Every year, IRS Criminal Investigation, or CI, stands at the front lines of a hidden battle to uncover billions of dollars that vanish into intricate networks of financial crime. Its mission—to relentlessly pursue those who exploit the financial system, to follow the money, and to hold wrongdoers accountable—has weathered wars, economic crises, and seismic technological shifts.
Today, CI’s mission faces unprecedented pressure. Recent Department of Justice and IRS reorganization efforts and shifting white collar crime enforcement priorities threaten to take the focus off that mission.
Meanwhile, cybercriminals deploy ransomware, launder money through cryptocurrencies, and move illicit funds across borders using digital payment platforms that challenge traditional oversight.
As CI enters its second century, its success will depend less on legacy and more on how effectively it adapts to the accelerating scale, speed, and sophistication of modern financial crime.
To read the full article, please go to Bloomberg Tax.