Shut Down Your Facebook Account if the IRS is Investigating You!

You have a Facebook Account – Like 400 Million Other People

Myspace is “history.” Facebook is now King of the Hill. It seems like everyone has a Facebook account these days. People being investigated by the Criminal Tax Investigators are just as likely to have a Facebook account as anyone else… Be Advised! Facebook is the first place that police, District Attorneys, State Investigators, Federal Investigators and Prosecutors turn to to capture evidence to paint a picture of those they are soon to be prosecuting. Trust us, the police and prosecutors will be checking for your Facebook page and other social media sites that you have an account at and will be taking screen shots and downloads of your postings for their case file.

So what stuff that you might post on your Facebook account might cause you some concern? You’d be surprised! Postings that may be viewed negatively by Domestic Violence Prosecutor and the court includes:

Complaints or negative comments about the police
Complaints or negative comments about the government
Postings about your business, jobs, projects, income sources
Comments of your current frustration with the Tax authorities
Connections to business clients, employees, etc.
Controversial opinions; even your political views and leanings

Minimally, your Facebook account should be set to private but if you have 75+ “friends” all the investigators have to do is to “befriend” one of your friends and they are “in.” Once “in,” they can oftentimes see your full account. We would strongly suggest that your social media accounts be completely EDITED of any content that could be construed as “problematic.”

You’ve watched enough TV to see that all defendants show up in court wearing new clothing: men in suits, women in conservative attire. Your online image is just as important – because if there is anything there that paints you in a negative light, there might be a 4-foot tall blowup in court for all to see in your immediate future.

Moreover, since your Facebook and other social media accounts have links to EVERYBODY in your LIFE everyone in your personal network and often business network that comprehensive LIST is a Tax Investigator’s road map to people who can be interviewed to get information about you; your past income or spending indiscretions, dicey investments (if any), and to lead investigators to personally contact people whom they could compel to testify against you. Again, we would STRONGLY recommend that you immediately CLOSE or SUSPEND all of your Social Media accounts until the conclusion of your Tax Controversy. This advice applies to ALL criminal cases – not just Tax Investigations.