Every year, around the April 15 individual tax return filing deadline, a story appears in the press highlighting the tax woes of famous people. The Government undoubtedly issues these press releases to encourage taxpayers to comply with their tax filing and tax payment obligations. The list of famous people who have been the subject of this news over the years is lengthy. It includes: Abbott & Costello, Spiro Agnew, Chuck Berry, Richard Pryor, Martha Stewart, Darryl Strawberry, Nicholas Cage, Heidi Fleiss, Pete Rose, Wesley Snipes and Willie Nelson.
On April 4, 2016, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger from Minnesota issued a press release that adds a recently-retired United States Tax Court judge to the list. Mr. Luger announced a federal indictment charging former tax court judge Diane Kroupa and her husband, Robert E. Fackler, each with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, two counts of tax evasion, two counts of making and subscribing a false tax return, and one count of obstruction of an IRS audit.
According to the indictment, the defendants, among other things, fraudulently claimed personal expenses such as rent for a personal residence, utilities, pilates class tuition, spa fees, jewelry, clothing, music lessons and vacation costs as deductible expenses. In addition, the indictment states that the defendants understated taxable income by about $1 million and understated taxes owing by $400,000 or more.
U.S. Attorney Luger stated: “The allegations in this indictment are deeply disturbing. The tax laws of this country apply to everyone and those of us appointed to federal positions must hold ourselves to an even higher standard.”
Ms. Kroupa was appointed to the United States Tax Court in 2003 by President George W. Bush, and served in that position until her retirement in June 2014. Upon retiring, the court issued a press release stating that: “The court is deeply grateful for the excellent judicial service that Judge Kroupa has rendered in her 11 years on the court.”
The charges made against the former judge and her husband are serious. It is important to keep in mind, however, that the charges at this point in the case are merely accusations. Former judge Kroupa and her husband are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Most people, especially tax practitioners, will likely agree that it is a very sad day for our justice system when a former judge is indicted on such serious charges. If former judge Kroupa and her husband are found guilty of the charges, however, it will be an even sadder day for our tax system.
The case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Stay tuned! I expect we will see several more press releases as this case progresses in our judicial system.
Regardless of whether former judge Kroupa and her husband are found guilty, their indictment serves as a warning: Compliance with our tax obligations should be taken seriously!
PrincipalLarry is Chair of the Foster Garvey Tax & Benefits practice group. He is licensed to practice in Oregon and Washington. Larry's practice focuses on assisting public and private companies, partnerships, and high-net-worth ...
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Larry J. Brant
Editor
Larry J. Brant is a Shareholder and the Chair of the Tax & Benefits practice group at Foster Garvey, a law firm based out of the Pacific Northwest, with offices in Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Washington, D.C.; New York, New York, Spokane, Washington; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Beijing, China. Mr. Brant is licensed to practice in Oregon and Washington. His practice focuses on tax, tax controversy and transactions. Mr. Brant is a past Chair of the Oregon State Bar Taxation Section. He was the long-term Chair of the Oregon Tax Institute, and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Portland Tax Forum. Mr. Brant has served as an adjunct professor, teaching corporate taxation, at Northwestern School of Law, Lewis and Clark College. He is an Expert Contributor to Thomson Reuters Checkpoint Catalyst. Mr. Brant is a Fellow in the American College of Tax Counsel. He publishes articles on numerous income tax issues, including Taxation of S Corporations, Reasonable Compensation, Circular 230, Worker Classification, IRC § 1031 Exchanges, Choice of Entity, Entity Tax Classification, and State and Local Taxation. Mr. Brant is a frequent lecturer at local, regional and national tax and business conferences for CPAs and attorneys. He was the 2015 Recipient of the Oregon State Bar Tax Section Award of Merit.
