The U.S. tax agency’s top attorney was forced from his role in recent days after refusing White House demands to participate in tax audits, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Ken Kies, the Internal Revenue Service’s acting chief counsel and Treasury Department assistant secretary for tax policy, told administration officials their requests would violate a law prohibiting the president, vice president, and other White House officials from ordering the IRS to “conduct or terminate an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer,” said the people. They spoke on the ⁠condition of anonymity for fear of professional reprisals.

That law is part of the protections that insulate the tax system from political tinkering, and tax officials consider it the primary safeguard against weaponization of the tax ⁠code.

Kies, the people said, also clashed with administration officials over his department’s stance on high-value tax issues, including tax breaks for landowners who agree to restrict development on their property.

Two administration officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said concerns about Kies’ temperament led to his dismissal. One of the people questioned his work ethic and computer literacy.

Kies declined to comment on Friday. Representatives from the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

More here

Tagged: Politics BACK TO HOMEPAGE