CPA Max Holcher
An Ongoing Local Tax Scheme
By: Bill E. Branscum
Copyright 2006

Max A. Holcher, Certified Public Account license #28000549, has been doing business here in Naples, Florida, as the Holcher CPA Group, and Holcher & Company, for quite some time, and we have received a number of inquiries related to the "Tax Engineering Strategies" that he promotes. We would like to have additional information regarding these "strategies," but we have seen enough to be highly skeptical.

I am not an attorney, nor am I an accountant - which is unfortunate, since I often find myself wishing I could give people better advice than they are receiving from those who are.

I strongly suggest that anyone contemplating involvement in any "innovative" tax scheme seek a legal opinion from an attorney working for you. Generally speaking, the tax payer cannot rely upon correspondence from any attorney addressed to a third party - although we commonly refer to these "opinion" letters as "reliance letters," they are of very limited value to the tax payer facing audit, civil collections, and/or criminal prosecutions.

For those of you who may be inclined to have faith in their paid preparers, remember . . . since the year 2000, the government has shut down more than 200 tax scheme promoters, and prosecuted innumerable tax fraud cases brought against their Clients as a consequence of misplaced faith. Aegis Trust, Athens Trust, Heritage America, Commonwealth Trust, American Rights Litigators . . . , each of the characters promoting those schemes was the "expert" that somebody relied upon.

Oracle International
Bill E. Branscum, Investigator
OracleIntL@aol.com
(239) 304-1639

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UPDATE -- December 22, 2006

On December 22, 2006, the United States Department of Justice published a Press Release entitled, "Naples Accountant Fabricates Deductions"

For a copy of that Press Release, Max Holcher DOJ Press Release

For a copy of the relevant Complaint, USA v Holcher, et al., 06-cv-679

For those of you who may be wondering, the issuance of the Injunction sought by the government is a "fait accompli." The nonsense that Max Holcher has been promoting is untenable, and the government has a near perfect track record in petitioning for injunctions.

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UPDATE -- April 10, 2007

On April 10, 2007, the United States Department of Justice published a Press Release entitled, "Naples Tax Preparer Must Stop Promoting Tax Engineering Scheme"

For a copy of the Press Max Holcher DOJ Press Release #2

For a copy of the Stipulation, USA v Holcher Stipulation

For a copy of the Order, USA v Holcher Final Order

In reviewing the Stipulation and Order, Max Holcher has agreed to a number of things, including the surrender of all information related to all of his Clients to the IRS, within fifteen (15) day.

Indictment and case related information to follow.