NAPLES, Fla. – Today, during his IRS Roundtable in Naples, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis was joined by U.S. Senator Rick Scott to announce proposed legislation to identify state vendors who provide Artificial Intelligence (AI) services to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a means to fight back against the use of these technologies being corrupted by the IRS. According to media reports, the IRS has started using AI to investigate taxpayers. 

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “It’s fitting that we’re discussing the IRS on Friday the 13^th. The idea of the IRS using Artificial Intelligence to go after law abiding taxpaying citizens is like something from a 1980s sci-fi horror movie. My constitutional duty is to protect Floridians, so for the upcoming session we will propose legislation to survey all state vendors to assess whether they’re providing AI services to the IRS. On many occasions, the vendors who provide services to the federal government also serve the State of Florida, and so that’s an opportunity to learn more on how we can fight back. To the degree we can identify who these vendors are, and get better details on the level of service they’re providing, the more effective we’ll be at reining in the IRS’s targeting of Florida. Thank you to Senator Rick Scott and all of our special guests at today’s roundtable who are joining me in this fight to protect Florida’s taxpayers. Congress is broken, but Senator Scott is one of the good guys working to inject common sense into a place that’s plagued by indifference and immaturity.” 

U.S. Senator Rick Scott said, “It’s no secret that Washington has weaponized the IRS against Americans. The thought of 87,000 more IRS agents is terrifying. I'm fighting to reverse this terrible decision by the Biden administration and in Florida, we will arm our small businesses with the tools they need to fight back. I appreciate CFO Patronis’ leadership on this issue and hosting today’s roundtable to shed some light on this important topic.”

Commissioner William McDaniel, Collier County said, “Our local economies and small businesses are the economic engines that drive our state forward. Florida is proud of our heritage of promoting and living the American dream. Those dreams are at risk as long as the IRS is allowed free reign to target these hard-working business owners just to fill their coffers. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with CFO Patronis and hold big government and big tech accountable and give local communities like ours a chance to fight back.”

Erick Carter, Collier County School Board Member said, “I’m honored to join Senator Scott and CFO Patronis today to shine a light on IRS overreach. As a small business owner, it’s hard enough to make payroll and a profit without the IRS looking over our shoulders and digging into our cash register. I’m thankful that the state of Florida is speaking up for taxpayers and small businesses.”

Al Zichella, Past President of Florida Home Builders Association and Director of Construction of Prime Group said, “To be a successful home builder, we’re constantly navigating the recent challenges of rising prices, scarce materials, and labor shortages. The last thing we need is an IRS audit or an overly complicated tax filing to slow us down. Our Federal Government should help businesses, not hurt them. I thank Senator Scott and CFO Patronis for advocating for policies allowing small businesses to thrive without big government interference.”

Sal Nuzzo, James Madison Institute said, “JMI is proud to stand with CFO Patronis in his fight against the IRS. Washington seems to think that while citizens are faced with high inflation, the thing that they need now is more IRS agents. At JMI, we are proud to advocate and advance the principles that make this country prosperous – including free markets, limited government, and economic liberty. Thank you, CFO Patronis, for your leadership, and for making sure that Floridians stay informed about this important topic and ensuring Florida remains free.”

Kim Fernandez, Kim Transforms Hair said, “Thank you, CFO Patronis, for your hard work to spread the word and protect Floridians from big government overreach. As a hair stylist and someone who works every day to make ends meet and protect myself from the IRS, I know that this expansion is terrible for small businesses like me. We must stick together and fight back. Florida is the best state in the country for people to live and to run their businesses, and we must do everything we can as a community and a state to protect that freedom.”

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.

Submissions to the transparency portal will be forwarded to the Congressional Committee overseeing the IRS for further investigation. Florida residents and businesses can report harassment by IRS agents by visiting www.myfloridacfo.com/irs-activity.

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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).