Sometimes the federal government takes a different tack in its efforts to recover back taxes aside from prosecution. A program was restarted earlier this month that permits Americans who conceal their assets abroad to pay the back taxes and penalties they owe but exempt them from criminal prosecution.

The effort has paid off so far, quite literally: Earlier efforts in 2009 and last year to get people to voluntarily pony up has netted about $4.4 billion from 33,000 reluctant taxpayers, more than $130,000 per person. Officials are hoping for an even bigger windfall with this year's program, not just from the funds that will go directly to the coffers of the government. They also hope to prevent future situations by encouraging people not to keep their money in offshore tax shelters.

With the current version of the program, taxpayers will be subject to a penalty of as much as 27.5 percent of the amount they concealed abroad, in addition to the back taxes and interest for as many as eight years. That only applies to those with the highest balances, however. People whose hidden assets are less than $75,000 would see a penalty of roughly 12.5 percent, and those with smaller balances might have an even lower rate.

Despite this temporary amnesty program, the Internal Revenue Service is very serious and persistent about collecting back taxes. For people in North Carolina who are dealing with IRS-related issues, the assistance of an experienced tax attorney may prove to be incredibly valuable.

Source: USA Today, "IRS revives program seeking back taxes from offshore schemes," Jan. 9, 2012