IRS Halted Surprise Visits to Taxpayers’ Homes After Pressure From GOP’s ‘Weaponization’ Panel: Report

The Epoch Times Header

A House panel probing ‘weaponization’ of the federal government claims that its investigative pressure led the IRS to end its surprise door-knock policy.

The GOP-led “weaponization” subcommittee in Congress said in a new report that the IRS decided to end its policy of “abusive” surprise visits to taxpayers’ homes due to pressure from the panel.

“The Committeeโ€™s and Select Subcommitteeโ€™s oversight revealed, and led to the swift end of, the IRSโ€™s weaponization of unannounced field visits to harass, intimidate, and target taxpayers,” states the report, which was released by the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on Oct. 27.”Taxpayers can now rest assured the IRS will not come knocking without providing prior noticeโ€”something that should have been the IRSโ€™s practice all along,” it adds.

The IRS did not immediately respond to a query from The Epoch Times as to the degree to which pressure from the “weaponization” subcommittee weighed on the agency’s decision to do away with the unannounced field visit policy.

In July, when the IRS announced it was putting an end to most unannounced agent visits to Americans’ homes,ย the agency citedย security concerns regarding both agency field officers as well as taxpayers.

‘Common-Sense’ Policy Change

The IRS said in July that it was putting an end to most surprise in-person visits by its agents at taxpayers’ homes.

The move reversed decades of policy that saw IRS revenue officers knock on the doors of taxpayers’ homes without forewarning in attempts to resolve delinquent tax matters.

At the time, the IRS said it changed the policy in a bid to lower the risk that anxiety-provoking surprise home visits by tax enforcers could spiral out of control, posing a hazard to both taxpayers and agency field officers.

Experience shows that unannounced door knocks at homes and businesses were high-risk encounters, with agents routinely facing “hazards and uncertainty” when making surprise visits, according to the IRS.

Unannounced visits also created what the IRS called “public confusion” and posed risks to taxpayer safety.

Byย Tom Ozimek

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Columns

Made-in-America Entrepreneurs See Opportunities in Global Tariffs

Itโ€™s more than just a label. โ€œMade in Americaโ€ represents pride and the national spirit, says John Roy, CEO of Dawson Knives in Prescott, Arizona.

Easterโ€™s Christian hunt

Easter isn't another benevolent Sunday. It's the holy remembrance of the salvific victory Jesus Christ had over death and is the defining moment in human history.ย 

The 9-11 Commission Report to Be Revisited?

Trump Admin should reopen an investigation of events of 9/11 as it appears it was a criminal act to conceal theft of trillions of taxpayer dollars!

Legal Battles, Accusations of Bias as Americaโ€™s Public Media Faces Uncertain Future

Voice of America says it shares a message of freedom and hope, while the Trump administration calls it โ€˜radical propaganda.โ€™

Are Liberal Democrats Faking Things These Days?

The โ€œFighting Oligarchyโ€ rally in Nampa, Idaho has even AI applications confirming suspicions the video of AOC and her new bogus accent are doctored.

News

Fed Approves Capital Oneโ€“Discover Merger to Create 8th Largest US Bank

The Federal Reserve Board has given its approval for Capital One Financial Corporationโ€™s merger with Discover Financial Services in a $35.3 billion deal.

Education Department Asks Harvard for Foreign Fundersโ€™ List After University Submits Inaccurate Records

Dept of Ed sent โ€œrecords requestโ€ to Harvard Univ after review of institutionโ€™s reports found foreign funding disclosures were โ€œincomplete and inaccurate.โ€

Supreme Court Blocks Deportation of Alleged Venezuelan Gang Members for Now

Supreme Court temporarily blocked Trump admin from deporting Venezuelan men currently in immigration custody who are alleged to be criminal gang members.

Appeals Court Halts Judge Boasbergโ€™s Contempt Order in Deportations Case

Appeals court temporarily halted Boasbergโ€™s order finding probable cause Trump admin was in contempt for not complying with order prohibiting deportations.

Judge Blocks Trumpโ€™s Order Ending โ€˜Xโ€™ Gender Marker on Passports

A federal judge ruled against the Trump adminโ€™s EO banning the use of an โ€œXโ€ on passports marked by people self-identifying as neither male nor female.

ACLU Seeks Immediate Stay From Supreme Court of Deportation of Alleged Gang Members

ACLU filed an emergency request asking the Supreme Court to immediately block the Trump administration from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members.

What to Know About the Florida State University Campus Shooting

Florida State Univ became a deadly crime scene as a student opened fire, killing two and injuring six others before he was shot and apprehended by law enforcement.

Judge Bars Trump Admin From Deporting Illegal Immigrants to Third Countries Without Warning or Torture Review

Federal judge barred Trump admin from deporting illegal immigrants with final removal orders to countries they would face persecution, torture, or death.
spot_img

Related Articles