Lankford Stands Up for Oklahomans Against Threat of Increased IRS Audits

Source: United States Senator for Oklahoma James Lankford

04.19.23

CLICK HERE to watch Lankford’s Q&A on YouTube.

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WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today questioned Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Daniel Werfel in a Senate Finance Committee hearing about the President’s fiscal year 2024 budget request and about the 2023 federal tax filing season. Lankford focused his questions on what “historical level” or year the IRS plans to use regarding audits, particularly regarding potential audits for those making less than $400,000, which Democrats assured everyone wouldn’t happen during the debate of the so-called “Inflation Reduction Act.” Lankford cited that Republicans offered an amendment to the bill to protect those making $400,000 or less, but Democrats blocked it. The delayed IRS spending plan on the $80 billion from the “Inflation Reduction Act” had little clarity on the historic levels but devotes over half of those dollars to increasing enforcement.

Excerpt

Lankford: This is an issue that we debated actually on the floor during the IRA debate, and Republicans actually brought an amendment saying it can’t include that $400,000. It can’t include that. Democrats actually voted that amendment down and blocked it. And so this is why this is such a question now is that I know everyone’s saying it won’t be that $400,000, but there’s nothing in statute that does that, and defining ‘historical norm’ and what that is, seems to be a moving target on it, so that’s helpful for us to get a clarification. So the 2018 number is what it’s going to be?

Werfel: Yes.

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