Mr. Birkenfeld's award is an inspiration to anyone thinking of turning in a tax cheat.

WSJ: Tax Report: How to Be a Tax Whistlebower

It turns out we can for taxes too, for new evidence suggests the bard was a bit of a tax cheat.

FORBES: Tax Day Comfort---Shakespeare Was A Tax Cheat

Yet the IRS seems to go overboard, often painting an abused spouse as a willing accomplice to her tax-cheat husband or a feckless ignoramus spending money she should have known was owed for taxes.

FORBES: Read Innocent Spouse Expos�� Now!

To help sort it out, my colleagues at the Tax Policy Center have put together a nice cheat sheet that summarizes the two bills.

FORBES: What The Dueling Senate Bills To Extend Tax Cuts Would Mean For You