BREAKING BARRIERS, PROTECTING PROSPERITY: IRS-CI’S 2025 ANNUAL REPORT SHOWCASES UNSTOPPABLE RESULTS

THE PRESS CENTER | BREAKING NEWS | IRS

DECEMBER 14 2025 @ 10:32 AM

The IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) division has once again proven that determination, innovation, and collaboration can reshape the fight against financial crime. On December 11, 2025, IRS-CI released its Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report, and the results are nothing short of extraordinary.

This report is more than numbers—it’s a testament to the power of teamwork, cutting-edge technology, and relentless pursuit of justice. With approximately 3,000 dedicated employees, IRS-CI safeguarded the global financial system and identified $10.59 billion in financial crimes between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025.

💡 Leadership That Inspires

IRS CEO Frank Bisignano praised the team’s unmatched precision and expertise:

“IRS-CI’s team combines financial expertise with investigative precision to protect taxpayers and hold criminals accountable. They deliver a tangible return on investment while ensuring the safety and security of American citizens.”

IRS-CI Chief Guy Ficco reinforced the agency’s forward momentum:

“We continue to evolve—integrating new technological tools, expanding global partnerships, and streamlining operations—to make it harder for criminals to hide.”

📊 Results That Speak Volumes

IRS-CI’s FY25 achievements demonstrate measurable progress and unwavering commitment:

• $10.59 billion in financial crimes identified — a 15.7% increase from FY24.
• $4.5 billion in tax fraud uncovered — a staggering 111.8% increase from FY24.
• 25% increase in search warrants and 14% increase in DOJ referrals, proving stronger enforcement.
• 2.35 petabytes of digital data seized — nearly 60% more than last year, showing dominance in cybercrime investigations.
• $800 million in assets seized and $100 million returned to victims, ensuring justice is not just punitive but restorative.

🎯 Strategic Focus for Maximum Impact

IRS-CI strategically prioritized its resources to deliver the greatest impact:

• 64% of time dedicated to tax crimes, leveraging advanced data analytics to expose fraud and payroll schemes.
• 447 narcotics-related convictions, representing 11% of investigative focus.
• Cybercrime cases led to defendants serving an average of 63 months in prison, sending a clear message: financial crime does not pay.

IRS-CI also played pivotal roles in Operation Safe and Beautiful (Washington, D.C.), the Restoring Law and Order Task Force (Memphis, TN), and supported Homeland Security Task Forces with 190 special agents, reinforcing national security through financial expertise.

🌍 Bold New Initiatives

IRS-CI launched groundbreaking programs to strengthen collaboration with financial institutions:

• CI-FIRST (Feedback in Response to Strategic Threats): A flagship public-private partnership that modernizes communication with banks, helping them understand what investigators need most.
• OFRR (Optimizing Financial Records Requests): Streamlines and standardizes how IRS-CI requests records, accelerating investigations and reducing delays.

⚖️ Case Highlights That Define Justice

The report also details high-profile cases that underscore IRS-CI’s impact:

• Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme: $250M stolen from child-nutrition funds; leader Abdiaziz Shafii Farah sentenced to 28 years in prison.
• Bitfinex Hack (2016): Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan sentenced for laundering nearly $71M; Lichtenstein received 5 years, Morgan 18 months.
• Haiping Pan Case: Chinese national sentenced to 10 years for laundering $62M for Mexican drug traffickers.
• TD Bank Investigation: Revealed systemic anti-money laundering failures; resulted in a record-breaking $1.8 billion penalty.

🌟 The Bigger Picture

IRS-CI’s FY25 Annual Report is not just about enforcement—it’s about empowerment. It proves that when organizations embrace innovation, partnerships, and accountability, they can achieve extraordinary results. Every conviction, every dollar recovered, and every partnership forged is a victory for taxpayers, businesses, and communities across the nation.

IRS-CI’s message is clear: financial crime will be uncovered, justice will be served, and the integrity of our financial system will be protected.

👉 Explore the full report here: IRS-CI Annual Report 2025

SOURCE CREDIT: IRS.GOV