According to a Fox Business report, the IRS will “end most” unannounced visits to taxpayer homes in an effort to rein in the agency and restore trust in the institution.
“Effective immediately, unannounced visits will end except in a few unique circumstances and will be replaced with mailed letters to schedule meetings,” the IRS said in a statement.
“We are taking a fresh look at how the IRS operates to better serve taxpayers and the nation, and making this change is a common-sense step,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said. “Changing this long-standing procedure will increase confidence in our tax administration work and improve overall safety for taxpayers and IRS employees.”
From Fox Business:
The IRS, citing Werfel, said that “there have been increased security concerns in recent years on multiple fronts.”
“The growth in scam artists bombarding taxpayers has increased confusion about home visits by IRS revenue officers,” it added. “Sometimes scam artists appear at the door posing as IRS agents, creating confusion for not just the taxpayers living there but local law-enforcement.”
The IRS also said its agents “routinely faced hazards and uncertainty” in making the unannounced visits.
“We have the tools we need to successfully collect revenue without adding stress with unannounced visits,” Werfel said in a statement. “The only losers with this change in policy are scammers posing as the IRS.”
Journalist and author Matt Taibbi shared the news on Twitter, saying “Wow. Thanks to @Jim_Jordan and his staff for pushing this issue. The IRS shouldn’t be making surprise visits, and they should get credit for making the change.”
Taibbi was once the victim of an IRS drop-in.
More over at Fox Business:
Wow. Thanks to @Jim_Jordan and his staff for pushing this issue. The IRS shouldn’t be making surprise visits, and they should get credit for making the change. https://t.co/Cxzwgo4oSW
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) July 24, 2023