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 code" ...
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War Zone: The Destruction of an All-American City
The hour-long documentary War Zone: The Destruction of an All-American City takes an unprecedented look at the impact of corruption on the East St. Louis, Illinois area, one of the poorest and most violent communities in America. The program was broadcast twice during prime time; Tuesday night at 8 pm on August 28, and the following Saturday night at 7 pm. This project was the result of an ongoing decade-long probe of government waste, corruption, police misconduct, and violence in East St. Louis and the surrounding villages by investigative reporter Craig Cheatham. Our documentary begins with a detailed look at police misconduct and corruption, how it has contributed to the breakdown of public safety in the East St. Louis area, and why local politicians tolerated such outrageous behavior by their officers. The second part of our documentary focuses on the impact of derelict and vacant housing, the slumlords who own the property and the people who live in some of the worst housing in the metro area. Our investigation also uncovered new connections between politicians and legendary slumlord Ed Sieron, who was business partners with a longtime mayor. In addition, KMOV revealed that of the 500 mostly rundown properties that Sieron owns in East St. Louis, only 13 were cited for code violations. That lack of accountability for the notorious slumlord, empowered him and made the people living in his homes feel powerless. War Zone also exposes the way East St. Louis communities have sold their economy to vice-driven businesses like strip clubs, liquor stores, a casino, and convenience marts that had a long history of selling illegal synthetic drugs. Our investigation found that nearly all of these businesses failed to employ a significant number of East St. Louis residents, even though they received millions of dollars in tax incentives that are paid by East St. Louis residents. At the same time East St. Louis is handing out tax breaks to wealthy out-of-town businessmen, it repeatedly refused to provide the same tax incentives for local residents who wanted to create family friendly businesses that would employ people living in the East St. Louis area.
Tags: government corruption; police misconduct; violence; politicians; community; local business
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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 Question of Calculation: Many charity businesses manage to avoid paying federal taxes
The business arm of more than half of major US charities earn profits without paying taxes due to vague exemption in the tax code.
Tags: charity; charities; taxes; tax-exempt; tax code; nonprofits; business; earnings; profit; unrelated business income tax (UBIT); IRS
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Series on Flushing Lanlord Nicholas Haros
An investigation into the landlord Nicholas Haros housing code violations revealed that there was difference between city department rule and official city law. This allowed Haros to collect tax benefits despite his violations.
Tags: Queens, housing; housing code; tax; city government; landlord; tax benefit; abatement
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Mining For Dollars
The Arizona state mine inspector Doug MArtin had been indicted on charges of theft, fraud, and procurement code fraud. This report unveils the inspector's abuse of state tax dollars for his own personal well being, and that the inspector isn't even doing the job he was hired to do.
Tags: mining; tax fraud; government spending; theft; procurement code fraud; Doug Martin; inspector
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Audit Oddity
The author reviewed state income tax records, and found that people from a specific zip code were being audited at higher rates than the rest of the state. The author interviewed state officials and tax experts to try and explain the phenomenon.
Tags: taxes; income; data analysis; state government; Public Information Act request
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Home Costs Go North; The More Affordable Suburbs; Seeing a Hopeful Change
Hopkins used a database of average home prices in the Baltimore area, grouped by zip code, to show the increase in home-sale prices from 1999-2004. Part one of the series shows that Baltimore is slowly becoming a Washington suburb, and the changing demographic is pushing locals to move further away. Part two focuses on some of the older suburban communities in the area. Part three examines the real estate market to see who is benefiting from the changes.
Tags: real estate; property tax; Washington D.C; demographic; population; census; Computer-Assisted Reporting; data analysis; homeowners; mortgage brokers
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Businesses Crack the Code
The amount that Bay Area's largest corporations are taxed and the amount they actually pay didn't match up. Reporters examining federal income tax reports found that the group paid six billion less that the effective amount. These articles went unchallenged by these corporations.
Tags: Bay Area; Bay Area corporations; taxation; tax laws; federal income tax; 35% corporation tax; California tax laws
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This Cold House
Collins investigates the business of Ernest Karr, "Detroit's largest and most brazen slumlord." The story reveals that Karr evades city taxes, ignores city laws and overturns city policies in court, meanwhile renting houses without heat and running water. According to the entry questionnaire: "The story sheds light on an antiquated and convoluted city bureaucracy that neither enforces its own codes and laws, not tracks and punishes scofflaws."
Tags: housing; landlords; building codes; city's demolition list; tenants; FOIA; developers; city government
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Government by Developer
The Dallas Morning News investigates conflicts of interests stemming from special incentives that the city government has put in place for suburban developers. In the core of these incentives was the creation of "largely unregulated and overlooked special taxing districts." The reporting team determined that Tom Jester, the mayor of Dallas at this time, had a financial interest in one of the luxury housing developments projected in the suburbs. The series also examines the role that outside consultants played in creating the special districts and facilitating the relationship between the city and the developers. After the findings were published, the FBI started a corruption investigation.
Tags: housing; suburban reporting; conflicts of interest; land records; city government; code of ethics; right-of-way; corruption; development incentives; Denton county