Your average person if caught after an audit, never mind going to the IRS themselves admitting the mistake would likely get payment terms, and even likely get to pay a dime on the dollar type settlement.
I don't think you can compare the average person to this situation. I find it hard to believe Geithner didn't know he owed the taxes when he got extra pay to pay the taxes, wouldn't that extra pay be taxable too anyways? I find it hard to believe Daschle didn't know or shouldn't have known that that free car and driver weren't taxable, what was a senator doing accepting a free driver and car from a campaign donor anyways - aren't those illegal campaign contributions?
These are two obviously corrupt people, btw both also had jobs as lobbyists did they not? Did not our newest president state he wouldn't hire former lobbyists that had been lobbying in the last few years?
Hmmm hope and change, not seeing much change, unless open corruption vs. hidden is change, and I don't' even want to guess on what I'm supposed to hope for.