The 2025 report was recently released and provides a range of statistics covering agency activity from October 2024 to September 2025. IRS CI Chief Guy Ficco said, “Our work plays an integral role in shutting down criminal networks that try to exploit government programs and launder funds. We continue to evolve, integrating new technological tools, expanding our global partnerships, and streamlining operations to make it harder for criminals to hide.”
IRS CI spends the majority of its investigative time on tax crimes and related tax fraud, accounting for 63.6 percent of cases. Non-tax crimes account for 23.7 percent, with narcotics investigations comprising 11.2 percent, followed by uncategorized efforts taking 1.8 percent.
IRS CI relies largely on referrals from other agencies as the source of its investigations. From highest to lowest, referral sources include the U.S. Attorney’s Office, federal agencies, IRS internal IRS CI referrals, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the public, state governments, and the IRS Civil Division.
Among headline figures, IRS CI detected $4.49 billion in tax fraud and $6.10 billion in other financial crimes. During the reporting period, 1,445 warrants were executed, leading to 2,043 matters referred for prosecution. Despite staffing fluctuations as its budgets expand and contract across administrations, the agency maintained an 89 percent conviction rate, involving 1,611 defendants.
Digital crime continues to increase, as does the amount of data seized in connection with these investigations. IRS CI seized 2.35 petabytes of digital data, representing approximately 60 percent more than in 2024.
In pursuing criminal activity, IRS CI recovered $800 million in illegally obtained assets and returned $100 million of those funds to victims of crimes and scams.
If your interest is deeper analysis, the IRS CI Annual Report breaks out additional details by category, including cybercrime and tax offenses. For example, the average sentence imposed in cybercrime cases was 63 months, underscoring the seriousness of digital financial crimes.
If you are concerned that a particular illegal scheme may be drawing attention from IRS CI, reviewing enforcement trends can provide useful context. You may also find our resource guide, "Will I Be Charged with Criminal Tax Fraud?" helpful in understanding how potential exposure is evaluated.
If you are concerned about being charged with a tax crime or suspect you are under investigation, our legal team can provide strategic guidance. At Robert J. Fedor, Esq., L.L.C., we represent clients facing criminal tax exposure and advise on options for responding to enforcement action. Call 440-250-9709 to request a consultation. We serve clients across the U.S. and internationally from our offices in Cleveland and Chicago.