It has not been a good year for the IRS so far. The agency has faced intense scrutiny from the media, from politicians on both sides of the political aisle, and from the public as reports of improper, politically motivated actions were revealed.
It has not been a good year for the IRS so far. The agency has faced intense scrutiny from the media, from politicians on both sides of the political aisle, and from the public as reports of improper, politically motivated actions were revealed.
As if that were not enough to tarnish the public’s already tenuous trust in the agency, this week another scandal broke. According to a recent FOXNews article:
Another government watchdog report has flagged inappropriate behavior at the IRS, this time claiming government credit cards were used to make questionable purchases on items ranging from wine to online pornography.
The report from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration found that between fiscal 2010 and 2011, the more than 5,000 IRS card accounts racked up $103 million in purchases.
"While the majority of IRS cardholders appear to use their purchase cards properly, TIGTA's audit identified some troubling instances of inappropriate usage," J. Russell George, the inspector general, said in a statement.
The report said the cards were at one point used to pay for a dinner that cost roughly $140 per person -- four times the amount allowed by federal rules. They were also used to pay for a lunch that cost about $100 per person, five times the allowed amount.
The report said IRS credit cards paid for 28 bottles of wine at the 2010 luncheon for tax officials from other countries. There were 41 guests.
In another case, cards were used to make questionable purchases of decorative and give-away items including plush animals, bandanas, kazoos and a rented popcorn machine.
This is gross negligence, at the very least, as obviously the IRS does not maintain the proper internal controls to prevent this type of abuse. It also displays a shocking lack of regard for taxpayer dollars.
Meanwhile, the IRS continues to aggressively target taxpayers and business owners, forcing them to account for every dollar of income and to provide a paper trail verifying every expense. It certainly seems like hypocrisy—but perhaps IRS agents have been too busy with their kazoos and popcorn machines to notice?
The details of this latest scandal are amusing, but the plight facing many taxpayers is not. If you’re facing an IRS dispute and you need help, we are here for you. We’ll deal with the IRS so you don’t have to, and we will work tirelessly to help you resolve your dispute. Please contact us today to learn more!
