A weird little tale today from San Francisco, where a court heard last week heard how a woman allegedly used a Starbucks Gift Card in a failed attempt to bribe an IRS tax agent.
According to court records, the lady was charged last Thursday with bribery of a public official. It is reported that she owed more than $13,000 in tax arrears following an IRS tax audit. She allegedly wrote to to the IRS agent after the audit, attaching a $100 Starbucks gift card and a little message: “Enjoy!”.
The San Francisco federal court heard how she later met the agent and allegedly gave him some cash as well. In exchange she is said to have received “a phony document that made (her) believe that she had a zero balance for 2006 and 2007 tax years”.
The full story was reported in the excellent WebCPA tax website and also by the San Francisco Chronicle.
This strange story made me think. I must confess to a slight fondness for the Starbucks “experience” (strictly in moderation, mind you), but until now I never realised that anyone might expect a Revenue Inspector to love the global coffee chain this much.
And until now I have never, ever heard of anyone attempting bribery in writing.
Don’t try this at home folks.
Thomas McGibney & Company 
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