Bessent is performing IRS commissioner duties amid Trump IRS tax scrutiny

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that he was “performing the duties” as commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, even though he insisted during a heated period that he was not the agency’s acting commissioner. Senate change On President Donald Trump’s settlement with the IRS.

Bessent, who has served as acting IRS commissioner since August, took over commissioner duties 2½ months ago in a little-noticed move, the agency said. publish on your own website March 13. The IRS said Bessent’s term as acting commissioner has “expired” but that he “retains the authority and responsibility to perform the functions and duties of vacant Treasury offices that are not being filled as acting commissioners.”

That distinction became central during questioning at the Senate Finance Committee hearing by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. Bessent was pressed on his current authority at the tax agency and whether hundreds of thousands of other taxpayers whose information was leaked by a former IRS contractor would receive the same treatment Democrats pressed him on whether Trump, his family and businesses would receive the same treatment after his tax returns were leaked

“You’re the acting IRS commissioner, aren’t you?” Cortez Masto asked questions about the Treasury Department budget at the hearing.

“That’s wrong,” Bessent replied.

When Cortez Masto asked what his position was with the IRS, Bessent said, “My term of office has expired,” but added that the IRS is a bureau within the Treasury and “in the absence of commissioner, these duties fall upon me.”

Cortez Masto pushed back, asking if that meant the commissioner was absent and Bessent was taking action. commissioner.

“No, that’s wrong,” Bessent said.

Asked to clarify his role once again “for public and transparency purposes”, Bessent said: “I am fulfilling the duties of commissioner.”

The exchange comes a day after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told House lawmakers that the Justice Department would not operate the $1.8 billion anti-gun compensation fund created as part of Trump’s deal with the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. But Blanche also said Trump, his family members and related business entities remain protected from tax audits and enforcement actions tied to tax returns filed before the deal.

Cortez Masto asked Bessent whether the nearly 400,000 other taxpayers whose information was leaked by former IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn could receive “the same immunity that President Trump and his family have.”

Bessent declined to respond directly, saying Treasury is represented by the Justice Department and cannot provide additional details due to ongoing litigation.

“The Treasury is not giving any of this,” Bessent said. “We are represented by the Ministry of Justice.”

Addressing once again the question of whether other taxpayers will receive the same treatment, Bessent said, “We will follow the instructions and the agreement.”