The government plan to turn us all into snitches.

Whistleblowers help government collect billions in unpaid taxes

WASHINGTON — Whistleblowers who helped the federal government collect $1.4 billion in unpaid taxes last year reaped a record $312 million in reward money thanks to a new law meant encourage tipsters to step forward. And the payouts could go even higher in the years ahead.

For the first time ever, whistleblowers have been granted legal protection against retaliation under a new law that went into effect in July. And the IRS is now required to notify them about the status of their claims no later than 60 days after a status change or upon written request.

The new rules are just the latest in a series of laws meant to encourage whistleblowers to step forward. The record payout, for instance, occurred after the government in 2018 made the formula for determining rewards more generous if the IRS recouped back taxes from delinquent individuals or companies.