Two Tennessee Republicans are planning to introduce new legislation that will require the Internal Revenue Service to inform taxpayers when their information has been accessed.
After Congress reconvenes next week, Senator Lamar Alexander and Representative Stephen Fincher will introduce the IRS Abuse Protection Act, which requires that the secretary of the U.S. treasury notify taxpayers in writing each time the IRS accesses their tax accounts, tax returns, or other information. The notice must include who accessed the information, the reason for doing so, and the method of access. In addition, taxpayers will receive a copy of the accessed information and any report issued on how it was used.
“This legislation will give taxpayers the protection they need to make sure the IRS isn’t using their information in a way that violates their First Amendment rights to speak up and speak out, for political reasons or otherwise,” Lamar said in a press release posted on his website.
The Tennesseans’ announcement comes as news broke that the second in command at the IRS, Beth Tucker, will resign at the end of September.
The IRS has been under investigation by the House Oversight Committee after reports that the agency singled out conservative and tea-party groups requesting tax-exempt status for extra scrutiny.
Via The Hill.