Tax Fraud: The Federal Government Loses an Estimated $116 Billion to $304 Billion Annually
What GAO Found GAO estimated that annual federal tax fraud loss is between $116 billion and $304 billion based on data and information from 2018 through 2024. GAO’s estimate is informed by data on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cases of fraud and potential fraud, potential fraud in the tax gap, and tax evasion from economic activities purposefully hidden from the government (i.e., shadow economy). The estimated range reflects approximately 2 percent to 6 percent of estimated tax owed to the federal government (tax liability) if applied to tax year 2022, the most recent year for which an estimate of the tax liability is available. GAO Estimated Range of Tax Fraud Loss as a Percentage of Esti.
Reported by Maria LopezTax Fraud: The Federal Government Loses an Estimated $116 Billion to $304 Billion Annually.
The item is dated Fri, 25 Sep 2026 07:17:24 -0400.
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What GAO Found GAO estimated that annual federal tax fraud loss is between $116 billion and $304 billion based on data and information from 2018 through 2024.
GAO’s estimate is informed by data on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) cases of fraud and potential fraud, potential fraud in the tax gap, and tax evasion from economic activities purposefully hidden from the government (i.e., shadow economy).
The estimated range reflects approximately 2 percent to 6 percent of estimated tax owed to the federal government (tax liability) if applied to tax year 2022, the most recent year for which an estimate of the tax liability is available.
GAO Estimated Range of Tax Fraud Loss as a Percentage of Esti…
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