Sen. Johnson Demands IRS Explain Unannounced March 2023 Visit to Journalist Matt Taibbi’s Home

Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

WASHINGTON – On Friday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Treasury Department requesting information about an IRS agent apparently visiting the home of journalist Matt Taibbi the same day that Mr. Taibbi testified before the House of Representatives’ Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.

Sen. Johnson noted that, “the IRS’s intrusive actions do not appear to be consistent with agency’s standard practices for contacting taxpayers.”  At an April 19, 2023 Senate Finance hearing, Sen. Johnson asked IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel about this incident and emphasized that, “the chances are so infinitesimally small that an IRS agent would show up at the journalist’s door the day that journalist is testifying before [a] House committee.”

Sen. Johnson wrote, “The IRS’s alleged decision to not follow standard practice and conduct an unannounced visit to Mr. Taibbi’s home, on the same day he was testifying before Congress, serves only to underscore taxpayers’ negative views of the IRS.”

“The IRS owes the American people a full explanation about its visit to Mr. Taibbi’s home the day he was testifying before a Congressional committee.  The public deserves complete transparency about this troubling incident,” Sen. Johnson said.

Read more about the letter in the Daily Caller.

This letter can be found here and below.

April 21, 2023

 

The Honorable Janet Yellen

Secretary

Department of the Treasury

 

The Honorable Daniel Werfel

Commissioner

Internal Revenue Service

 

Dear Secretary Yellen and Commissioner Werfel:

            On March 1, 2023, it was reported that Matt Taibbi and another journalist would testify the following week before the House of Representatives’ Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.^[1]  Eight days later, on March 9, 2023, an agent with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reportedly visited Mr. Taibbi’s New Jersey home.^[2]  The reported visit, which is alleged to have resulted from concerns over identity theft, occurred the same day that Mr. Taibbi testified.^[3]  As I stated to Commissioner Werfel during the Senate Finance Committee Hearing on April 19, 2023, “the chances are so infinitesimally small that an IRS agent would show up at the journalist’s door the day that journalist is testifying before [a] House committee.”^[4]  I write, therefore, to request information related to the IRS’s visit to Mr. Taibbi’s home on March 9, 2023.

            According to Mr. Taibbi, the IRS agent that showed up at his home left him a note instructing him to call the IRS back.^[5]  During that call, the IRS apparently informed Mr. Taibbi that the March 9 visit to his home was the result of identity theft concerns surrounding his 2018 and 2021 tax returns.^[6]  According to Mr. Taibbi, his 2018 tax return had already been electronically accepted, and his accountant had submitted his 2021 return twice.^[7]  Mr. Taibbi’s accountant allegedly filed his 2021 tax return using an IRS-provided pin number.^[8]  Mr. Taibbi further asserts that the March 9 home visit was the first contact he received from the IRS regarding problems with his 2018 tax return and that he believes “the IRS owes him a ‘considerable’ sum.”^[9] 

It appears, based on Mr. Taibbi’s claims, that the IRS did not follow its standard practice for contacting a taxpayer.^[10]  According to the IRS, individuals “will generally receive a letter or sometimes more than one letter” as a first contact.^[11]  Personal visits from IRS agents are described as being limited to “special circumstances,” such as an overdue tax bill or a delinquent tax return; neither of which would appear to meet the circumstances alleged by Mr. Taibbi.^[12]

            The IRS’s alleged decision to not follow standard practice and conduct an unannounced visit to Mr. Taibbi’s home, on the same day he was testifying before Congress, serves only to underscore taxpayers’ negative views of the IRS.^[13]  In order to better understand the IRS’s actions in this case, I ask that you provide the following:

1. When did the IRS first become aware that Mr. Taibbi was testifying on March 9, 2023, before the House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government?
2. Who authorized the alleged visit to Mr. Taibbi’s home on March 9, 2023?  Please provide the names and titles of these individuals.
3. Did the IRS attempt to contact Mr. Taibbi prior to the alleged March 9, 2023 home visit? If so, please provide any letters or phone logs showing when the IRS first contacted Mr. Taibbi.
4. All records^[14] referring or relating to the alleged visit to Mr. Taibbi’s home on March 9, 2023, including but not limited to, records relating to the IRS’s concerns about identify theft related to Mr. Taibbi’s 2018 and 2021 tax returns.
5. In general, will the IRS ever go to a taxpayer’s home unannounced or as a first contact with that taxpayer? 

Please provide this information as soon as possible but no later than May 5, 2023.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,                                                      

Ron Johnson

U.S. Senator

 

cc:        The Honorable J. Russell George

Inspector General

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

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