US authorities have filed lawsuits nation-wide against promoters of schemes to help tax protesters collectively attempt to get fraudulent refunds of $562 million, the US Justice Department said on Wednesday. The schemes, under which almost $3.3 trillion in false claims have been made, involve hawkers of plans to help Americans get bogus refunds using false tax forms, underreporting of income and other strategies.
Use of the schemes has grown in recent months, according to officials. The government filed cases against seven individuals and their associated entities over the schemes this week. The scheme promotes a theory among those claiming they don't own taxes known as "redemption" or "commercial redemption," which claims that the Treasury maintains a secret account for each taxpayer worth millions. "The scope of the misconduct alleged in these lawsuits is staggering," said John DiCicco, acting assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's tax division.