IRS budget battle not over after debt ceiling agreement – JP

“Now I think the Biden administration is trying to use the funding increase to target taxpayers. I get that; everybody ought to pay their fair share of taxes,” Kennedy said. “But the record of the IRS in terms of treating people fairly and being transparent in doing so is not good.”

Democrats are readying for a fight. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who chairs the Financial Services subcommittee that oversees IRS funding, said he’ll be pushing to fulfill the White House’s request that the IRS get $14.1 billion in fiscal 2024, a 15 percent boost over this year.

The Maryland Democrat said that would protect the agency’s ability to improve customer service, modernize technology and ramp up enforcement against wealthy tax cheats.

Rep. Steny H. Hoyer, D-Md., said he expects pressure from Republicans to trim IRS resources, particularly to squeeze tax enforcement. Hoyer, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Appropriations Subcommittee, said he’s discussed the issue with the panel’s Republican chairman, Steve Womack of Arkansas.

“He’s under a lot of pressure to cut out all of the $80 billion. That did not happen,” Hoyer said. “And we’re gonna have that fight I’m sure on a continuing basis.”