COLUMBUS, Ohio – As millions of Americans rush to file their income tax returns before the midnight April 15 deadline, Ohio’s Republican Senator says he is taking steps to curb some of what he sees as abuses of the nation’s tax system by the its tax collection agency.
Sen. Rob Portman on Wednesday introduced three bills that he says will make the Internal Revenue Service more user-friendly, crack down on IRS employees who target groups or individuals because of their political beliefs, and exempt donations to non-profit organizations from the gift tax, according to a release from Portman’s office.
“In recent years, Americans have spent billions to comply with our tax code, money that could otherwise go toward a mortgage, college tuition, or groceries for the week. On top of that, the IRS has lost the trust of the American people after troubling reports of mistreatment and political targeting of conservative groups,” Portman said in the statement, referring to a 2013 report that said IRS employees put extra pressure on conservative groups seeking tax-exempt non-profit status.
Portman’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights Act calls for greater transparency and more available assistance for taxpayers. He says taxpayers have the right to be informed and assisted, “to pay not more than the correct amount of tax,” among other guarantees.
The Prevent Targeting at the IRS Act authorizes the IRS to fire employees who target individuals based on their political beliefs and the Fair Treatment for All Donations Act ensures that donations to nonprofit organizations are not subject to the 1932 gift tax.