The fake name routine has been the norm for quite some time, but especially since social media has blossomed.
I am in regular communication with many agents who use pseudonyms, especially in collections. Many have shared with me why they had to do it.
Recently an IRS Collections Agent told me of a disgruntled taxpayer who posted pictures of her children and extended family on their own social media as a threat. It really scared her and she then began using a fake name.
I see both sides of this issue, and as a mediator trying to solve taxpayer issues, it’s easy to see that there are a lot of mentally ill taxpayers who reach the point of despair and turn to violence. Especially those who are beings taxed and assets seized for criminal operations revenue.
I’ve handled several IRS criminal cases with CID, and it’s not easy. Yes, the system is open to abuse by agents, and that does happen. However, the IRS has a feedback system to find and correct rogue agents. I was the liason between a large state society of CPA’s and the regional IRS prior to my retirement. To use the Director’s own words to me, “Sometimes our agent’s wander off the farm and we need your help to reel them back inside again.” They monitor for rogue agents and curtail them. I have been involved in several such cases that resulted in termination of both audit and collection agents.
The problem is that right now the IRS got all this money in exchange for not prosecuting Joe and Hunter. That’s why Joe held onto this issue in the recent budget negotiations with McCarthy.
The huge influx of new agents that are untrained will create many problems. IRS staff is right now doubling in size with new green recruits. It’s a confrontation waiting to happen. 😥
Bookmark.
Thanks for posting.
Oh, I think it will get next-level crazy. I think the new people will be drawn from the CRT crowd, and will see their mission as being to take down the whole "Trumpist" movement.
Visualize an IRS dominated by what you used to call rogue agents.
Thanks for giving it the ol’ college try, but you can’t polish a turd.
Our government owes We the People, who pay their salaries, honesty and transparency. The IRS is the very opposite of honesty and transparency.
I don’t see the other side of this. If you work for the government then your name should be publicly available, especially to those with whom they interact. Are there dangers involved... absolutely. Most jobs have associated risks.
People should never be able to wield power in a secretive manner. The public should never trust government to police itself for rogue agents.
If a person can’t deal with those theoretical dangers then they don’t have to work for the public.