Who Can Be a Whistleblower?

Most people with original, non-public information about fraud or illegal misconduct may qualify as whistleblowers, even if they aren’t direct witnesses. Reports can come from anyone, anywhere, as long as the information relates to U.S. markets or government funds. Not all misconduct is covered, so it’s a good idea to call an attorney.

What Is It Like to Be a Whistleblower?

Blowing the whistle can be rewarding but challenging. The process often takes years, may impact your personal and professional life, and requires patience and courage, but many whistleblowers find it deeply worthwhile.

What Kinds of Wrongful Conduct Are Covered by Whistleblower Reward Laws?

Major whistleblower reward programs cover a wide range of unlawful activity. These include government fraud under the False Claims Act, securities violations (SEC), commodity violations (CFTC), tax fraud (IRS), money-laundering and sanctions violations (FinCEN), and vehicle safety violations (NHTSA). Other programs may also apply in specific circumstances.

When Is a Whistleblower Entitled to a Financial Reward?

Under most whistleblower programs, you may be entitled to a reward if you voluntarily provide original information that leads to a successful enforcement action. Rewards are typically a percentage of the sanctions and usually require submitting an application.

Whistleblower Rewards

Deciding to report wrongdoing takes immense courage. While whistleblowing involves personal and professional risks, individuals who come forward are often rewarded for their integrity. Federal programs are in place to offer not only substantial financial rewards but also crucial protections against retaliation. At Whistleblower Partners, we stand with you every step of the way, providing the legal support you need to navigate this complex process safely. We help whistleblowers understand the incentives to come forward.

New whistleblower programs are created frequently, covering many aspects of government and private industry. Whistleblower Partners can help clients navigate those myriad programs to identify which ones a client is qualified to enter.

False Claims Act (Qui Tam) Rewards

The Federal False Claims Act, originally passed during the Civil War, is the oldest and most successful whistleblower rewards program in the U.S. Since the law’s amendment in 1986, the Government and whistleblowers have used it to recover over $78 billion in public funds.

The law allows any person to file a lawsuit in their own name and the name of the Government, against any person or company that defrauded a Government program. The reward regime covers fraud against Medicare, Medicaid, and the Department of Defense. It includes Customs and Duties violations. It is broad enough to cover any U.S. Government spending on virtually any goods or services that the Government buys.

The whistleblower, known as a “relator,” files their case in federal court, under seal so it is not publicly available, serving a copy only on the Department of Justice. The case remains under seal while the Government investigates to determine whether it wants to “intervene” or join the case to litigate against the defendant. Whether the Government joins or not, the relator is a full party to the litigation, and the relator’s attorneys have the right to seek a recovery against the defendant alongside the Government attorneys.

The relator is entitled to receive between 15% and 30% of any amount that the Government recovers as a result of the relator’s lawsuit.

Over two-thirds of states have their own False Claims Acts, generally modeled after the federal law. But these state programs can also have important differences that are important to pay attention to. Whistleblower Partners tracks these state statutes to help clients avoid potential pitfalls.

SEC Whistleblower Program

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has a robust whistleblower program designed to incentivize individuals to report violations of federal securities laws. Since its inception, the program has awarded nearly $2 billion to whistleblowers whose tips led to successful enforcement actions. The SEC program also has especially strong protections to protect whistleblowers from retaliation.

To be eligible for an SEC award, you must provide high-quality, original information that results in an SEC enforcement action with sanctions exceeding $1 million. Successful whistleblowers can receive an award ranging from 10% to 30% of the money collected. The program has proven instrumental in uncovering fraud and protecting investors.

CFTC Whistleblower Program

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has a whistleblower program created by the same Dodd-Frank legislation that created the SEC program and is closely modeled on that program. CFTC violations include schemes to unlawfully trade futures, options, swaps, and commodities in interstate commerce. Like the SEC program, the CFTC provides whistleblowers with protection against retaliation. The CFTC has awarded over $350 million to whistleblowers since the program’s inception.

To be eligible for a CFTC award, you must provide high-quality, original information that results in a CFTC enforcement action with sanctions exceeding $1 million. Successful whistleblowers can receive an award ranging from 10% to 30% of the money collected.

IRS Whistleblower Program

The Internal Revenue Service whistleblower program is one of the oldest such laws, enacted in 2006. It focuses on individual and corporate tax evasion as well as foreign bank account reporting (FBAR) obligations. Common schemes include under-reporting of tax, manipulation of transfer pricing rules, hiding income through offshore structures, and many other such schemes. The program also protects whistleblowers from retaliation.

Because of the massive scale of tax cheating in the United States, the IRS program can lead to eye-popping recoveries. To date, the IRS has paid over $1 billion to whistleblowers, who have returned over $6 billion to the Treasury. In 2024, Whistleblower Partners represented a whistleblower who shared a A whistleblower is entitled to 15-30% of taxes and penalties recovered as long as the total exceeds $2 million. But even smaller recoveries allow rewards to be paid.

Anti-Money Laundering Whistleblower Rewards

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) passed its own whistleblower rewards program in 2020. The program reaches violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, including banks that ignore “Know Your Customer” rules and other similar Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements. The program also covers violations of U.S. sanctions restrictions, such as those by Russian oligarchs who try to launder tainted funds through U.S. financial institutions.

If the government recovers monetary sanctions exceeding $1 million, the whistleblower will be entitled to a share of the proceeds, generally between 10% and 30%. Monetary sanctions include civil and criminal penalties and disgorgement. They do not, however, include forfeiture or restitution. Penalties for AML and sanctions violations can be substantial.

Justice Department Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program

In 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a pilot program to pay rewards to whistleblowers who provide original information that leads to a successful corporate crime prosecution. The program was intended to “fill the gaps” in the False Claims Act, the SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, and IRS whistleblower award programs. The program initially prioritized crimes involving (1) financial institutions, (2) foreign corruption and bribery, (3) domestic bribery and kickbacks, and (4) federal healthcare crimes not otherwise covered by the False Claims Act. In May 2025, the DOJ added additional crimes of interest, including (5) Federal contracting fraud, (6) trade, tariff, and customs fraud, (7) corporate violation of federal immigration law, and (8) sanctions offenses.

The DOJ program, unlike the other whistleblower programs, is a “discretionary” program with no minimum guaranteed reward. The program credits whistleblowers when the DOJ imposes a “forfeiture” of property exceeding $1 million as part of a criminal penalty. DOJ has stated that there will be a “presumption” that whistleblowers will receive 30% of the first $10 million in forfeited property. Because the program is relatively new, it remains to be seen how generous DOJ will be with its discretionary rewards and how frequently it will impose forfeitures in whistleblower-initiated cases.

Antitrust Division Whistleblower Rewards

The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division relies on whistleblowers to uncover and prosecute criminal offenses like price-fixing, bid-rigging, and market allocation. Individuals who provide original and timely information that helps identify these violations play a vital role in maintaining fair competition.

To qualify for a reward, your report must:

Be original information unknown to the government.
Lead to a criminal fine or recovery of at least $1 million.
Be submitted voluntarily.

If these criteria are met, you may be eligible for a reward between 15% and 30% of the total amount recovered. The Antitrust Division, in partnership with other law enforcement agencies, has the discretion to grant these awards to recognize the significant contributions of whistleblowers.

Auto Safety Whistleblower Rewards

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has a whistleblower program that rewards whistleblowers who

Are employed by a contractor of a motor vehicle manufacturer, part supplier, or dealership;
Who voluntarily provides the agency with original information;
About a vehicle defect, non-compliance with federal law, or failure to make a required report;
That is likely to cause an unreasonable risk of death or serious injury.

Whistleblowers who qualify are entitled to 10-30% of fines and penalties as long as the total exceeds $1 million. NHTSA only recently finalized the rules for its program, and in 2021 issued its first whistleblower reward, paying $24 million to a former safety engineer represented by Whistleblower Partners’ lawyers.

International Programs

Other countries are increasingly following the U.S. lead in offering financial incentives to whistleblowers. Whistleblower Partners has deep experience representing international whistleblowers and helping clients determine which programs — domestic or foreign — are best suited to their circumstances.

United Kingdom — HMRC Strengthened Reward Scheme

In November 2025, the UK launched a landmark new whistleblower reward program at His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as part of the Autumn Budget. Modeled directly on the IRS Whistleblower Program, the scheme offers awards of 15% to 30% of taxes collected, with no upper cap, where a tip leads to the recovery of at least £1.5 million. Awards are discretionary rather than mandatory, and anonymous submissions are not eligible. The program targets serious tax avoidance and evasion by large corporations, wealthy individuals, and complex offshore schemes. Whistleblower Partners’ attorneys were instrumental in advocating for the program and are well-positioned to advise individuals considering a submission.

Canada

Canada’s Revenue Agency Offshore Tax Informant Program (OTIP) rewards tips on offshore tax evasion that lead to recovery of at least CAD $100,000, with awards of 5% to 15% of taxes collected. The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) Whistleblower Program, modeled on the SEC program, offers awards of 5% to 15% of sanctions collected (capped at CAD $5 million) for reporting violations of Ontario securities and commodity laws. The British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) launched its own whistleblower program in November 2023, offering awards of CAD $1,000 to $250,000 — capped at $500,000 where a single tip leads to multiple enforcement outcomes — for information about investment fraud and other serious market misconduct, making British Columbia the second Canadian province to offer financial rewards for securities tips.

Other International Programs

A growing number of countries — including South Korea, whose National Tax Service has a reward program for whistleblowers with information about tax evasion and foreign accounts — have enacted some form of whistleblower reward program. Whistleblower Partners can help clients navigate this expanding global landscape, including determining whether misconduct may qualify for a U.S. program, a foreign program, or both.

Key Protections for Whistleblowers

Federal law provides strong protections to ensure you can report misconduct without fear of reprisal. These safeguards include:

Confidentiality: Government agencies, like the DOJ, SEC, and IRS, are committed to protecting a whistleblower’s identity. Your information will only be disclosed for law enforcement purposes. In some programs, you can submit tips anonymously through an attorney.
Anti-Retaliation Measures: The False Claims Act (DOJ), the Dodd-Frank Act (SEC/CFTC), and other federal laws make it illegal for an employer to fire, demote, harass, or otherwise discriminate against an employee for providing information to the government. If retaliation occurs, you have the right to take legal action.

Why You Need Experienced Legal Counsel

Navigating whistleblower programs is a complex journey. The requirements for submitting a claim, ensuring it receives proper attention, and protecting your rights can be overwhelming. An experienced whistleblower attorney is your most important ally.

Whistleblower programs other than the False Claims Act are “tips” programs. The whistleblower provides information to the agency and does not file an actual court case. It is entirely within the agency’s discretion whether and to what extent to investigate the whistleblower’s allegations. So it is critical to hire attorneys who can present a claim that is well-documented, easy to follow, and compelling.

We help prepare your submission to ensure it meets all legal standards, advocate on your behalf with government agencies, and fight to protect you from retaliation. We work hard to maximize your chances of securing a financial award while safeguarding your career and reputation. These agencies receive thousands of tips every year. Because of our reputation, submissions by Whistleblower Partners end up at the top of the pile.

Take the Next Step with Confidence

Becoming a whistleblower is a powerful way to promote accountability and justice. With significant financial rewards and strong legal protections available, you don’t have to stand alone. The resources are there to support you in making a difference.

If you have information about potential fraud or misconduct, experienced counsel can help you figure out your next steps. Contact Whistleblower Partners for a confidential consultation to learn more about your rights and options.