On Tuesday investigative nonprofit organization ProPublica released features of the tax returns of thousands of the nation’s wealthiest people, a leak so widespread it included some 15 years. While there is a consideration that the timing of the leak was political — Biden is seeking support to increase taxes on the rich — it also came out as Biden has suggested instilling billions of dollars into the IRS, a move that faces increasing headwinds from the scandal.
Sen. Mike Crapo, the ranking member of the influential Finance Committee, told the Washington Examiner on Thursday that after the tax loss, changes to IRS funding must be headed by guarantees that taxpayer data is certainly secure.
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“This data breach comes at a time when the administration is proposing additional funding for the IRS to massively and intrusively expand its access to data on individuals and companies,” the Idaho Republican said in a statement. “Taxpayers should be incredibly concerned about this breach, because if this information can ‘leak,’ anyone’s can."
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“Before even considering additional funding, Congress and the American people need assurances that existing data at the IRS is guarded and secure,” he added.
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The expanse of Biden’s proposed IRS overhaul is enormous. The White House plan is to allot $80 billion to the IRS to retain more staff and give it increased authority to crack down on tax cheats. The administration has expected that it can accumulate $700 billion in revenue over the next decade. It would also raise the sensitive info the IRS has entrance to by requiring banks to report annual account inflows and outflows.
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Sen. Pat Toomey, the top investment committee Republican, described the release of the tax records, whether, by theft or leak, an “egregious violation of the public trust” in the IRS and said that while the Biden administration’s dedication to holding those responsible is appropriate, "damage has already been done.” He called upon IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to keep lawmakers apprised of what is being done to address the matter.
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“It is incumbent upon Commissioner Rettig and Secretary Yellen to detail to Congress the changes they will make at the IRS to try and ensure this does not happen again,” the Pennsylvania senator told the Washington Examiner.
Republicans have struggled in recent years to limit IRS funding, especially in the aftermath of the controversy over the agency's admission in 2013 that it had targeted conservative non profit organizations for added scrutiny.
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