IRS Controversy: Allegations of Individual Targeting Emerge Amid Broader Scrutiny of Conservative Groups

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) faced significant scrutiny during the Obama administration over its handling of applications for tax-exempt status, particularly from conservative organizations. The agency later admitted to using "inappropriate criteria" to select groups for additional review, leading to widespread allegations of political targeting. This controversy primarily centered on delays and burdensome requests for information from groups with names like "Tea Party" or "Patriot."

In 2013, Lois Lerner, then-director of the IRS Exempt Organizations division, issued an apology, stating the actions were "absolutely inappropriate." President Barack Obama also condemned the conduct as "intolerable and inexcusable," leading to the resignation of acting IRS commissioner Steven Miller. While official investigations concluded that the issues stemmed from "ineffective management" rather than direct political orders from the White House, the events fueled public debate.

Beyond the targeting of organizations, concerns also arose regarding individual taxpayers. Allegations surfaced that donors to conservative causes experienced increased scrutiny, with some reports indicating that approximately 10% of donors on certain lists provided by tax-exempt groups were subsequently audited, a rate significantly higher than the general audit rate of about 1%. The IRS, however, denied sharing donor lists between departments.

Amidst this backdrop, claims of direct individual targeting circulated. For instance, a tweet from user PoIiMath alleged, "A dude who had never been audited was, in the space of 3 months, audited by 3 different groups because he supported Obama's rival." The tweet further claimed, "And none of the audits were successful. They resulted in zero penalties. Obama spent millions of gov't money to annoy a Romney supporter."

While the specific individual case mentioned in the tweet remains an unsubstantiated claim within public discourse, it reflects the broader climate of suspicion and the types of allegations that emerged during the controversy. The Justice Department eventually settled lawsuits with hundreds of conservative groups, providing apologies and financial compensation. Despite extensive investigations, no criminal charges were filed against IRS officials in connection with the targeting.