Washington, DC — Republican Senator Chuck Grassley is proposing that Congress issue fines to the Internal Revenue Service if the agency oversteps its plan to hire more auditors.
This summer, President Biden approved the plan congressional Democrats passed that will give the IRS $80 billion over the next 10 years to modernize agency computers and hire 87,000 auditors.
Grassley is proposing that the IRS submit plans to Congress on how it intends to spend each year’s allotment. If the agency doesn’t follow its plan, Grassley says the agency should forfeit some of its budget, as a fine.
Other Republicans have proposed shifting the spending from the IRS to the Border Patrol. It’s unlikely President Biden would rescind the plan to hire more auditors to go after wealthy Americans who have failed to pay the taxes they owe. The IRS estimates about 15 percent of federal taxes owed are not paid.
Senator Grassley is Iowa’s senior US Senator, and is up for reelection this year, being challenged by Democrat Mike Franken.
