An IRS agent paid an unannounced visit to the New
Jersey home of Twitter Files journalist Matt Taibbi the same day he was
in Washington testifying about the weaponization of the federal
government.
House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan is now demanding answers from IRS
Commissioner Daniel Werfel and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen about
the unusual home visit, the circumstances and timing of which “raise
serious questions” about "potential intimidation," The Wall Street
Journal points out.
Taibbi, who spoke before the committee about
censorship and the social media giant’s contacts with government
officials, said the IRS agent left a note instructing him to call them
four days later.
Mr. Taibbi was told in a call with
the agent that both his 2018 and 2021 tax returns had been rejected
owing to concerns over identity theft.
Mr. Taibbi has provided the
committee with documentation showing his 2018 return had been
electronically accepted, and he says the IRS never notified him or his
accountants of a problem after he filed that 2018 return more than
four-and-a-half years ago.
He says the IRS
initially rejected his 2021 return, which he later refiled, and it was
rejected again—even though Mr. Taibbi says his accountants refiled it
with an IRS-provided pin number. Mr. Taibbi notes that in neither case
was the issue “monetary,” and that the IRS owes him a “considerable”
sum.
The bigger question is when did the IRS
start to dispatch agents for surprise house calls? Typically when the
IRS challenges some part of a tax return, it sends a dunning letter. Or
it might seek more information from the taxpayer or tax preparer. If the
IRS wants to audit a return, it schedules a meeting at the agent’s
office. It doesn’t drop by unannounced. (WSJ)
Twitter Files journalist Michael Shellenberger,
who testified alongside Taibbi that day, called the visit an "amazing
coincidence."
Taibbi said he wasn't worried but wouldn't comment until Jordan's letter got a response.
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