IRS Enforcement

Observed annually on July 30, National Whistleblower Day commemorates the nation’s first whistleblower law, enacted in 1778, and recognizes individuals who report wrongdoing and help protect public resources. Since the IRS program’s inception in 2007, whistleblower information has contributed to significant enforcement outcomes with more than $8 billion recovered and over $1.4 billion paid in awards.

“Historically whistleblowers have played an essential role in tax administration by calling attention to problems others have overlooked,” said IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano. “Information provided by whistleblowers helps the IRS identify noncompliance, pursue enforcement actions, and ensure fairness for taxpayers who follow the law.”

According to a Government Accountability Office report, in 2018, there were 2,148 law enforcement officers working for the IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division. They were armed with 4,461 weapons, including 15 fully automatic weapons and more than 5 million rounds of ammunition.

The division investigates “potential criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code and related financial crimes in a manner that fosters confidence in the tax system and compliance with the law.”

WHT do they need machine guns and 5 million rounds to do THAT? This year alone, the IRS has purchased $725,000 worth of ammunition!