That is important because while it may sound reasonable to the average person that these workers began targeting groups on their own, the IRS structure is designed to prevent that.
Here is how that works.
When an application for tax exempt status comes into the IRS, agents have 270 days to work through that application. If the application is not processed within those 270 days it automatically triggers flags in the system. When that happens, individual agents are required to input a status update on that individual case once a month, every month until the case is resolved.
Keep in mind, at least 300 groups were targeted out of Cincinnati alone. Those applications spent anywhere from 18 months to nearly 3 years in the system and some still don't have their non-profit status. 300 groups multiplied by at least 18 months for each group, means thousands of red flags would have been generated in the system.
Whoa! There goes the "rogue agents" excuse!
The whole Cincinnati chain-of-command HAD to be in on it. And, more than likely, it extended well up the chain-of-command in Washington, as well.
Fox 19 in Cinti deserves some accolades for actually doing some digging and hard-nosed reporting.
hole-y buckets! No wonder those IRS clowns were stammering wrecks today. This is HUGE!
**adds popcorn to grocery list**