What is the best way to get evidence of tax fraud by a relative?

Question

My father-in-law has not claimed over 1 million in income over 10 years. I want to use this as leverage in a child custody case. What would be the best way to get evidence that supports this?

Answer 1

Find out his SS# and call the IRS, you can do that anonymously. I don't know if that means anything to a judge in child custody case, but it does indicate the guy is 100% honest.

If the father-in-law is being audited by the IRS and faces fines or jail time, that could make a difference in his getting custody of a child. People in jail/prison don't gain custody of children.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 2

Well, you didn't indicate whether your father-in-law was a party to the child custody case. If he is, then it is *possible* that you can request a copy of his tax returns for the past few years, (probably not 10), as part of the discovery process. However, unless child support is also an issue, if I were his attorney, I would certainally object to producing these records on the grounds that they aren't relevant, and I think most judges would sustain that argument.

If your father is NOT a party to the child custody case, then you can't request the records as part of it. Its also not relevant to the custody mattter if he has committed tax fraud, and probably isn't something that the court, (at least most of our local courts) would consider.

That being said, you didn't give many details about how he hasn't claimed a lot of income. There may be some perfectly legal way that he has done this, and absent looking at his records, and doing a thorough audit, no one will know. You can, if you have some grounds, contact the IRS and tell them what you know. An IRS officer will then determine if there is grounds to investigage and/or audit his income.

I do hope you have retained an attorney on the child custody matter. If not, you need to do so immediately, as it appears you may not understand what items are relevant in a custody battle. For a referral to an attorney, contact your local or state bar association.

Answer 3

NO ONE CAN GAIN ACCESS TO SOMEONES TAX RETURNS. PERIOD!
NOT EVEN A JUDGE.
THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT CAN LEGALLY SEE TAX RECORDS ARE THE TAXPAYER THE IRS AND THE PREPARER.
YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME.