US President Donald Trump’s efforts to restructure the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have sparked concerns that taxpayers may feel emboldened to cheat on their tax payments. The agency, which has faced criticism from Republicans in the past, has seen significant changes under Trump’s leadership.
In his first week back in office, Trump vowed to halt new IRS agent hires, citing a desire to target “you” – implying those who had previously worked for the agency. His commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, has taken this idea further, stating that the president aims to abolish the agency and replace its funding with tariffs.
The potential consequences of these moves have raised eyebrows among tax experts and lawmakers. As the IRS begins to downsize and restructuring efforts progress, some worry that it may become more difficult for taxpayers to comply with tax laws, potentially leading them to seek ways to avoid paying their due.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-28/tax-return-cheats-are-tempted-by-trump-s-irs-cuts