Panhandle Times

Congressmen Nathaniel Moran of Texas and Adrian Smith of Nebraska have introduced the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act. This proposed legislation aims to prevent the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from utilizing the remaining funds from an $80 billion allocation by the Biden-Harris Administration to increase audits on middle-class families. The bill intends to maintain funding for customer service and IT modernization at the IRS.

"Families and small businesses have suffered enough under burdensome IRS regulations," said Congressman Moran. "I'm proud to join Congressman Adrian Smith in introducing the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act. This bill will protect middle-class families from audits they cannot afford and prevent the IRS from using its massive infusion of taxpayer dollars to harass and squeeze more revenue out of American families and small businesses."

Congressman Smith expressed concerns about previous actions: "In their 2022 Inflation Act spending spree, Democrats attempted to supersize the IRS with 87,000 new enforcement agents. Since then, TIGTA has reported the IRS has struggled to find new hires, targeted middle-class families with the majority of new audits, and neglected to update its own antiquated technology." He added, "I have fought hard to reclaim these taxpayer funds. A broken IRS doesn't need more taxpayer dollars thrown at the problem. It needs to focus on serving Americans. This bill would hold the IRS accountable while preserving funding to improve IRS taxpayer service and systems."

The legislation is supported by a number of cosponsors including Congressmen Don Bacon (R-NE), Mike Bost (R-IL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Ron Estes (R-KS), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Michael Guest (R-MS); Congresswomen Kat Cammack (R-FL), Carol Miller (R-WV), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN); among others.

Full text of the legislation can be found HERE.