The Democrats’ relentless push to expand the IRS’s power should be a cause for concern for all Americans. This agency has a history of questionable practices, including targeting conservative groups. The recent surge in funding for the IRS, through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Biden-Harris administration’s budget proposal, raises serious questions about the agency’s true intentions.
The administration claims that the increased funding will be used to target millionaires and billionaires. However, the staggering increase in funding, totaling more than $200 billion over the next few years, seems excessive for this purpose, especially considering the IRS’s current budget. This raises suspicion that the real aim may be to weaponize the agency against political opponents.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen assured the public that the additional funding would not be used against middle-class taxpayers. However, recent data from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) contradicts this claim. Their audit revealed that 63% of audits last year targeted taxpayers earning less than $200,000 a year. This suggests that the administration’s claims about focusing on high-income earners are not accurate.
The IRS has a troubling history of targeting conservative organizations. In 2012, a House Oversight Committee investigation revealed that the IRS had unfairly targeted conservative non-profits for scrutiny. Despite this evidence, the agency and its Democratic allies in Congress denied these allegations.
With the proposed surge in funding and the agency’s history of political bias, concerns about the IRS being weaponized against conservatives are legitimate. The proposed 87,000 new employees and investments in advanced technology raise even more concerns. These resources could be used to target specific groups for audits and enforcement actions, potentially silencing dissent and hindering political opposition.
Before the IRS expands its operations, it should address its own internal issues. A recent TIGTA audit found that over 3,500 IRS employees owe more than $50 million in back taxes. This raises serious questions about the agency’s commitment to fairness and accountability. The IRS should ensure that its own employees are complying with the tax laws before it targets other taxpayers.
The massive funding increase for the IRS raises serious concerns about its potential misuse. The agency’s history of targeting conservatives, coupled with the administration’s misleading claims about the funding’s purpose, points towards a potential for political weaponization. It’s crucial that Congress carefully scrutinize the agency’s activities and ensure that it remains a neutral enforcer of tax laws, not a tool for political retribution.
