Court grants anonymity to whistleblower, but it might not last

The U.S. Tax Court granted a whistleblower’s motion to proceed anonymously in his whistleblower case. The basis: The social interests of protecting his identity as a confidential informant exceeded those of the people’s right to know. But the Court said that, as the whistleblower action proceeds, the balance of social interests may change and his anonymity could be lost. The IRS Whistleblower Office pays awards to people who provide “specific and credible information” on tax cheaters. (148 TC No. 7)