Two House Republicans sent a formal letter to the IRS, inquiring about the destruction of approximately 30 million taxpayer documents over two years ago.
Reps. Jason Smith (R-MO), who serves as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, and David Schweikert (R-AZ), who is Chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee, drafted an official letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel, seeking documentation that authorized a particular decision.
IRS’s Document Destruction Revealed
The letter emphasized the need for compliance after the IRS had disregarded the committee’s initial inquiry the previous year.
The recent letter was prompted by a Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration report that revealed the destruction of approximately 30 million unprocessed, paper-filed information returns by the IRS in 2021. This raised concerns as taxpayers might have required those documents for potential audits, especially considering the Biden administration’s efforts to increase auditing in the last year.
The letter highlighted the importance of congressional oversight in response to the decision to destroy the information returns prepared by millions of American taxpayers. It also raised questions about the need for scaling back information reporting to reduce the burden on taxpayers when the IRS does not fully utilize the information provided.
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Frustration Over Non-Response
In addition to the IRS’s handling of the information returns, Smith and Schweikert criticized the Biden-era IRS for failing to comply with the House oversight investigation.
They expressed frustration over the administration’s refusal to respond to the Committee, engage in meaningful discussions with staff, and deny access to the decision memorandum, which they believe obstructs Congress’s vital oversight responsibilities.
The letter gave Commissioner Werfel until August 8 to respond. However, the IRS has not provided any comment in response to requests from the Washington Examiner.
The IRS inquiry occurs amid multiple issues surrounding alleged politicization and the agency’s home visit policy, which was last updated on Monday.
Read more: IRS Announces End To Unannounced Visits At Taxpayers’ Doors Over Security And Fraud Concerns
