I recently posted about Jeanne Gavin, an IRS agent who was jailed for using her position in the IRS to inappropriately access the IRS databases over 2000 times (https://affordablebookkeepingandpayroll.com/?p=2001). Individuals are not the only ones at stake, but political groups as well (seen in 2012, when IRS admittedly targeted groups during the election). New legislation aims to help curb both these instances and protect taxpayers from IRS abuse.
“Across the country, Americans are losing faith in the government as they’re watching the IRS play politics. This blatant violation of the First Amendment is unacceptable and I’m committed to making sure the IRS is never again used as a political weapon against any group, conservative or liberal.” – U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.)
“The IRS violated the First Amendment rights of the American people when it created what amounted to an enemies list of conservatives, including Tennessee Tea Party groups, to keep people quiet. This legislation will give taxpayers the protection they need to make sure the IRS isn’t using their information in a way that violates their First Amendment rights to speak up and speak out, for political reasons or otherwise.” – U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)
Here are the new acts:
The IRS Employee Responsibility Act of 2013, introduced by Fincher, requires IRS employees to take responsibility for their actions in the same manner any private employee has to when they are sued in civil court. This means a liable IRS employee will be responsible for their own legal fees and any judgment awarded, instead of the federal government providing an attorney at no charge and paying the judgment awarded. Earlier this year Fincher joined over 100 members of Congress calling on Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to investigate the actions of the IRS.
Now, Alexander and Fincher have introduced the “IRS Abuse Protection Act.” Under this act, the secretary of the U.S. Treasury notify taxpayers, in writing, each time the IRS accesses their tax accounts, tax returns or other tax return information. The notice must include who accessed the information, the purpose of doing so and how the information was accessed. Taxpayers would also receive a copy of the information accessed, and any report issued on how it was used.
