The Internal Revenue Service abandoned an abusive and authoritarian practice after it was revealed by the Committee on the Judiciary and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government earlier this year.

The Weaponization Subcommittee revealed that the IRS was visiting the homes of political dissidents and journalists unannounced, leading to a widespread backlash as people voiced concerns about government overreach.

In one particularly egregious case, the IRS visited the home of independent journalist Matt Taibbi just hours before he was set to testify to Congress on censorship tactics carried out by the federal government.

“History has shown how the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), with its vast power to reach into the lives of Americans, has the tremendous potential to violate the civil liberties of American citizens. As Justice John Marshall noted over two-hundred years ago, the ‘power to tax involves the power to destroy.’ The Committee’s and Select Subcommittee’s oversight demonstrates that Justice Marshall’s warning is as potent now as it was then,” the report states.

“The Committee’s and Select Subcommittee’s oversight revealed, and led to the swift end of, the IRS’s weaponization of unannounced field visits to harass, intimidate, and target taxpayers.” The report further says.

The Weaponization Subcommittee has been instrumental in uncovering a series of government abuses, though many House Democrats have protested its existence.

“Taxpayers can now rest assured the IRS will not come knocking without providing prior notice—something that should have been the IRS’s practice all along.” The report concludes.

 

Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.


We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.