The U.S. House of Representatives passed the IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act on Apr. 28, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly and Mike Thompson to strengthen and modernize the Internal Revenue Service’s Whistleblower Awards Program.
The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration. The legislation is intended to make it easier for whistleblowers to report tax fraud and help recover unpaid taxes, while also protecting those who come forward.
“Today’s vote is a win for the American taxpayer and the American worker,” said Rep. Mike Kelly. “Our commonsense, bipartisan legislation ensures the integrity of our Nation’s tax laws. When individuals come forward to expose wrongdoing by tax cheats and fraudsters, they help ensure our voluntary tax system remains fair for all Americans. Strengthening this program is a smart way to recover unpaid taxes while improving efficiency and accountability across the system.” Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith said, “Whistleblowers play a critical role in government oversight – whether it be uncovering bad actors within government or, in the case of the IRS Whistleblower Program, tracking down those in the private sector who are defrauding American taxpayers… Ways and Means Tax Subcommittee Chairman Kelly’s IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act builds on his long-standing commitment to reform and to combatting the epidemic of fraud we see stealing hard-earned dollars from the American people.” Rep. Thompson added, “Whistleblowers often face uncertainty and long delays… The IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act will support the IRS’s crackdown on tax cheats and protect the brave whistleblowers who are helping to make our tax system more fair. I look forward to continuing my work with Rep. Kelly to get this through the Senate and signed into law.”
According to information about his background, Mike Kelly has served in Congress representing Pennsylvania’s 16th District since 2011 according to Wikipedia. He replaced Kathy Dahlkemper when he began serving as reported by Biographical Directory of United States Congress. Born in Pittsburgh in 1948, he currently lives in Butler according to Vote Smart, after graduating from Notre Dame University with a BA degree in 1970 according to Congress.gov.
The press release notes that since its creation, the IRS whistleblower program has helped collect over $7.5 billion from individuals or businesses evading taxes while deterring complex schemes designed for tax avoidance.
The proposed reforms would improve appeals processes for whistleblowers, protect their anonymity better than before, encourage timely payments of awards owed them under law, strengthen oversight as well as reporting requirements directed at Congress—all aimed at keeping enforcement efforts focused without expanding audits.
