New GOP Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) is no fan of President Biden’s plan to expand and empower the IRS with an $80 billion dollar cash infusion. In fact, he’s promising answers for the American people on confidential tax filings that were leaked to possibly advance a Democratic tax agenda.
“19 months ago, ProPublica announced it had obtained confidential IRS data of taxpayers to advance Democrats’ tax hike agenda,” Smith tweeted. “ 19 months later, the American people are still in the dark about what happened. Taxpayers deserve answers.”
From ProPublica, who broke the story at the time:
Thanks to an analysis of its unprecedented trove of IRS data, ProPublica is revealing the 15 people who reported the most U.S. income on their taxes from 2013 to 2018, along with data for the rest of the top 400.
The analysis also shows how much they paid in federal income taxes – and it demonstrates how the American tax system, which theoretically makes the highest earners pay the highest income tax rates, fails to do so for the people at the very top of the income pyramid. The top 400 earners pay noticeably lower tax rates than the merely rich; and, if you include payroll taxes, a married couple making $200,000 a year could end up paying higher tax rates than a person making $200 million a year.
The leak may have had political motives, since it was used to prove, as ProPublica put it, that “the very richest pay lower rates than the merely rich.”
Smith is bringing the power of the Ways and Means gavel to 1111 Constitution Avenue and he’s going to get in the IRS’ business —especially the not-so-little matter of the thousands of confidential taxpayer records that were leaked in a potentially politically motivated move.
Smith wrote a letter to the Treasury Department:
“U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Yellen stated at the time that this was a ‘very serious situation’ and that the issue was referred to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). She also indicated that she would keep Congress updated on the matter. Yet, nineteen months after this outrageous leak, Congress, and, more importantly, the American people have no idea how this betrayal of taxpayer confidentiality happened or whether anyone has been held accountable.”
Smith’s letter also calls for the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) to investigate and present its findings ASAP.
“A detailed status of this review is necessary to ensure TIGTA is conducting a comprehensive investigation that will be completed in a timely manner…This leak of taxpayer information cannot be ignored, and TIGTA as well as the IRS can be confident that the Ways and Means Committee will work tirelessly to ensure accountability. Congress and the American people should not have to wait years to get answers.”
Smith wants answers. We want answers. But will we get them?
