(Note: I am continuing to make updates to this post, originally posted on May 7, 2014, and revised from my timeline posted in 2013.) The further we get away from the onset of the scandal, it’s easy to forget the chain of events. And context is important. So here’s an updated timeline with highlights of…
On Friday, the IRS wrapped up what might have been its worst. week. ever with a hearing in front of the House Ways and Means Committee. The hearing focused on allegations that the IRS improperly targeted certain applications for tax-exempt status based on keywords and politically charged language. When the announcement was made about the…
The Treasury Department may be getting a new look … or two… or three. Just weeks after (now) former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Doug Shulman announced his plans to step down, Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner will also be departing. Since the IRS is a bureau under the Treasury, the Commissioner generally reports…
As expected, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Doug Shulman, the 47th commissioner to serve, has officially announced his plans to step down at the end of his term. That makes November 9, 2012, his last day in office. Shulman has served as IRS Commissioner since March 24, 2008. Shulman had already indicated earlier in the…
Many years ago, a crack unit of specialists from Big Four audit firms and boutique consultancy firms – were working on the mean streets of Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. These men promptly escaped from the financial district to the nation’s capital. Today, they are wanted by the government….
Well that was quick. Days after the IRS sent out copies of the Notice 4809 to 21,000(ish) tax preparers, complaints were already flying. One tax preparer crafted this response to IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman while others took to Twitter and other Social Media sites to complain. It appears that the IRS was listening. This week,…
Donna (not her real name, of course) has been breaking the law for years. The funny thing is she doesn’t look like your stereotypical criminal: she’s well dressed, well spoken and well travelled. She hasn’t physically harmed anyone. She hasn’t stolen anything. I’m not sure she has so much as a traffic violation. Her crime?…
Today, the Internal Revenue Service announced that approximately 275,000 formerly tax-exempt organizations have lost their charitable status as a result of failing to file the proper forms. Loss of tax-exempt status can spell disaster for some organizations: not only does it mean that the organization must file income tax returns and pay tax but perhaps…
On Wednesday, April 6, 2011, IRS Commissioner addressed the National Press Club. Follows is the text of his prepared remarks, as distributed by IRS: Thank you for that gracious welcome… and thank you for inviting me back to the National Press Club. A few weeks back, I celebrated my third year as IRS Commissioner. And…
Mark your calendars: the IRS will be holding another open house in offices across the country on Saturday, March 26, to help taxpayers. IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman says, about the open house: We are opening our doors on these Saturdays to help taxpayers who may not have a chance to seek assistance during the work…
