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Gohmert Probes IRS Regarding Closure of Longview Tax Assistance Center

Gohmert Probes IRS Regarding Closure of Longview Tax Assistance Center

September 27, 2016

Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01) released the following statement regarding a letter he sent to IRS Commissioner Koskinen to voice his concern with the closure of the Longview Tax Assistance Center:

“It is deeply troubling that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has decided to close the doors of the Longview Tax Assistance Center. This location provides helpful services to the constituents in the First District of Texas and its absence will have a profound impact on the hardworking, taxpaying citizens in east Texas who need help.”

“Sadly, this closure by the IRS is not just a local issue. Offices all over the country are being shuttered as the IRS blames a cut to their appropriations. Though there were cuts after Congress learned of massive waste, fraud, and abuse, in prior years, the fact is that the IRS appropriation was increased by almost $290 million dollars this year. Within a few short months of getting this huge increase, the IRS chiefs chose to reward the highest ranking in the IRS with outrageous bonuses, while punishing taxpayers seeking assistance. This money was appropriated to improve taxpayer services, to hire more employees, strengthen cybersecurity, and expand the agency’s ability to address identity theft, not to begin again the coronation of the highest ranking in the IRS.”

“Unfortunately, appropriations do not seem to make their way to the rank and file IRS employees, nor to assist taxpayers with the thousands of pages of IRS regulations and requirements. The rampant waste and abuse at the IRS needs to be called out, and answers provided for what appears to be wanton mismanagement.”

Read the letter sent to the IRS Commissioner here.

Congressman Gohmert is the Chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. Prior to being elected to serve in Congress, he was elected to three terms as State District Judge in Smith County, Texas and was appointed by then Texas Governor Rick Perry to complete a term as Chief Justice of the 12th Court of Appeals of Texas.

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