WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States boosted its investigation of tax and other financial crimes by about 10 percent last year, tax authorities reported on Thursday, amid an increased push to pursue wealthy tax cheats. The Internal Revenue Service said it started a total of 4,121 criminal investigations in 2009, compared with 3,749 a year earlier. The rise comes ...

As tax day approaches, the Internal Revenue Service is giving agents more flexibility to work with taxpayers who have seen their incomes drop during the recession. IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman announced Tuesday that the agency is loosening its rules for negotiating tax settlements for less ...

ON ALERT: In tax season, online criminals often send phony e-mails that claim to be from the Internal Revenue Service. WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Such messages often ask you to supply personal information so you can get your refund or speed up your return. But ...

How do you know that the sender of an e-mail that has landed in your inbox is trying to steal your money or your identity? The message comes right out and asks for it. Tax season means computer criminals are going to be out in force, pumping out ...