Offshore-account holders struggle over tough choices

Facing an intensified government crackdown on offshore bank accounts, people who use those accounts to illegally hide their income are struggling over whether and how to turn themselves in, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Lawyers advising tax dodgers are saying their clients are struggling to decide among several alternatives. They can confess and plead for mercy. They can quietly file amended tax returns, pay up, make other required disclosures and hope overworked government prosecutors won't follow up. Or they could choose to do nothing and pray their names won't turn up.

The recently adopted law that increases the reward for whistleblowers who provide specific information to the Internal Revenue Service about tax avoidance schemes is encouraging whistleblowers to come forward.