The Trump administration, specifically during his second term if he were to be re-elected, reportedly planned to significantly curtail the IRS’s ability to conduct audits. This plan, outlined in reporting by *The New York Times*, aimed to shift the burden of proof from taxpayers to the IRS in tax disputes, requiring the agency to definitively prove wrongdoing before challenging tax returns.
The proposal would involve limiting the IRS’s access to bank records and other financial information, making it more difficult for them to uncover tax evasion. Critics argued that this would disproportionately benefit wealthy individuals and corporations with complex finances, as they would be better equipped to withstand audits and challenge IRS findings. They also fear that the IRS’s ability to collect taxes would be drastically reduced, leading to a significant decline in government revenue.
The administration’s rationale was that the changes would protect taxpayers from overzealous IRS scrutiny and ensure fairness in the tax system. Proponents argued that the IRS had been too aggressive in its pursuit of taxpayers and that shifting the burden of proof would create a more balanced and equitable system. However, opponents maintained that it would create a system ripe for abuse, where wealthy individuals could easily hide income and avoid paying their fair share of taxes.
find the original article here: https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-administration-plans-end-irs-175500176.html