The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "Tax Revenue" ...
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Investigating the IRS
As the national deficit soared, WTHR exposed fraud, confusion and government mismanagement that resulted in illegal immigrants getting billions of dollars in improper tax credits and refunds from the Internal Revenue Service. WTHR gained unparalleled access to tax records and immigrant communities to show exactly how the fraud was committed. The investigation revealed the IRS had known about the widespread problems for a decade but failed to act, and that IRS managers actively encouraged their tax examiners to ignore blatant signs of fraud. WTHR’s investigation quickly gained national attention, attracted more than 9 million online views, sparked intense debate and action by Congress, and triggered immediate reforms by the IRS. Following a series of in-depth follow-ups by WTHR and an Inspector General audit that confirmed all of WTHR’s findings, the IRS announced final rule changes in December designed to reduce the massive fraud and to save taxpayers billions of dollars.
Tags: tax fraud; taxes; taxpayers; Internal Revenue Service
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... But Nobody Pays That
The story set out to explain and uncover the ways companies and business executives take advantage of the current tax code and use lobbying and political influence to gain more favorable treatment.
Tags: tax revenue; tax code; G.E.; tax break
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A Taxing Matter
The Skagit Co. Assessor's Office did not finish adding new construction to its tax rolls, meaning dozens of local districts did not receive at least $350,000 in tax revenue needed to help fund programs and services.
Tags: County Assessor; Tax Revenue
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Breach of Faith
The investigation revealed extensive corruption in the city of Bell, California. The city's chief administrative officer was receiving a total compensation of $1.5 million -- probably the highest pay for that job anywhere in the country. The assistant city manager, police chief, and part-time council members had exorbitant salaries as well. The city was also illegally raising taxes and giving police daily impound quotas to boost revenue.
Tags: corruption; city government; salary; city funds; revenue
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Offshore Crime, Inc./Miskovic Millions
An investigation of business practices by East European criminals and corrupt politicians uncovers money laundering, tax avoidance, and other illegal actions costing $250 billion each year in lost tax revenues.
Tags: money laundering; tax evasion; offshore; European crime; offshore accounts
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"Easy Money, BTO Business: The Truth of 'Tax Shield of Macquarie'"
In an attempt to develop the country of Korea during an economic crisis, the government established the Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) system, which allowed a toll fee to be applied to many roads. However, in order for the system to work, an additional system, the Minimum Revenue Guarantee, had to be introduced. The MRG guaranteed companies receive a "minimal income level from the government" when the toll fee fell "short of projections." This angered many people who did not use the roads due to the high toll fee.
Tags: MKIF; Macquarie Korea Infrastructure Fund; Build-Transfer-Operate; BFO; Woomyunsan Tunnel; Seoul; National Pension Service
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Miami; City Politics, Finance on Edge
During the booming times around the country, everyone was spending money, especially the local government in Miami. The officials in Miami were spending money even if they didn’t have it and creating deficits, which are too difficult to get around during the hard times. Furthermore, the city has depleted their reserves by “more than $50 million” to help fix the deficits, which isn’t doing them any good.
Tags: taxes; taxpayers; expenses; costs; corruption; politicians; politics; revenue; emergency funds; money transfers
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State of Your Money
The investigation reveals a shocking spending habit by Indiana's state government, while Indiana is faced with a statewide budget crisis. Through this investigation, it was found "nearly 1.7 million expenditures in Indiana's general ledger". The examination uncovered the purchasing of many overpriced and pointless items, such as office furniture, luxury trips, and promotional items. Overall, they spent "millions of dollars" on these items in total. As a result, action was taken and a statewide review of spending took place and new policies were underway.
Tags: budget; money; revenue; profit; state; taxpayers; tax dollars; government; expenses
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Tax-free agencies get little scrutiny
The state of South Dakota depends on sales tax for a large portion of its revenue. But the state has also issued thousands of tax-exempt licenses to nonprofit organizations. The question about these organizations is whether they are actually providing relief to others and if they even still exist. But these questions might not be answered because the state doesn’t track the transactions, even though they are losing revenue.
Tags: sales tax; revenue; South Dakota; tax system; nonprofit organizations; tax-exempt; tax laws; state tax
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The Tuition Tax Credit
"Arizona began a groundbreaking tax credit program that steered public revenue to private hands to distribute private-school scholarships." This program was to help the poor obtain the same educational opportunities and lower the cost of education. But this isn't the case, which this series reveals in multiple articles, because the poor still attend public schools.
Tags: Tax Credit; Public revenues; Private-school; Scholarships; Poor; Public schools; Nonprofit organizations; State; Federal; Education; Arizona; FOIA