Influencing the IRS - Nearly 500 companies lobby the tax agency

[UpInArms]

http://www.publicintegrity.org/lobby/report.aspx?aid=683&sid=200

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2005 — When average Americans need help with their federal income taxes, they hire an accountant or buy a computer program to ensure that they don't miss out on any deductions. But when corporate giants like Detroit-based DTE Energy want to save millions, they turn to Washington, D.C., lobbyists.

The energy services provider relied on its lobbyists—not accountants—when the Internal Revenue Service began reviewing, in 2003, a controversial tax credit that benefits it and other companies that turn coal into synthetic fuels. But after only four months of investigation and heavy industry pressure on Congress and the IRS, the agency dropped the inquiry, preserving the program that gave DTE Energy more than $200 million in tax credits that year.

"We wanted to make sure had all the available information and technical expertise needed to make the final determination," said Renze Hoeksema, the director of government affairs at DTE Energy about contacting the IRS on the company's behalf.

DTE Energy is not alone. Nearly 500 companies and organizations have reported lobbying the IRS between 1998 and 2004, putting the nation's revenue collector among the top 30 most frequently lobbied federal agencies, according to a study of federal lobbying records by the Center for Public Integrity. In fact, more companies and organizations reported lobbying the IRS than the Navy, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the President of the United States combined.

...much more...

[Robbien]

1. Lobbying is now turning into the mafia

A very powerful mafia if it can make the IRS back off of audits and enforcing restrictions.

[indepat]

2. Remember the Gipper though corporations should not pay taxes, that

only people should pay taxes. This is just another back-door means of corporations not having to pay any semblance of a reasonable and equitable tax as the Gipper would have preferred if corporate taxes weren't banished totally.

[Robbien]

3. Yes, a three step plan of attack

First try and get the tax repealed
Second, bully the IRS into not collecting the tax
Third, if all else fails, move the money into offshore banks.

And then there is always the bonus, get credits for business not done in the states.

[LdyGuique]

4. Lobbying involves influencing legislation -- The IRS doesn't

legislate -- they interpret and follow the U.S, Tax Code as legislated by Congress. No lobbying should be going on with any Agency.