US President Donald Trump on Monday (May 18) moved to dismiss his $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over the leak of his tax return information by an agency contractor to news outlets. The notice of voluntary dismissal was filed in a federal court in Miami.&nbsp;Trump, along with his eldest sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr, as well as the Trump Organisation, had sued the IRS and the Treasury Department. The lawsuit sought an 11-figure payout under a federal law that allows Americans to seek damages from the government if confidential taxpayer information is unlawfully disclosed.&nbsp;The development came after the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the creation of a $1.7 billion “Anti-Weaponisation Fund” aimed at processing claims from individuals who allege they faced politically motivated action or “lawfare” from the IRS.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-s-fresh-offer-insufficient-for-a-deal-risks-resumption-of-war-senior-us-official-1779121624177">Iran’s fresh offer ‘insufficient’ for a deal, risks resumption of war: Senior US official</a>&nbsp;According to the DOJ, Trump agreed to drop the lawsuit in exchange for the creation of the fund. However, neither Trump nor his sons will receive any payment from it. Instead, they will receive a formal apology.&nbsp;Reports suggested that Trump was willing to drop the IRS case as part of a wider settlement arrangement. However, the federal court filing submitted on Monday made no mention of any such agreement.&nbsp;Earlier this year, Trump’s legal team had indicated that settlement talks could be underway after seeking a 90-day pause in the proceedings.&nbsp;The announcement immediately drew criticism from Democrats as Rep Jamie Raskin questioned whether such a fund could legally be created without approval from Congress.&nbsp;“Creating this one point: seven billion dollar political slush fund at the Department of Justice in Congress would never pass that there’s no way he could get that through Congress,” Raskin said during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.”&nbsp;“So this is just an invention on his part, but even if Congress wanted to do it, I think it’s clearly unconstitutional on a number of grounds to begin with,” he added.

The move followed the Justice Department’s announcement of a proposed $1.7 billion compensation programme for people who claim they were unfairly targeted by the IRS for political reasons during previous administrations.

US President Donald Trump on Monday (May 18) moved to dismiss his $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over the leak of his tax return information by an agency contractor to news outlets. The notice of voluntary dismissal was filed in a federal court in Miami. Trump, along with his eldest sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr, as well as the Trump Organisation, had sued the IRS and the Treasury Department. The lawsuit sought an 11-figure payout under a federal law that allows Americans to seek damages from the government if confidential taxpayer information is unlawfully disclosed. The development came after the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the creation of a $1.7 billion “Anti-Weaponisation Fund” aimed at processing claims from individuals who allege they faced politically motivated action or “lawfare” from the IRS. Also Read: Iran’s fresh offer ‘insufficient’ for a deal, risks resumption of war: Senior US official According to the DOJ, Trump agreed to drop the lawsuit in exchange for the creation of the fund. However, neither Trump nor his sons will receive any payment from it. Instead, they will receive a formal apology. Reports suggested that Trump was willing to drop the IRS case as part of a wider settlement arrangement. However, the federal court filing submitted on Monday made no mention of any such agreement. Earlier this year, Trump’s legal team had indicated that settlement talks could be underway after seeking a 90-day pause in the proceedings. The announcement immediately drew criticism from Democrats as Rep Jamie Raskin questioned whether such a fund could legally be created without approval from Congress. “Creating this one point: seven billion dollar political slush fund at the Department of Justice in Congress would never pass that there’s no way he could get that through Congress,” Raskin said during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week.” “So this is just an invention on his part, but even if Congress wanted to do it, I think it’s clearly unconstitutional on a number of grounds to begin with,” he added.

The move followed the Justice Department’s announcement of a proposed $1.7 billion compensation programme for people who claim they were unfairly targeted by the IRS for political reasons during previous administrations.

Trump moves to dismiss $10 billion lawsuit against IRS over leaked tax returns

American taxpayers waiting on their tax refunds would soon receive their stimulus payments from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Here's all you need to know about the stimulus cheques amounts, eligibility and more.

Stimulus payments worth $300 to $1,700 coming in July: Do you qualify? Here's how you can claim your rebate

The US federal tax collection agency is reportedly preparing to give a team of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to personal taxpayer data.&nbsp;
This comes after DOGE requested access to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the US tax office's system.&nbsp;
The system contains sensitive information, including detailed financial information about every taxpayer, business, and nonprofit in the US, The Washington Post reported.&nbsp;
The request is currently under review, and if allowed, it would give DOGE officials "broad access to tax-agency systems, property and datasets, including tax returns&rdquo;.
Among them is the Integrated Data Retrieval System, or IDRS, which enables tax agency employees to access IRS accounts&mdash;including personal identification numbers&mdash;and bank information."
Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/elon-musk-led-doge-cancels-21-million-intended-for-voter-turnout-in-india-bjp-responds-8725771" rel="dofollow"> Elon Musk-led DOGE cancels $21 million intended for 'voter turnout in India', BJP responds</a>
Later, a Trump administration official defended the move, saying that DOGE staff are working on a mission to "eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, and improve government performance to better serve the people&rdquo;.
This latest move by Elon's DOGE has triggered concern within the government and among privacy experts. They warned that granting access to Musk could be dangerously risky, ABC News reported.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-doge-clock-understanding-the-real-time-tracker-for-government-spending-cuts-8717614" rel="dofollow">What is DOGE Clock? Understanding the real-time tracker for government spending cuts</a>
"People who share their most sensitive information with the federal government do so under the understanding that not only will it be used legally, but also handled securely and in ways that minimize risks like identity theft and personal invasion, which this reporting brings into serious question," Elizabeth Laird, a former state privacy officer now with the Center for Democracy and Technology, said.&nbsp;
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields defended the request, saying, "Waste, fraud, and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long. It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-agencies-trump-musk-and-doge-have-been-trying-to-dismantle-and-downsize-heres-the-full-list-8714727" rel="dofollow">US agencies Trump, Musk and DOGE have been trying to dismantle and downsize. Here's the full list</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Elon Musk's department DOGE is requesting access to a classified IRS system that contains the sensitive personal financial records of millions of Americans.

The US federal tax collection agency is reportedly preparing to give a team of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to personal taxpayer data. This comes after DOGE requested access to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the US tax office's system. The system contains sensitive information, including detailed financial information about every taxpayer, business, and nonprofit in the US, The Washington Post reported. The request is currently under review, and if allowed, it would give DOGE officials "broad access to tax-agency systems, property and datasets, including tax returns”. Among them is the Integrated Data Retrieval System, or IDRS, which enables tax agency employees to access IRS accounts—including personal identification numbers—and bank information." Also read: Elon Musk-led DOGE cancels $21 million intended for 'voter turnout in India', BJP responds Later, a Trump administration official defended the move, saying that DOGE staff are working on a mission to "eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, and improve government performance to better serve the people”. This latest move by Elon's DOGE has triggered concern within the government and among privacy experts. They warned that granting access to Musk could be dangerously risky, ABC News reported. Also read: What is DOGE Clock? Understanding the real-time tracker for government spending cuts "People who share their most sensitive information with the federal government do so under the understanding that not only will it be used legally, but also handled securely and in ways that minimize risks like identity theft and personal invasion, which this reporting brings into serious question," Elizabeth Laird, a former state privacy officer now with the Center for Democracy and Technology, said. White House spokesperson Harrison Fields defended the request, saying, "Waste, fraud, and abuse have been deeply entrenched in our broken system for far too long. It takes direct access to the system to identify and fix it." Also read: US agencies Trump, Musk and DOGE have been trying to dismantle and downsize. Here's the full list (With inputs from agencies)

IRS preparing to give Elon Musk's DOGE access to sensitive taxpayer data: Report

In a significant policy shift, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the immediate cessation of its long-standing practice of unannounced taxpayer visits by agency revenue officers. The decision cited by Reuters, aimed at reducing public confusion and enhancing overall safety measures for both taxpayers and IRS employees, marks a major step in the ongoing efforts to reform IRS operations.

The policy change comes on the heels of the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the establishment of a new IRS strategic operating plan in April, signaling a broader overhaul of the agency's practices. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, who made the announcement, emphasised that the alteration would foster increased confidence in the tax administration process, describing it as a 'common-sense step.'

IRS rings the doorbell of change

Under the previous procedure, revenue officers would visit homes and businesses without prior notice to recover significant tax debts, often amounting to a median unpaid balance of $110,000. However, such unannounced visits have been the subject of mounting security concerns and anxiety among taxpayers, especially in the face of false and inflammatory rhetoric surrounding the IRS and its workforce.

Commissioner Werfel pointed out that advancements in technology and the availability of alternative means of communication have rendered unannounced visits unnecessary and even risky for both parties involved. Instead, revenue officers will now initiate contact through mailed appointment letters, known as 725-B, to schedule in-person meetings with taxpayers in most cases.

The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), representing IRS workers and employees in various federal agencies, has supported the policy change. CNBC cited NTEU's national president, Tony Reardon, who highlighted the mounting danger faced by IRS officers in recent years, partly due to hostile rhetoric and unfounded claims directed at the agency's employees. The NTEU believes that the transition to scheduled meetings will protect IRS officers and allow them to carry out their mission of helping taxpayers fulfill their lawful tax obligations effectively.

Unannounced visits restricted to special cases

The new policy, however, does not entirely eliminate unannounced visits. The IRS clarified that extremely limited circumstances, such as the service of summonses and subpoenas or sensitive enforcement activities involving asset seizures, may still warrant such visits. However, these occurrences are expected to be minimal, numbering only a few hundred annually. In contrast, under the previous policy, tens of thousands of unannounced visits occurred annually.

By ending the routine practice of unannounced visits, the IRS aims to streamline its operations and allocate resources more efficiently. The additional funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act will enable the agency to bolster staffing for compliance work, ensuring that revenue collection can be effectively carried out without resorting to stressful and potentially unsafe visits.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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In a significant policy shift, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the immediate cessation of its long-standing practice of unannounced taxpayer visits by agency revenue officers.

In a significant policy shift, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced the immediate cessation of its long-standing practice of unannounced taxpayer visits by agency revenue officers. The decision cited by Reuters, aimed at reducing public confusion and enhancing overall safety measures for both taxpayers and IRS employees, marks a major step in the ongoing efforts to reform IRS operations. The policy change comes on the heels of the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the establishment of a new IRS strategic operating plan in April, signaling a broader overhaul of the agency's practices. IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, who made the announcement, emphasised that the alteration would foster increased confidence in the tax administration process, describing it as a 'common-sense step.' IRS rings the doorbell of change Under the previous procedure, revenue officers would visit homes and businesses without prior notice to recover significant tax debts, often amounting to a median unpaid balance of $110,000. However, such unannounced visits have been the subject of mounting security concerns and anxiety among taxpayers, especially in the face of false and inflammatory rhetoric surrounding the IRS and its workforce. Commissioner Werfel pointed out that advancements in technology and the availability of alternative means of communication have rendered unannounced visits unnecessary and even risky for both parties involved. Instead, revenue officers will now initiate contact through mailed appointment letters, known as 725-B, to schedule in-person meetings with taxpayers in most cases. The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), representing IRS workers and employees in various federal agencies, has supported the policy change. CNBC cited NTEU's national president, Tony Reardon, who highlighted the mounting danger faced by IRS officers in recent years, partly due to hostile rhetoric and unfounded claims directed at the agency's employees. The NTEU believes that the transition to scheduled meetings will protect IRS officers and allow them to carry out their mission of helping taxpayers fulfill their lawful tax obligations effectively. Unannounced visits restricted to special cases The new policy, however, does not entirely eliminate unannounced visits. The IRS clarified that extremely limited circumstances, such as the service of summonses and subpoenas or sensitive enforcement activities involving asset seizures, may still warrant such visits. However, these occurrences are expected to be minimal, numbering only a few hundred annually. In contrast, under the previous policy, tens of thousands of unannounced visits occurred annually. By ending the routine practice of unannounced visits, the IRS aims to streamline its operations and allocate resources more efficiently. The additional funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act will enable the agency to bolster staffing for compliance work, ensuring that revenue collection can be effectively carried out without resorting to stressful and potentially unsafe visits. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

From stealth mode to mailed letters: IRS reform to make tax collection safer

A special agent of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is seeking whistleblower protection to disclose details about what the agent alleges is the mishandling of a criminal investigation into United States President Joe Biden's son Hunter. According to a report by the news agency Associated Press on Thursday (April 20), the IRS special agent's lawyer Mark Lytle sent a letter to the members of Congress which said that his client has information about a "failure to mitigate clear conflicts of interest in the ultimate deposition" of the investigation related to Hunter Biden's taxes and whether he made a false statement in connection with a gun purchase.&nbsp;

Lytle said in the letter that despite serious risks of retaliation, "my client is offering to provide you with information necessary to exercise your constitutional oversight function and wishes to make the disclosures in a nonpartisan manner to the leadership of the relevant committees on both sides of the political aisle.”

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hunter-bidens-laptop-scandal-us-presidents-son-sues-repairman-for-leaking-data-to-political-enemies-573296">Hunter Biden's laptop scandal: US president's son sues repairman for leaking data to 'political enemies'</a>

The letter added that the supervisory special agent previously disclosed the information they are seeking to share with Congress internally with the IRS and a watchdog for the Justice Department, the Associated Press reported.&nbsp;

Lytle said that his client can contradict sworn testimony to lawmakers by a senior political appointee who has not been identified yet.&nbsp;

The lawyer also said that the agent wants to disclose examples of preferential treatment and politics improperly infecting decisions and protocols which would be normally followed by career law enforcement professionals in similar circumstances if the subject were not politically connected.&nbsp;

Since 2018, Hunter Biden's taxes and foreign business work have been under federal investigation by a federal grand jury in Delaware. However, no charges have been filed so far.&nbsp;

Also, Hunter's membership on the board of a Ukrainian energy company and his efforts to strike deals in China have raised questions by Republicans about whether he traded on his father Joe Biden's public service.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-twitter-executive-says-he-faced-homophobic-and-anti-semitic-abuse-over-hunter-biden-story-560240">Former Twitter executive says he faced ‘homophobic and anti-semitic’ abuse over Hunter Biden story</a>

Joe Biden said he never spoke to his son about foreign business, and also there have been no indications that the federal investigation involves the president.&nbsp;

A day after lawyer Mark Lytle sent the letter, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that President Biden respects the rule of law and the independence of the Department of Justice. Neither the Justice Department nor Hunter Biden's legal team had an immediate comment on Wednesday's development.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A special agent of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is seeking whistleblower protection to disclose details about what the agent alleges is the mishandling of a criminal investigation into United States President Joe Biden's son Hunter.

A special agent of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is seeking whistleblower protection to disclose details about what the agent alleges is the mishandling of a criminal investigation into United States President Joe Biden's son Hunter. According to a report by the news agency Associated Press on Thursday (April 20), the IRS special agent's lawyer Mark Lytle sent a letter to the members of Congress which said that his client has information about a "failure to mitigate clear conflicts of interest in the ultimate deposition" of the investigation related to Hunter Biden's taxes and whether he made a false statement in connection with a gun purchase. Lytle said in the letter that despite serious risks of retaliation, "my client is offering to provide you with information necessary to exercise your constitutional oversight function and wishes to make the disclosures in a nonpartisan manner to the leadership of the relevant committees on both sides of the political aisle.” ALSO READ | Hunter Biden's laptop scandal: US president's son sues repairman for leaking data to 'political enemies' The letter added that the supervisory special agent previously disclosed the information they are seeking to share with Congress internally with the IRS and a watchdog for the Justice Department, the Associated Press reported. Lytle said that his client can contradict sworn testimony to lawmakers by a senior political appointee who has not been identified yet. The lawyer also said that the agent wants to disclose examples of preferential treatment and politics improperly infecting decisions and protocols which would be normally followed by career law enforcement professionals in similar circumstances if the subject were not politically connected. Since 2018, Hunter Biden's taxes and foreign business work have been under federal investigation by a federal grand jury in Delaware. However, no charges have been filed so far. Also, Hunter's membership on the board of a Ukrainian energy company and his efforts to strike deals in China have raised questions by Republicans about whether he traded on his father Joe Biden's public service. ALSO READ | Former Twitter executive says he faced ‘homophobic and anti-semitic’ abuse over Hunter Biden story Joe Biden said he never spoke to his son about foreign business, and also there have been no indications that the federal investigation involves the president. A day after lawyer Mark Lytle sent the letter, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that President Biden respects the rule of law and the independence of the Department of Justice. Neither the Justice Department nor Hunter Biden's legal team had an immediate comment on Wednesday's development. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Hunter Biden tax probe: IRS agent alleges investigation is being mishandled, seeks whistleblower protection

US congressional Democrats on Saturday headed for a showdown with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over President Donald Trump's tax returns, setting a new hard deadline of April 23 for the federal tax agency to hand the documents over to lawmakers.

In an April 13 letter that appeared to move Democrats closer to a federal court battle against the Trump administration, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal warned the IRS that failure to comply with his request for six years of Trump's individual and business returns by April 23 would be interpreted as a denial.

The Trump administration has already missed an initial April 10 deadline for providing the tax records, which Neal first set when he made his request on April 3. Democrats based their request on the panel's jurisdiction over IRS enforcement of the tax laws regarding the US&nbsp;presidents.

But Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday that Neal was "just picking arbitrary dates" in setting deadlines and said it was more important to get the decision "right" to ensure the IRS would not be "weaponized" in a political dispute.

"I do intend to follow the law. But I think these raise very, very complicated legal issues. I don’t think these are simple issues. There are constitutional issues," he told reporters on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings in Washington.

He could not say whether the Treasury, which oversees the IRS, would complete its review of Neal's request by April 23.

Mnuchin, who has consulted with the White House and Department of Justice about Trump's tax returns, said earlier this week that Neal's request raised concerns about the scope of the committee's authority, privacy protections for US taxpayers and the legislative purpose of lawmakers in seeking the documents. He said he has not spoken personally to Attorney General William Barr about the request.

"Those concerns lack merit. Moreover, judicial precedent commands that none of the concerns raised can legitimately be used to deny the committee's request," Neal told IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig in his letter.

"It is not the proper function of the IRS, Treasury or Justice to question or second guess the motivations of the committee or its reasonable determinations regarding its need for the requested tax returns and return information.

"Please know that, if you fail to comply, your failure will be interpreted as a denial of my request," Neal wrote.

As Ways and Means chairman, Neal is the only lawmaker in the House of Representatives authorized to request individual tax information under a federal law that says that the Treasury secretary "shall furnish" the data.

Despite the law's clarity, Democrats have long acknowledged that the request, if denied, would mean a federal court battle that could ultimately be settled by the US Supreme Court.

Legal experts say lawmakers could vote to hold administration officials in contempt of Congress, which would provide a basis for the House to ask a federal judge to order the Treasury Department to comply.

Congressional Republicans have condemned Neal's request as a political fishing expedition by Democrats, while the White House has said the documents will "never" be turned over.

But Congress would likely win a court fight, though it could take months or even years to unfold, experts say. Neal's request for the returns of a sitting president is unprecedented, and legal experts say its success or failure may depend on a court ruling about the committee's legislative purpose for seeking the documents.

Neal said in his letter that the request is needed to further "legislative proposals and oversight related to our Federal tax laws, including but not limited to, the extent to which the IRS audits and enforces the Federal tax laws against a President."

Democrats want Trump's tax returns as part of their investigations of possible conflicts of interest posed by his continued ownership of extensive business interests, even as he serves the public as president.

Trump broke with a decades-old precedent by refusing to release his returns as a presidential candidate in 2016 and continues to do so as president, saying his tax returns are under IRS audit.

But the president's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, told a House panel in February that he does not believe Trump's taxes are under audit. Cohen said the president feared that releasing his returns could lead to an audit and IRS tax penalties.

US congressional Democrats on Saturday headed for a showdown with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over President Donald Trump's tax returns, setting a new hard deadline of April 23 for the federal tax agency to hand the documents over to lawmakers.

US congressional Democrats on Saturday headed for a showdown with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over President Donald Trump's tax returns, setting a new hard deadline of April 23 for the federal tax agency to hand the documents over to lawmakers. In an April 13 letter that appeared to move Democrats closer to a federal court battle against the Trump administration, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal warned the IRS that failure to comply with his request for six years of Trump's individual and business returns by April 23 would be interpreted as a denial. The Trump administration has already missed an initial April 10 deadline for providing the tax records, which Neal first set when he made his request on April 3. Democrats based their request on the panel's jurisdiction over IRS enforcement of the tax laws regarding the US presidents. But Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday that Neal was "just picking arbitrary dates" in setting deadlines and said it was more important to get the decision "right" to ensure the IRS would not be "weaponized" in a political dispute. "I do intend to follow the law. But I think these raise very, very complicated legal issues. I don’t think these are simple issues. There are constitutional issues," he told reporters on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings in Washington. He could not say whether the Treasury, which oversees the IRS, would complete its review of Neal's request by April 23. Mnuchin, who has consulted with the White House and Department of Justice about Trump's tax returns, said earlier this week that Neal's request raised concerns about the scope of the committee's authority, privacy protections for US taxpayers and the legislative purpose of lawmakers in seeking the documents. He said he has not spoken personally to Attorney General William Barr about the request. "Those concerns lack merit. Moreover, judicial precedent commands that none of the concerns raised can legitimately be used to deny the committee's request," Neal told IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig in his letter. "It is not the proper function of the IRS, Treasury or Justice to question or second guess the motivations of the committee or its reasonable determinations regarding its need for the requested tax returns and return information. "Please know that, if you fail to comply, your failure will be interpreted as a denial of my request," Neal wrote. As Ways and Means chairman, Neal is the only lawmaker in the House of Representatives authorized to request individual tax information under a federal law that says that the Treasury secretary "shall furnish" the data. Despite the law's clarity, Democrats have long acknowledged that the request, if denied, would mean a federal court battle that could ultimately be settled by the US Supreme Court. Legal experts say lawmakers could vote to hold administration officials in contempt of Congress, which would provide a basis for the House to ask a federal judge to order the Treasury Department to comply. Congressional Republicans have condemned Neal's request as a political fishing expedition by Democrats, while the White House has said the documents will "never" be turned over. But Congress would likely win a court fight, though it could take months or even years to unfold, experts say. Neal's request for the returns of a sitting president is unprecedented, and legal experts say its success or failure may depend on a court ruling about the committee's legislative purpose for seeking the documents. Neal said in his letter that the request is needed to further "legislative proposals and oversight related to our Federal tax laws, including but not limited to, the extent to which the IRS audits and enforces the Federal tax laws against a President." Democrats want Trump's tax returns as part of their investigations of possible conflicts of interest posed by his continued ownership of extensive business interests, even as he serves the public as president. Trump broke with a decades-old precedent by refusing to release his returns as a presidential candidate in 2016 and continues to do so as president, saying his tax returns are under IRS audit. But the president's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, told a House panel in February that he does not believe Trump's taxes are under audit. Cohen said the president feared that releasing his returns could lead to an audit and IRS tax penalties.

US House panel chairman gives IRS April 23 deadline on Trump taxes

An Indian national Tuesday was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison for his involvement in an India-based call centre scam, the US Department of Justice said.

Nishitkumar Patel, 31, who had pleaded guilty to the charges on January 9, has also been asked by a Florida court to pay $2,00,000, forfeit cash and a 2015 Land Rover that was seized in October 2018.

According to court documents, Patel connived with the US-based co-conspirators and the India-based call centres to extort money from American residents by impersonating Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officers between 2014 and 2016.

The IRS is the revenue service of the United States federal government.&nbsp;

During this period, they mislead the victims in believing that they owed money to the IRS and would be arrested and fined if they did not pay their alleged taxes back immediately, as per the documents.&nbsp;

The conspirators collected the fraud proceeds by withdrawing cash from prepaid cards purchased and funded by victims; hiring other conspirators (runners) to retrieve money wired by the victims to those runners; and/or hiring runners to open bank accounts into which victims deposited fraud proceeds, revealed the documents.

The defendants collected the proceeds by providing the runners with the victims' names, locations, and amounts paid.

The runners were directed to retrieve the fraud proceeds in cash and turn the funds over to the defendants, often less payment to the runner for opening the account or conducting the transaction, according to the documents.

Four others have already pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme.

On March 25, Alejandro Juarez was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison. Hemalkumar Shah, Sharvil Patel and Brenda Dozier are currently awaiting sentencing.&nbsp;

"We here at IRS CI recognise the heartache and concern these crooks cause innocent people. This is why we are eager to team up with our law enforcement partners to track down these impersonators in whatever corner of the globe they may be hiding in," said special agent-in-charge Mary Hammond of IRS Criminal Investigations, Tampa Field Office.

J Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, said, "Over the last several years, American taxpayers have been subjected to unprecedented attempts to fraudulently obtain money by individuals impersonating Internal Revenue Service employees."

"Victimising taxpayers by impersonating IRS employees is a serious crime," he said.&nbsp;

An Indian national Tuesday was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison for his involvement in an India-based call centre scam, the US Department of Justice said.

An Indian national Tuesday was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison for his involvement in an India-based call centre scam, the US Department of Justice said. Nishitkumar Patel, 31, who had pleaded guilty to the charges on January 9, has also been asked by a Florida court to pay $2,00,000, forfeit cash and a 2015 Land Rover that was seized in October 2018. According to court documents, Patel connived with the US-based co-conspirators and the India-based call centres to extort money from American residents by impersonating Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officers between 2014 and 2016. The IRS is the revenue service of the United States federal government. During this period, they mislead the victims in believing that they owed money to the IRS and would be arrested and fined if they did not pay their alleged taxes back immediately, as per the documents. The conspirators collected the fraud proceeds by withdrawing cash from prepaid cards purchased and funded by victims; hiring other conspirators (runners) to retrieve money wired by the victims to those runners; and/or hiring runners to open bank accounts into which victims deposited fraud proceeds, revealed the documents. The defendants collected the proceeds by providing the runners with the victims' names, locations, and amounts paid. The runners were directed to retrieve the fraud proceeds in cash and turn the funds over to the defendants, often less payment to the runner for opening the account or conducting the transaction, according to the documents. Four others have already pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. On March 25, Alejandro Juarez was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison. Hemalkumar Shah, Sharvil Patel and Brenda Dozier are currently awaiting sentencing. "We here at IRS CI recognise the heartache and concern these crooks cause innocent people. This is why we are eager to team up with our law enforcement partners to track down these impersonators in whatever corner of the globe they may be hiding in," said special agent-in-charge Mary Hammond of IRS Criminal Investigations, Tampa Field Office. J Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, said, "Over the last several years, American taxpayers have been subjected to unprecedented attempts to fraudulently obtain money by individuals impersonating Internal Revenue Service employees." "Victimising taxpayers by impersonating IRS employees is a serious crime," he said.

US: Indian sentenced to eight years in jail in call centre scam