CFO PATRONIS ON IRS EXPANSION: NO ONE ASKED FOR THIS
8/16/2022
~ CFO Proposes Four Part “IRS Protection Plan” to Fight Back Against a Shakedown Targeting Florida ~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued the following statement on President Biden’s signing of the “Inflation Reduction Act,” which includes a provision to fund over 87,000 new Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents. Last week, the CFO recommended four legislative changes that would protect small businesses from the audits of the supersized IRS and their political discrimination in the Sunshine State.
CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Biden just signed into law a bill that supercharges the IRS. An expansion of the IRS? No one asked for this. It will target Florida. He should have just stayed on vacation. It spends $80 billion and funds 87,000 personnel to shakedown small businesses and the middle class. I know they’re going to target Florida, so I’ve put forward four proposals to throw their red tape right back in their faces. First, we’ll require state-chartered banks to generate a regular report on IRS engagement. This information would be used to identify IRS targets, so the state can help identify any potential patterns of discrimination and highlight how the new auditors are targeting conservatives. Secondly, we’ll establish a Civil Liability Trust Fund to help Florida's small businesses defend themselves, or even sue the IRS in cases of politically motivated audits or federal overreach. This trust fund could help small businesses acquire representation for Tax Court.
“Third, we’ll create a license at the state level so new IRS agents are required to register in order to access account information. This licensure process would further scrutinize IRS operatives and examine their backgrounds and motives to protect Florida consumer information. And lastly, we’ll establish criminal penalties for enforcing laws based on viewpoint or political discrimination. There is documented evidence that the IRS targeted Tea Party groups in 2013; and no doubt the IRS under the Biden Administration would do the same to Florida. This IRS Protection Plan is a way for Florida to fight back. Florida has attracted $24 billion of income; largely from Blue States. Biden’s IRS wants to shakedown small businesses and the middle class in Florida. We won’t let him!”
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis issued the following statement on President Biden’s signing of the “Inflation Reduction Act,” which includes a provision to fund over 87,000 new Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents. Last week, the CFO recommended four legislative changes that would protect small businesses from the audits of the supersized IRS and their political discrimination in the Sunshine State.
CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “Biden just signed into law a bill that supercharges the IRS. An expansion of the IRS? No one asked for this. It will target Florida. He should have just stayed on vacation. It spends $80 billion and funds 87,000 personnel to shakedown small businesses and the middle class. I know they’re going to target Florida, so I’ve put forward four proposals to throw their red tape right back in their faces. First, we’ll require state-chartered banks to generate a regular report on IRS engagement. This information would be used to identify IRS targets, so the state can help identify any potential patterns of discrimination and highlight how the new auditors are targeting conservatives. Secondly, we’ll establish a Civil Liability Trust Fund to help Florida's small businesses defend themselves, or even sue the IRS in cases of politically motivated audits or federal overreach. This trust fund could help small businesses acquire representation for Tax Court.
“Third, we’ll create a license at the state level so new IRS agents are required to register in order to access account information. This licensure process would further scrutinize IRS operatives and examine their backgrounds and motives to protect Florida consumer information. And lastly, we’ll establish criminal penalties for enforcing laws based on viewpoint or political discrimination. There is documented evidence that the IRS targeted Tea Party groups in 2013; and no doubt the IRS under the Biden Administration would do the same to Florida. This IRS Protection Plan is a way for Florida to fight back. Florida has attracted $24 billion of income; largely from Blue States. Biden’s IRS wants to shakedown small businesses and the middle class in Florida. We won’t let him!”
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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 X (@FLDFS).