House passes bills aimed at the IRS

The House passed legislation Wednesday aimed squarely at the Internal Revenue Service to commemorate Tax Day. 

The package of bills, all passed by voice vote, dealt with preventing future inappropriate targeting of political nonprofits applying for tax-exempt status.

{mosads}Wednesday marked the annual deadline for Americans to file their tax returns.

The measures included prohibiting IRS employees from using personal email for official business; allowing administrative appeals if the IRS rejects an application for tax-exempt status; and authorizing firing IRS employees for any activity intended for personal or political gain.

“These are commonsense, bipartisan reforms that will provide real accountability and help make sure people are never unfairly targeted again,” said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), whose panel oversees the IRS.

Republicans seethed over the scrutiny the IRS applied to conservative nonprofits applying for tax exemptions in 2012.

“This targeting is insidious. This targeting is poisonous,” said Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.).

Democrats agreed that taxpayers shouldn’t feel targeted by the IRS for their political beliefs. 

“We must do all we can to protect taxpayers’ rights,” said Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.).