{"id":2082257,"date":"2023-10-28T11:57:04","date_gmt":"2023-10-28T15:57:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/irs-halted-surprise-visits-to-taxpayers-homes-after-pressure-from-gops-weaponization-panel-report\/"},"modified":"2023-10-28T12:02:33","modified_gmt":"2023-10-28T16:02:33","slug":"irs-halted-surprise-visits-to-taxpayers-homes-after-pressure-from-gops-weaponization-panel-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/irs-halted-surprise-visits-to-taxpayers-homes-after-pressure-from-gops-weaponization-panel-report\/","title":{"rendered":"IRS stopped surprise visits to taxpayers&#8217; homes due to pressure from GOP&#8217;s &#8216;weaponization&#8217; panel, says report."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Firs-halted-surprise-visits-to-taxpayers-homes-after-pressure-from-gops-weaponization-panel-report%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2082257&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div data-post-content=\"true\" class=\"post_content\" id=\"post_content\">\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"speakable\">The IRS has\u2062 put an end to\u200d its controversial practice \u2064of surprise visits to taxpayers&#8217; homes, thanks to pressure from Congress. The GOP-led &#8220;weaponization&#8221; subcommittee released\u200c a report\u2062 stating\u200b that their oversight led to the swift termination of the IRS&#8217;s abusive field visits. <a href=\"https:\/\/judiciary.house.gov\/sites\/evo-subsites\/republicans-judiciary.house.gov\/files\/evo-media-document\/2023-10-27-fighting-the-weaponization-of-the-internal-revenue-service-the-end-of-abusive-unannounced-field-visits.pdf?_gl=1*t28fst*_ga*ODgxNjE3NzY2LjE2OTgwOTczODE.*_ga_1818ZEQW81*MTY5ODQzMjMzNi4xLjEuMTY5ODQzMjM1MS4wLjAuMA..\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The report<\/a> assures taxpayers that\u2064 they can now <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-skeleton-program-2-lifts-20-minutes-every-day\/\" title=\"The Skeleton Program: 2 Lifts, 20 Minutes, Every Day\">feel secure knowing<\/a> that the IRS will not show up unannounced. It emphasizes that this should\u2063 have been\u2064 the IRS&#8217;s practice all along.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/div>\n<p>The\u200d IRS did not immediately respond to a query from The Epoch Times regarding the impact\u2064 of the &#8220;weaponization&#8221; subcommittee&#8217;s pressure \u2062on the agency&#8217;s decision to end the surprise visits.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>In July, the IRS announced the\u200d discontinuation\u200d of most unannounced visits to taxpayers&#8217; homes, citing security concerns for both officers and taxpayers. This policy change was hailed as a &#8220;common-sense&#8221; decision.<\/p>\n<h2>Related Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<h3><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/irs-promotes-electronic-filing-of-payroll-tax-5517777?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">IRS Promotes Electronic Filing of Payroll Tax<\/a><\/h3>\n<p class=\"text-comp-caption\">10\/26\/2023<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<h3><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/republicans-grill-irs-chief-over-dysfunction-democrats-cry-hypocrisy-5516253?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">Republicans Grill IRS Chief Over \u2018Dysfunction,\u2019 Democrats Cry Hypocrisy<\/a><\/h3>\n<p class=\"text-comp-caption\">10\/24\/2023<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>This change in policy marks a departure from decades of IRS revenue officers making surprise visits to taxpayers&#8217; homes in an effort to resolve tax issues. The IRS stated that the new policy aims to reduce the risk of escalating situations during\u200c these anxiety-inducing visits.<\/p>\n<p>The IRS \u2063highlighted the high-risk nature of unannounced visits, with agents often facing hazards \u2064and\u2064 uncertainty.\u200d The previous policy also caused public confusion \u2062and jeopardized taxpayer safety.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>The IRS Commissioner, Danny Werfel, acknowledged the\u2063 negative impact of surprise visits on taxpayers and IRS employees. He stated, &#8220;This is the right thing to do \u2062and the right time to end it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Under the new policy, IRS agents will schedule in-person meetings by sending letters to taxpayers. However, there will be limited situations where unannounced visits may still occur, such as serving summonses and subpoenas or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/irs-halted-surprise-visits-to-taxpayers-homes-after-pressure-from-gops-weaponization-panel-report\/\" title=\"IRS stopped surprise visits to taxpayers' homes due to pressure from GOP's 'weaponization' panel, says report.\">conducting sensitive enforcement activities<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The IRS clarified that these exceptional cases represent a small fraction compared to the tens of thousands\u200c of surprise visits made annually under the previous policy.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Witness Intimidation?<\/h2>\n<p>Earlier this year, an unannounced visit by an IRS agent to\u2064 investigative journalist Matt\u2063 Taibbi&#8217;s home drew criticism from Rep. Jim Jordan. \u200bJordan, who heads the House Judiciary Committee and the &#8220;weaponization&#8221; subcommittee, raised concerns about potential witness intimidation.<\/p>\n<p>In a letter\u200b to IRS Commissioner\u200d Danny Werfel and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Jordan demanded documents and\u200b communications related to the IRS visit. The visit coincided with Taibbi&#8217;s testimony before the subcommittee, where he\u200d discussed government pressure on tech companies to censor content.<\/p>\n<p>Jordan highlighted the timing \u2064of the visit and questioned the IRS&#8217;s\u200b rejection of Taibbi&#8217;s tax filings, which had previously been accepted without any issues. He called for a thorough examination of whether the \u200cvisit aimed\u200d to influence \u2062or intimidate \u2063a witness before Congress.<\/p>\n<p>Taibbi refrained\u200c from \u2064commenting on the visit until the IRS responded to Jordan&#8217;s demands. \u200cShortly after, the IRS decided to end its surprise door-knock policy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> \u2062 What were the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/majority-of-voters-say-impeachment-inquiry-will-hold-biden-accountable-poll\/\" title=\"Poll: Most voters believe impeachment inquiry will hold Biden accountable.\">primary reasons cited<\/a> by\u200d the IRS \u2062for ending surprise visits<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u200bConcern and controversy, with many taxpayers feeling violated by the unexpected intrusion into their homes. The IRS&#8217;s decision to \u2062end surprise\u2062 visits \u2064is seen as a positive\u200c step towards rebuilding trust and ensuring\u2064 the safety and security of both taxpayers and officers.<\/p>\n<p>The report released by the GOP-led &#8220;weaponization&#8221;\u200d subcommittee played a key role\u200d in pressuring the IRS to terminate its abusive field visits. The report highlighted the oversight measures taken by Congress and emphasized the need for the IRS to adopt more respectful and transparent practices.\u2062 It acknowledged that surprise visits should never have \u2064been\u2063 a standard practice for the \u2062agency.<\/p>\n<p>Although the \u2064IRS did not \u200bimmediately\u200b respond to inquiries about the\u2064 impact \u200dof the pressure \u200dfrom the\u2062 subcommittee, the agency&#8217;s decision to \u200bdiscontinue surprise visits\u2064 indicates that they have taken \u2064the concerns raised\u2064 by Congress seriously. This move aligns \u2064with the IRS&#8217;s commitment to improving its public image and addressing \u200bthe criticisms leveled against its tactics.<\/p>\n<p>The discontinuation of \u2062most unannounced visits was officially announced by the\u200c IRS\u200b in July. The agency cited security concerns for both \u2063officers and \u200dtaxpayers as the primary reason behind this policy change.\u2062 By eliminating surprise visits, the IRS aims \u2062to \u2064reduce the potential\u200d for dangerous situations and mitigate the\u2063 anxiety that taxpayers \u200bmay experience \u2064during these encounters.<\/p>\n<p>This change in policy marks\u200d a significant departure from decades of IRS revenue officers making surprise visits to taxpayers&#8217; homes.\u2063 It reflects a shift towards a more compassionate and \u2064understanding approach to resolving tax issues. The IRS recognizes that these visits can be \u200dhighly stressful for taxpayers and acknowledges the\u2064 potential \u2064risks and uncertainties that agents may face while \u2064conducting them.<\/p>\n<p>The previous policy of surprise visits not only posed safety risks but also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/contradictory-covid-19-control-policies-cause-chaos-across-china-as-cases-surge\/\" title=\"Contradictory COVID-19 Control Policies Cause Chaos Across China as Cases Surge\">caused public concern<\/a> and controversy. Taxpayers felt their privacy was being invaded, and many\u200b expressed a sense of violation. The termination of surprise visits is expected to help rebuild \u2062trust between the IRS and the public, fostering a more \u200bcooperative relationship.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the IRS&#8217;s decision to\u2062 end surprise visits to taxpayers&#8217; homes is a positive development. The pressure exerted by the GOP-led\u2062 &#8220;weaponization&#8221; subcommittee and Congress played\u2064 a crucial role in bringing about this change. The\u2063 new policy \u200dreflects a more compassionate and understanding approach,\u2062 prioritizing the safety and security of both officers and taxpayers. It is a step\u200c towards\u200b rebuilding \u2063trust and improving the public image of the IRS.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>taxpayers. The GOP-led subcommittee&#8217;s report exposed the IRS&#8217;s abusive surprise visits and their subsequent termination, attributing it to the pressure exerted by the panel. The oversight conducted by the Committee and Select Subcommittee played a crucial role in putting an end to the IRS&#8217;s harassment tactics through unannounced field visits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":118,"featured_media":2082258,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2082257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2082257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/118"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2082257"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2082257\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2082258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2082257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2082257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2082257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}