The IRS has announced its intention to deploy its staff to multiple countries as part of its efforts to investigate cryptocurrency and DeFi-related crimes.
Under a pilot program that runs from June to September 2023, the agency’s crypto and cybercrime agents will be working closely with law enforcement in Australia, Colombia, Germany, and Singapore.
The goal is to prevent the use of cryptocurrencies in international financial and tax crimes by collaborating with international counterparts.
IRS spokeswoman Carissa Cutrell stated that the success of the program will depend on the ability of the agents to train and interact with their overseas law enforcement colleagues and to identify leads for criminal investigations.
The former IRS cybercrime special agent, Chris Janczewski, noted that the agency’s expanded presence abroad would facilitate international investigations into cryptocurrency crimes.
The IRS, despite its extensive experience in tracking down cybercriminals, has had only one investigator based overseas, located in the Netherlands.
With the deployment of four additional agents to other countries, the IRS will be better equipped to identify criminals using digital currencies.
It is worth mentioning that a few years ago, the IRS joined forces with the crypto asset tax service provider TaxBit to audit crypto transactions.
The move to increase its international presence is a clear indication of the IRS’s commitment to cracking down on cryptocurrency-related crimes and to ensure that individuals and organizations do not evade taxes through the use of digital currencies.