St Genevieve, MO, February 19, 2015:Tax resolution attorney Lance Drury, founder of the Law Firm of Lance R. Drury, and best selling author of “Successonomics” posted a new article on the LANCE DRURY LAW website entitled “It’s Never Too Late for the IRS To Say “I’m Sorry.” But Do They Really Mean It?”  The Civil Assets Seizure Program is the topic of Mr. Drury’s recent article.

Drury writes, “This story is music to my ears! Earlier this month, the IRS apologized for seizing the bank accounts of innocent, law-abiding citizens. Not only did they say, “I’m sorry”, they also said they were going to change their ways. That’s a first.”

Drury reports, “The Associated Press published the article which stated, “Pressured by Congress, the IRS said Wednesday it is changing its policies and apologizing for seizing banks accounts from otherwise law-abiding business owners simply because they structured bank transactions to avoid federal reporting requirements.”

(www.finance.yahoo.com/news/irs-apologizes-seizing-bank-accounts-172627143.html)

The interesting thing about the above statement is that the IRS, while apologizing, is also alleging that the business owners whose accounts were seized were actually guilty of structuring their bank deposits in order to avoid paying taxes.”  “Fact is,” states Drury, “none of the people targeted by the Civil Assets Seizure program have been charged with a crime.” He goes on to add, “While it seems perfectly reasonable for the IRS to target anyone suspected of having ties to terrorist organizations or a history of tax evasion, it is highly unconstitutional to assume guilt and then not even give the person a chance to prove their innocence.”

Drury draws on The Associated Press article which continues with, “IRS Commissioner John Koskinen told Congress that the IRS is changing policies to prevent the seizures, as long as the money came from legal means. “To anyone who is not treated fairly under the code, I apologize,” Koskinen told the House Ways and Means oversight subcommittee. “Taxpayers have to be comfortable that they will be treated fairly.”

Is it fair that the IRS doesn’t have to give notice before seizing the assets, nor do they have to prove that the person is actually guilty of anything? Apparently all the IRS has to do is to assume the account in question is ‘probably’ involved in structuring.

According to Drury it’s “Doubtful that ex-marine and Georgia gun shop owner, Andrew Clyde felt he was treated fairly when the IRS seized just under a million dollars.”

Drury relates that Clyde had just under one million dollars seized because as he related to the Associated Press, “Because of his insurance policy, Clyde said, he didn’t like carrying more than $10,000 in cash between his store and the bank. As a result, Clyde said, he made 109 transactions between May 2012 and March 2013, totaling $940,313. A month later, he said he was visited by two IRS agents who accused him of structuring those deposits to avoid the reporting law. They said the account had been seized.” “I was never so afraid in my life,” said Clyde,” a former Marine who did three tours in Iraq. “I trembled when they left.”

As Drury says, “Law-abiding taxpayers are easy picking for the IRS. It’s time for change so that maybe someday taxpayers will be comfortable that they will be treated fairly.”

The entire article can be found at http://www.lancedrurylaw.com/never-late-irs-say-im-sorry-really-mean/

About Lance Drury

Tax Attorney Lance Drury, founder of the Law Firm of Lance R. Drury, has been practicing law since 1984 and began representing individuals and businesses in disputes with the Internal Revenue Service in 2006.  With offices located in Ste. Genevieve and Columbia, Missouri, Drury has positioned himself as a leading attorney in the state for IRS tax resolution issues.  He is able to evaluate the unique situation of clients and provide them with honest answers and a specific plan to best resolve their tax problems

About The Lance Drury Law Firm

Since 2006, the Law Firm of Lance R. Drury has been representing individuals and businesses in disputes with the Internal Revenue Service and State of Missouri Tax Commission. With offices located in Ste. Genevieve and Columbia, Missouri, we’re proud to be your local choice for Missouri tax services.

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