IRS: Thieves of the State

I found this yahoo.com news report explaining the IRS' attempt to steal people's money who are trying to keep their possessions from getting taken by these thieves...and the IRS calls these people tax cheats!!! This piece of Orwellian newspeak is akin to the following example:

A thief comes into your home to steal your money but you resist and hide your money to keep it from him. The thief then huffs and puffs and says you're not supposed to hide the money in order to keep it from him! So, the thief puts a gun to your head in an attempt to compel you to give up the money. "I won't shoot you if you give up the money," says the robber. I see no difference between these two scenarios.

Here is a reproduction of the story (minus the word inserts in the picture):

IRS launches crackdown on offshore tax evasion

By Corbett Daly Corbett Daly – Thu Mar 26, 1:00 pm ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Internal Revenue Service announced new steps on Thursday aimed at getting taxpayers hiding money in offshore accounts to pay up, promising not to file criminal charges for those who voluntarily fess up to hiding money overseas.

"This is a chance for people to come clean on their own," IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman told reporters.

While promising not to prosecute criminal charges, the IRS would impose penalties and interest on past due taxes, he said.

Switzerland agreed earlier this month to relax its strict bank secrecy rules and cooperate more on tax evasion to fend off a global crackdown on tax havens. The country has been under pressure because of an IRS tax fraud investigation targeting UBS AG

IRS memos sent to agency examination staff said offshore tax cases should "receive priority treatment."

"Offshore cases sent to the field are work of the highest priority," said one document, which was made public by the IRS. "Examiners should utilize the full range of information gathering tools in properly developing offshore issues with special emphasis on detecting unreported income. This includes interviewing taxpayers, making third-party contacts and timely issuing summonses to taxpayers and third parties."

(Editing by Andre Grenon)