Staff Reports
The IRS has decided to stop making unannounced visits to households and will now be sending written letters instead. This change is aimed at reducing confusion and increasing safety for taxpayers and employees. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel stated that this change is part of an effort to improve IRS operations and increase public confidence in their work. The IRS will still make a few hundred unannounced visits for specific situations such as serving a subpoena or seizing assets.
This change comes after the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee investigated the IRS following a surprise visit to journalist Matt Taibbi’s home. Republicans claim that their oversight hearings prompted this decision from the IRS.
Another win thanks to the hard oversight work of @JudiciaryGOP and @Weaponization. https://t.co/JWeJFsNZb7
— Weaponization Committee (@Weaponization) July 24, 2023
This move by the IRS is a positive step towards transparency and fairness in tax administration. Making unannounced visits to people’s homes could cause unnecessary anxiety and stress, and it is good to see the IRS recognizing this and taking action to address it. However, it is also important to ensure that the agency still has the ability to conduct necessary visits in certain situations, such as serving subpoenas or seizing assets. Overall, this change will help improve the relationship between taxpayers and the IRS, and it is a step in the right direction for better government accountability.
