CFO Jimmy Patronis Demands Cash App Companies Cease IRS Coordination

~ At Roundtable in West Palm Beach, CFO Demands Venmo, PayPal, Cash App & Zelle to Cease Coordination with the IRS ~

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Today, during his IRS Roundtable in West Palm Beach, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued a letter to Venmo, PayPal, Cash App and Zelle demanding that they cease all operations to build technologies taxing Floridians from their small dollar transactions and that they public release all communications between their apps and the federal government. The letter comes as the IRS ramps up efforts requiring consumers to report payment information to the IRS for transactions as little as $600. During the roundtable, the CFO also highlighted his Florida IRS Transparency Portal, created for individuals, private businesses, or non-profits to report evidence of discrimination by IRS operatives and will help Florida identify patterns of discrimination where specific IRS agents are targeting certain political causes, practices, or beliefs. Florida residents and businesses can report harassment by IRS agents by visiting www.myfloridacfo.com/irs-activity.

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “I hosted an IRS Roundtable in West Palm Beach today because I believe there is an existential threat to Florida and our economy. As our national debt rapidly increases and inflation worsens throughout the country, Washington continues spending reckless amounts of your hard-earned tax dollars like it’s their slush fund. As a part of my IRS Transparency initiative, this morning I issued demand letters to Venmo, PayPal, Cash App and Zelle demanding that they cease all operations to build technologies taxing Floridians from their small dollar transactions and that they publicly release all communications between their apps and the federal government. The State of Florida will not sit idly by while Big Tech is building technologies to violate Floridians’ privacy, nor shakedown small business owners who are just trying to make a buck in an economy where everything is expensive. We know darn well that they’re coordinating with the IRS to build these tools. These companies must come forward and tell the American public how much progress they’ve made in targeting Americans. In the upcoming session, I will propose a bill to protect Florida taxpayers from these tools, and these documents with the IRS would be invaluable. For the IRS to control you, they need to have full access to your finances, and they can’t do that unless they work with Big Tech to get access to you. As long as I am your CFO, we will not allow that in Florida.”

Representative Mike Caruso said, “As a CPA and a lawmaker, I’ve seen it all when it comes to the IRS. A huge thank you to CFO Patronis for bringing us all together and raising awareness on this important topic and I look forward to working together this legislative session to stop the IRS overreach.”

Representative John Snyder said, “The Biden administration has one goal in mind, and that is to tax hard-working Americans out of their house to fund their agenda. We won’t let them get away with it in the Free State of Florida. My thanks to CFO Jimmy Patronis for his leadership in stopping the IRS money grab and ensuring that Floridians and small businesses have the tools necessary to combat the 87,000 IRS army that might be soon knocking on their doors. I look forward with working with my colleagues in the Legislature to ensure all Floridians are protected.”

Commissioner Sara Baxter said, “Thank you to CFO Patronis for having me participate in today’s roundtable on such an important topic. It is critical that all Floridians are informed of this egregious federal overreach. We have to fight back and make sure that this army of IRS agents do not target our job creators, that work diligently to make sure our economy thrives. Florida is the best state to run a business, and we have to make sure it stays that way.”

Dr. Gary Vonk, President of Keiser University said, “As the President of Keiser University, I am committed to ensuring Florida’s next generation of future leaders are not targeted by the IRS. It was an honor to join CFO Patronis and the other roundtable participants today and have this important discussion on how this overreach will affect taxpayers and share ideas on how we can protect Floridians.”

Lindsay Killen, National Strategy VP, James Madison Institute said, “JMI is proud to advocate and advance the principles that make this country prosperous – including free markets, limited government, and economic liberty. We are thrilled to support CFO Jimmy Patronis and the work he is doing to ‘Fight Back Against the IRS.’ The last thing our small businesses need is the federal government breathing down their neck with 87,000 new IRS agents. JMI will continue to support the CFO on this mission and continuing to work together to keep Florida free.”

Abby Stafford, Chief Financial Officer of Tiresoles of Broward, Inc. said, “As a CPA and someone who represents Floridians and small businesses against the IRS, the last thing we need is more agents attempting to stifle our economy. Florida should not have to pay for the bad decisions that Washington makes.  I was proud to stand today with CFO Patronis and participate in the IRS Roundtable to educate and inform Floridians on this important topic.”

Ralph Lewis, Owner of Okeechobee Steakhouse said, “Florida is the best state in the country for families and businesses to come and carve out their piece of the American Dream. We cannot allow the IRS to ruin that by targeting Florida businesses because of their beliefs. I am happy to support CFO Patronis in his effort to make sure that our state remains the beacon of freedom that it is.”

Frank R. Coppola III, Coppola Brothers LLC said, “As someone who has been in the construction industry for nearly 20 years, I’ve seen what can happen when the IRS targets hardworking Floridians. I was proud to stand with CFO Patronis today to help fight back against this federal overreach. We Floridians work diligently to make sure that Florida remains the best state in the country to live and run a business and we must work together to put an end to their targeting.”

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis 
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and Twitter (@FLDFS).