Tax DODGER Act will crack down on scofflaws within the government

As Tax Day approaches, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa has introduced the Tax Delinquencies and Overdue Debts are Government Employees’ Responsibility (Tax DODGER) Act. This new effort aims to crack down on federal bureaucrats who have accumulated billions in unpaid taxes. The bill would require the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to publish an annual report on tax delinquencies of current and retired federal employees, including those who have failed to file a tax return.

Senator Ernst expressed outrage at the fact that nearly 150,000 bureaucrats are refusing to pay their own taxes while hardworking Americans are faithfully paying their dues to Uncle Sam. The Tax DODGER Act would also establish a new section in the law that could deem a federal job applicant ineligible for hire if they have “seriously delinquent” tax debt, unless they have already been granted a hardship exemption.

A recent Treasury Inspector General report revealed that while 96% of IRS employees were found to be tax-compliant, over 2,000 employees had past-due balances totaling more than $12 million by the end of last year. Another IRS report from 2023 showed that a total of 149,000 federal employees owed $1.5 billion in tax liabilities for fiscal year 2021.

Senator Ernst has been vocal about restoring confidence in the IRS, citing past instances of political weaponization of the agency and the need to upgrade its outdated technology. She has also called for an audit of the IRS as part of her efforts to establish a working relationship with DOGE leader Elon Musk.

If the Tax DODGER Act is passed, reports on tax delinquent bureaucrats would be sent annually to the Office of Personnel Management, Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, and House Oversight Committee. Agency leaders would have the authority to take personnel action, including firing, if an employee is found to have understated their tax liability or failed to file a return.

Overall, Senator Ernst’s initiative seeks to hold federal employees accountable for their tax obligations and ensure that the tax system is fair and just for all Americans. This legislation reflects her commitment to transparency and integrity within the federal government.