WASHINGTON, D.C. | March 3, 2025 — On March 10th, National Whistleblower Center’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Stephen M. Kohn and Senior Policy Analyst Dean Zerbe wrote to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to urge the Department to institute reforms and allocate more resources to the IRS Whistleblower Program to maximize its efficiency.
The Trump Administration has voiced its support for the efficacious tax whistleblower program. The letter aims to assist the administration with realizing the full potential of the program. In an attached addendum, Kohn and Zerbe outlined recommended reforms such as removing arbitrary award caps and working more collaboratively with tax whistleblowers and their attorneys.
Regarding potential reforms, Zerbe commented: “The Congress and the administration should take a hard look at providing the IRS reimbursement for when it works whistleblower cases resulting in awards. It is common practice for False Claims Act cases that the agency is reimbursed for investigative costs. Such a rule does much to align the interests of the government and the whistleblower and helps ensure good whistleblower cases are worked. When Grassley first considered the IRS whistleblower legislation it included language that provided for reimbursement. Congress should revisit that idea.”
Zerbe added, “The IRS whistleblower program provides tremendous benefit to the work of the IRS – allowing for more efficient use of limited resources, better targeting of examinations on those evading tax laws – and leaving honest taxpayers in peace. Doubling down on the IRS whistleblower program is commonsense.”
NWC Board Chairman Stephen M. Kohn is available for comment. For more information, contact NWC at programs@whistleblowers.org.
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NWC is the leading nonprofit working with whistleblowers worldwide to fight corruption and protect people and the environment. For over 30 years, NWC has won policies to protect whistleblowers from retaliation and reward them for helping deliver criminal and civil penalties against wrongdoers. It is a trusted advocate for whistleblowers and a key player in the fight for government accountability and transparency.
