a three-month extension for Boston taxpayers due to the horrible events that transpired Monday.

The relief applies to all individual taxpayers who live in Suffolk County, including the city of Boston, the IRS said Wednesday. It also includes victims, their families, first responders and others impacted by the tragedy who live outside Suffolk County and taxpayers whose tax preparers were adversely affected.

“Our hearts go out to the people affected by this tragic event,” IRS Acting Commissioner Steven T. Miller said in a statement. “We want victims and others affected by this terrible tragedy to have the time they need to finish their individual tax returns.”