Domestic Taxes

A bipartisan group of lawmakers from states hit hard by Hurricane Sandy last fall are urging support for a bill that would provide tax relief for those affected.

The group of nine lawmakers argue that the measure would complement billions in federal aid and provide additional assistance to families and businesses struggling to rebuild in the wake of the storm.


"While the Sandy aid we fought so hard for is finally getting to the communities that desperately need it, we know it's not going to be enough to help families and businesses fully recover," said Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. 

"This legislation will go a long way toward filling this gap by providing immediate tax relief to those impacted by Sandy's devastation."

Read more...

Lerner will still be paid while on leave, a congressional aide said, as required under civil service rules.

Sens. John McCain and Carl Levin said allowing the IRS official to remain would "erode public trust" in the agency. 

House Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa is poised to bring IRS official Lois Lerner back before his committee.

White House staff made concerted effort to shield Obama on IRS matter. Read more...

“It’s pretty inconceivable to me that the president wouldn’t know,” Boehner told Fox News’s Greta Van Susteren.

Rep. Issa said he's looking into recalling the IRS official who pleaded the Fifth on Wednesday.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) noted Wednesday that a carbon tax could generate “significant” revenues for the United States and avert “catastrophic” effects of climate change.

CBO said in a new report that there are many uncertainties about how to design and implement a carbon tax, but waiting too long to curb greenhouse gas emissions would have clear results.

“[D]elays would increase the expected damage from climate change by increasing the risk of very costly, potentially even catastrophic, outcomes. … In general, the risk of costly damage is higher as the extent of warming increases and as the pace of warming picks up; thus, failing to limit emissions soon increases that risk,” the report said.

The new head of the Internal Revenue Service told agency employees Wednesday that he would do everything in his power to restore its reputation with the public.

In an agency-wide memo sent to staff on his first day on the job, acting IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel acknowledged the turmoil that has enveloped the agency, while insisting the tax administrators play an "indispensable role" for the nation.

"It has obviously been a difficult last few days for all of you," he wrote. "There is rightly concern among the public about the trust that they place in the IRS to administer the tax code fairly and help America's taxpayers understand and meet their tax responsibilities. Working together, it is up to us to restore that trust and ensure that the IRS remains the exceptional, indispensable organization it has always been."

The House Ways and Means Committee is inviting the public to weigh in with tales of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) woes.

The tax-writing panel launched a portal on its website Tuesday that invites the public to describe any interactions they have had with the IRS, calling the input "critical" to continuing the probe into the agency's improper targeting of Tea Party groups.

"Many more questions remain, including how individuals and organizations were affected by the actions of the IRS. As the committee continues to pursue this investigation, this website allows those affected by the IRS scandal to share their story," the committee stated on the submission page. "Your story is critical to moving the investigation forward. Taking a few minutes to fill out the form below and share your story will allow the Committee to identify key facts and take action to deal with the failures of the IRS."