Senator Helmy Urges Tax Inspector General Nominee to Focus on Taxpayer Services 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator George Helmy (D-NJ) grilled Tax Administration Inspector General nominee David Johnson during today’s Senate Finance Committee hearing. Senator Helmy pressed Mr. Johnson to ensure New Jersey taxpayers do not fall victim to slow filing processes with the Internal Revenue Service. Currently, families that make a small mistake on their tax returns often wait an average of twenty weeks to receive their corrected refund. Senator Helmy also questioned Mr. Johnson on how he plans to ensure that the IRS continues to hold large partnerships and corporations accountable without increasing the burden on middle-class families.

“Over the past few years the IRS has dramatically been able to improve the quality of customer services, thanks in part due to the funding provided by this Committee and Congress in the Inflation Reduction Act, but they still have work to do,” said Senator Helmy. “It is unacceptable for New Jersey families to have to wait so long for their tax refunds just because they made a filing mistake on their returns.”

Finally, Senator Helmy highlighted the Biden Administration’s increased emphasis on enforcement efforts against high-income tax evasion. “Under this administration, the IRS has significantly stepped up its enforcement efforts focused on large partnerships and corporations, as well as high-income individuals who may have avoided their tax responsibility,” said Senator Helmy. “It’s a long-overdue step in closing the tax gap without increasing the burden on middle-class families.”

In September, the IRS reported that it was able to collect $1.1 billion in previously unpaid taxes from just 1,600 high-income individuals.  For comparison, that by itself is enough to fund the entire Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) provides independent oversight of IRS activities. When examining IRS operations, TIGTA focuses on improving tax administration and preventing waste, fraud, and abuse. TIGTA regularly issues public reports on the IRS’s problems and its progress in resolving them.

Senator Helmy’s full line of questioning can be found here.