The Dodd-Frank Act established whistleblower programs at the SEC and CFTC, with protections against retaliation and potential awards for eligible individuals. Dodd-Frank whistleblower protections can apply when a person reports qualifying information, but the rules...
An IRS whistleblower award is generally taxable as ordinary income under 26 U.S.C. § 61. The tax implications of whistleblower awards can also extend to legal fees and later repayments, so the amount received isn’t always the amount ultimately kept. If a recipient...
U.S. citizenship is not a prerequisite for reporting certain misconduct to U.S. authorities. A non-U.S. citizen can be a whistleblower and may qualify for an award under programs such as those of the SEC, CFTC, IRS, and the False Claims Act, provided the report meets...
To report suspected fraud in the United States, send a clear allegation to the agency responsible for the conduct: USCIS for suspected immigration benefit fraud, ICE for immigration violations, or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center for cyber-enabled crime....
Being first to report suspected fraud is not always the test. What is original source information for a whistleblower? It is information based on the whistleblower’s independent knowledge or analysis that the relevant agency does not already know, subject to...
For a False Claims Act qui tam lawsuit, an attorney must file the case. The first-to-file rule for whistleblowers can bar a later claim based on the same essential facts. If you’ve uncovered possible fraud, when and how you report it may affect your ability to pursue...
