Washington, D.C.– Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03), along with several of his colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee, introduced legislation that would make Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees ineligible for performance-based bonuses if they owe back taxes. The No Bonuses for Tax Delinquent IRS Employees Act prohibits the IRS from giving cash awards, extra time off, and step increases to these workers. The legislation is in response to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration report which found over 1,100 IRS employees were awarded more than $1 million, 10,000 hours in extra time off, and 69 step increases despite owing back taxes.

“It’s bad enough that IRS employees charged with ensuring Americans pay their taxes are not even meeting their own tax obligations,” said Paulsen. “However, it is outrageous that these employees are actually receiving taxpayer-funded bonuses at the same time. These actions undercut the public’s trust in our government.”

Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Congressman Paulsen’s work in Congress visit paulsen.house.gov. 

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