However, a related New York Times article on the story reported: "In court papers, the I.R.S. said that First Data had actively marketed and sold offshore services to American merchants, typically investment and Internet-commerce advisory shops, who in turn used the service to help their clients hide taxable income…In 2002, the unit [Cardservice International and now called First Data Independent Sales] which works with 3,200 independent sales offices and agents to sell and provide financial processing services, began marketing offshore processing services with First Atlantic Commerce, an e-commerce company in Bermuda, according to court documents" (Browning 2009). The IRS states that First Data, "clearly markets offshore merchant account services to U.S. merchants as a means of tax avoidance by advertising its services on the Web sites of foreign promoters of abusive offshore tax schemes and products" (Browning 2009).

The pressure placed upon First Data is emblematic of the greater scrutiny...
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