The new law that turned the tide was passed last spring after Republicans turned IRS-reform hearings into a parade of citizen-victims, each with a tale of horror about how the IRS ruined their lives. "It was very much a political show," says TIME congressional correspondent Jay Carney. "Republicans wanted to soften up their image and stay ahead on the tax issue at the same time." The resulting taxpayer "Bill of Rights" was designed to protect taxpayers from IRS agents who were overzealous, greedy or just plain mean -- on pain of dismissal. But agents say that it's having the opposite effect: Now they're scared of us. One told the New York Times: "With this new law, if somebody says 'I'm not paying,' then we just say thank you and leave."
New Law Has Timid Taxmen on the Run
-
Share
-
Read Later
-
It's not easy to get fired from a government job. Just ask Ken Starr. But in the past year, IRS-bashing, always a popular pastime with Washington politicians, has grown to such a fervor that the minions of evil that call themselves taxmen are turning into bunny rabbits -- for fear of getting stripped of their horns and tail and getting thrown out on the street. To wit: Seizures of property are down 98 percent over the past two years, according to the IRS. Levies and garnishments of bank accounts and paychecks are just one-fourth the level of two years ago. And the filing of tax liens, which ensure that back taxes are paid when a property is sold, are down two thirds.