India: Sen Vance asks IRS to stop ‘harassment’ of conservation groups after watchdog probes allegations
FIRST ON FOX: Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, is expected to send a letter to the IRS commissioner Thursday morning calling for “harassment” of conservative groups.
Vance’s letter comes after the IRS notified the American Accountability Foundation (AAF) in a letter, which AAF shared with Fox News Digital, that it would launch an investigation into the watchdog on September 14.
The IRS notified AAF that it would inquire whether the organization is “operating in accordance with section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code,” according to the letter.
“However, to date, the IRS has not provided any evidence that the AAF failed to comply with the requirements of section 501(c)(3) or explained why the AAF may be at risk of to comply with these requirements,” Vance wrote in the statement. letter.
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Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, at a hearing before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in Washington, DC, June 22, 2023. (Nathan Howard/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“I don’t need to remind you that the AAF investigation follows on the heels of an ugly chapter in IRS history, when the agency unfairly targeted conservative groups for investigation based on their views,” he wrote. .
Vance seeks information from the IRS about possible bias in selecting audits, citing historical examples of IRS bias against conservative groups. One example Vance cited was in 2017 when the group sent conservation groups applying for tax-exempt status to increased scrutiny and significant delays.
The IRS admitted targeting these groups based on their conservative views beginning in the 2010s, which led to a purge of the group’s top leadership, the letter noted.
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IRS headquarters in Washington, DC (Samuel Corum/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
In addition, he asked if the IRS had refused to conduct audits of progressive or left-wing non-profits and sought an explanation of those decisions.
The AAF has published exposés on several of Biden’s nominees for high office, prompting the withdrawal of some of their candidates. He has also released emails showing Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, DR.I., urged the IRS to investigate conservative groups, as reported last November.
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In June, the AAF launched an investigation into the IRS for building a government-run tax filing program that critics argue would give the agency too much power.
AAF filed public records requests, first obtained by Fox News Digital, seeking communications and other documents from the IRS and the Office of Management and Budget regarding the creation of an IRS-operated electronic tax filing system, commonly known as “file just”.
IRS 1040 Individual income tax forms for 2021 processed in Louisville April 12, 2022. (Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Inflation Reduction Act, a major spending bill supported by Democrats that was signed into law last year, included $15 million for the IRS to study the creation of a free direct tax return system. Specifically, the legislation would require a study by an independent third party examining the viability of the idea, as well as a report by the IRS for Congress evaluating the study, the cost of such a system and the views of taxpayers. based on studies.
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An IRS spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the IRS cannot confirm or deny current audits.
Fox News’ Aaron Kliegman contributed to this report.
