Roskam calls on IRS to correct its policy on seizing small business accounts

WASHINGTON DC — Yesterday, the Ways & Means Oversight Subcommittee held a hearing on Protecting Small Businesses From IRS Abuse. Both Republicans and Democrats expressed outrage over the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Department of Justice (DOJ)’s actions to seize the bank accounts of law-abiding American citizens.

During the opening of Thursday's hearing, Chairman Peter Roskam commented:

He also released the following statement:

I hope the Department of Justice finally gets it this time. The shameful practice of shaking down small business owners for cash without any suspicion of criminal activity is an affront to the ‘justice’ for which the department is named. They claim to have changed their policies. So why won’t they return the money they’ve seized from innocent people like Calvin Taylor and Randy Sowers?

At a time when Republicans and Democrats can hardly agree on anything, the DOJ has managed to unite my entire subcommittee – against the Justice Department. As my colleague, our Ranking Member John Lewis, said during the hearing, on this issue we are on one accord. He’s absolutely right and we will continue to speak with one loud voice to hold the justice system accountable for delivering justice.