Free Republic

The IRS is mailing out “probably thousands” of threatening letters that warn taxpayers their property is about to be seized for unpaid taxes — even though the government already got its money, The Post has learned. The scary situation is the latest snafu involving the hated agency, which last year issued similarly baseless threats to confiscate state tax refunds to cover purportedly unpaid federal taxes, CNBC reported at the time. That blunder came after House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) in August called on the IRS to stop sending out notices for unpaid taxes because it had...

The IRS has been bled white, complained Commissioner John Koskinen. Budget cuts to the agency, he adds, have forced the IRS to eliminate almost all overtime, implement hiring freezes, and furlough nonessential operatives. It will also likely mean a reduction in taxpayer services like audits and, yes, even the processing of refund checks. And Koskinen wants the public to know that it’s all the GOP’s fault. “Everybody’s return will get processed,” the IRS commissioner told reporters on Thursday. “But people have gotten very used to being able to file their return and quickly get a refund. This year we...

The IRS is considering its own temporary shutdown due to recent budget cuts enacted by Congress, its chief said Thursday. IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said furloughs — forced unpaid days off for employees as part of an IRS closure — is one idea reluctantly being tossed about to save money, though they are hoping they will not have to go there. Story Continued Below . . “There is no way we can say right now that that won’t happen,” Koskinen told reporters at a press conference on the upcoming tax season. “Again, I would stress that would be the last...

[NOTE: This text was first published in the March 7, 1997 newsletter. It was an important message in 1997, but seems even more important today.] Last week we gave Rep. Ron Paul's toll-free Legislative Update number (1-888-322-1414) and suggested that readers listen to his message "The Coming Police State." We were told by a lot of people that they missed it. Originally, that message was part of a one hour speech Rep. Paul made on the floor of the House. And, thanks to Jeff in Michigan, we have the complete text. Below is the shortened version of Rep. Paul's speech...