A very serious crime has been committed by Jennifer Kraus of WTVF Channel 5 Nashville. On 09/23/2020 Ms. Kraus reported on a story regarding a local contractor of Mt. Juliet, TN.
"Roofer facing criminal charges owes IRS $1 million yet pays cash for expensive boat" In the news story Kraus shows copies of tax returns/tax information to the viewing audience. It is highly unlikely the victim of this crime gave this reporter permission to disclose any portion of the tax information/liability. It is also highly unlikely Ms. Kraus called up the IRS and requested it because the law is pretty clear on that. She would have been denied any information about the tax return due to the confidentiality and disclosure laws. Ms. Kraus would have obtained the returns illegally. 26 U.S. Code ยง 7213 - Unauthorized disclosure of information
(3)Other persons
It shall be unlawful for any person to whom any return or return information (as defined in section 6103(b)) is disclosed in a manner unauthorized by this title thereafter willfully to print or publish in any manner not provided by law any such return or return information. Any violation of this paragraph shall be a felony punishable by a fine in any amount not exceeding $5,000, or imprisonment of not more than 5 years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution.
"Because of the revealing nature of tax returns, federal law requires that they be kept confidential. But while anyone may choose to make their own tax records public, federal disclosure laws require their release to certain parties in response to a court order or for other specific purposes. The following is a discussion of tax return confidentiality and disclosure laws.
Tax Return Confidentiality and Federal Law
The U.S. Code states that "[federal tax] returns and return information shall be confidential." This extends to any of the information related to the returns, such as reviews, audits, and any effort to collect unpaid taxes. In fact, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can't even tell anyone whether you filed a tax return.
This wasn't always the case, however. Prior to enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1976, passed in the wake of the Watergate scandal, tax returns and related information weren't protected by law. Reports that President Nixon's administration used tax return information to compile his infamous "enemies list" prompted lawmakers to make federal tax records confidential.
Violation of IRS tax return confidentiality law may be charged as a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines. Additionally, the victim of an unlawful disclosure may sue for damages of $1,000 or more for each act. Any federal employee who's convicted of this crime must be fired (in addition to criminal charges and potential civil liability). States (California, for example) also have laws protecting the confidentiality of state tax returns."
I think it is very important that matter be properly investedgated and procucuted. No person is above the law and someone in Jennifer Kraus' position should be held at a hire standard. All person involved in this crime should be brought to justice.
NewsChannel 5 Reviews
A very serious crime has been committed by Jennifer Kraus of WTVF Channel 5 Nashville. On 09/23/2020 Ms. Kraus reported on a story regarding a local contractor of Mt. Juliet, TN.
"Roofer facing criminal charges owes IRS $1 million yet pays cash for expensive boat" In the news story Kraus shows copies of tax returns/tax information to the viewing audience. It is highly unlikely the victim of this crime gave this reporter permission to disclose any portion of the tax information/liability. It is also highly unlikely Ms. Kraus called up the IRS and requested it because the law is pretty clear on that. She would have been denied any information about the tax return due to the confidentiality and disclosure laws. Ms. Kraus would have obtained the returns illegally. 26 U.S. Code ยง 7213 - Unauthorized disclosure of information
(3)Other persons
It shall be unlawful for any person to whom any return or return information (as defined in section 6103(b)) is disclosed in a manner unauthorized by this title thereafter willfully to print or publish in any manner not provided by law any such return or return information. Any violation of this paragraph shall be a felony punishable by a fine in any amount not exceeding $5,000, or imprisonment of not more than 5 years, or both, together with the costs of prosecution.
"Because of the revealing nature of tax returns, federal law requires that they be kept confidential. But while anyone may choose to make their own tax records public, federal disclosure laws require their release to certain parties in response to a court order or for other specific purposes. The following is a discussion of tax return confidentiality and disclosure laws.
Tax Return Confidentiality and Federal Law
The U.S. Code states that "[federal tax] returns and return information shall be confidential." This extends to any of the information related to the returns, such as reviews, audits, and any effort to collect unpaid taxes. In fact, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can't even tell anyone whether you filed a tax return.
This wasn't always the case, however. Prior to enactment of the Tax Reform Act of 1976, passed in the wake of the Watergate scandal, tax returns and related information weren't protected by law. Reports that President Nixon's administration used tax return information to compile his infamous "enemies list" prompted lawmakers to make federal tax records confidential.
Violation of IRS tax return confidentiality law may be charged as a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines. Additionally, the victim of an unlawful disclosure may sue for damages of $1,000 or more for each act. Any federal employee who's convicted of this crime must be fired (in addition to criminal charges and potential civil liability). States (California, for example) also have laws protecting the confidentiality of state tax returns."
https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/roofer-facing-criminal-charges-owes-irs-1million-yet-pays-cash-for-expensive-boat
I think it is very important that matter be properly investedgated and procucuted. No person is above the law and someone in Jennifer Kraus' position should be held at a hire standard. All person involved in this crime should be brought to justice.