On October 26, 2011, as part of its overall approach to comprehensive tax reform that lowers rates and broadens the base, this Committee released a discussion draft aimed at modernizing our outdated international tax rules.  The draft included a structure that would allow the U.S. to move from a worldwide taxation system to a participation exemption system similar to that used by… Read more

I appreciate the opportunity to be here with all of you today.  There are a few events that come up every year that allow us to reflect on the progress that has been made as we continue our work on comprehensive tax reform.   This is one of those events.   Last year, I was ribbed quite a bit for quoting the lyrics of an old Dusty Springfield… Read more

By Peggy Noonan Quickly: Everyone agrees the Internal Revenue Service is, under current governmental structures, the proper agency to determine the legitimacy of applications for tax-exempt status. Everyone agrees the IRS has the duty to scrutinize each request, making sure that the organization meets relevant criteria. Everyone agrees groups requesting tax-exempt status… Read more

Despite nearly two years of denials, last month the IRS finally admitted the truth – three years ago the agency began systematically targeting individuals based on their political beliefs.  However, what the agency has yet to admit, and what we still need to find out, is just how widespread this activity was, who ordered it and why it began in the first place. Now, let’s… Read more

Throughout the investigation into the IRS targeting conservative groups, many misleading statements have been made asserting that the uptick of 501 (c)(4) applications caused the targeting, which began in March 2010.  However, the data and timeline below from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration’s report show that there was actually a decrease in applications in… Read more

On May 10, 2013, Lois Lerner, Director of Exempt Organizations for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) division that oversees tax-exempt groups, finally acknowledged that the agency had been targeting conservative-leaning political organizations.     Four days later, the Treasury Inspector General for Taxpayer Administration (TIGTA) confirmed that, “the IRS used inappropriate… Read more

The hearing will come to order.  Good morning and thank you for joining us for our hearing on the Ways & Means Small Business Tax Reform Discussion Draft. In March 2011, the Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee held a hearing on small businesses and tax reform.  We learned that the temporary, complex nature of the tax code was forcing small business owners to invest… Read more

Washington, DC – Today, Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) made the following statement upon announcement that Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Acting Commissioner Steve Miller would resign effective early June.   “The American people should be able to trust and have faith that, not only the IRS, but that the tax code will treat them fairly.  This resignation does nothing… Read more

Hearing on Ways and Means Small Business and Pass-Through Entity Tax Reform Discussion Draft … Read more

Washington, DC – Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) and Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) sent a letter to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Acting Commissioner Steve Miller requesting information on the targeting of organizations by the IRS. The Ways and Means Committee has led a nearly two-year investigation related to concerns that IRS was… Read more