Re: Conscious ignorance Does Not Protect IRS Employe

I agree with Project Manager. There is a double standard in the Obama regime! How many tax cheats are in his cabinet now? Lots!! I see now that the lowly fed employee gets fired but the big guys in Washington (owing much more and make the laws!) get Cabinet positions. Something is so wrong with this picture and still Obama supporters are so willing to look over this type of action. Wake up America - this is scary stuff!!

Re: Conscious ignorance Does Not Protect IRS Employe

I second the sentiments and they are unanimously passed.

Re: Conscious ignorance Does Not Protect IRS Employe

I second this opinion. How on earth can there be any credibility to punishing tax cheats, when the guy who runs the Treasury is a far bigger cheat? And the Democrat party is supposed to be FOR the little guy? Puhleez! Hardly.

All the people who have been fired or penalized for cheating/defaulting/whatever on their taxes should form a coup and demand that either their crimes be forgiven or the political appointees be fired for THEIR very same crimes!

Re: Conscious ignorance Does Not Protect IRS Employe

I will address this to project manager and the three writers below plus the other 2 writers below them. I will not address this to xfed as he was factual and did not adddress Obama's office.
I assume that all of you were against Obama based on your comments. Therefore, your comments are political and nothing else.
I would like to know whether other agencies hold their employees to the same standard as the IRS does. Can I have an unbiased answer.
Please note that cheating is probably the same as fraud, which is deliberatly deceiving the federal government out of tax money. Was the civil fraud penalty imposed on these cabinet members? Was negligence imposed? Unless you know the answers to those questions, you are just being a political crybaby when you make your accusations.
I believe these politicians allowed some returns, where the statute of limitations was expired, to be examined. They paid the additionalo tax, which they did not have to do. This is not dishonesty.

Re: Conscious ignorance Does Not Protect IRS Employe

It appears the former IRS employee was properly fired because she was warned of irregularities in a previous audit and did NOT take corrective action.

Presidential Appointees should be aware that they will undergo scrutiny. They shouldn't wait until the last minute to fix it--"they got caught" and are playing catch up. While they may pay all penalties and interest and technically can not be compared to the employee that was fired, the perception remains, and you know, perception is reality.

Looking at this another way, what would they have done if they weren't "caught"? NOTHING.

So these Presidential Appointees failed to be law abiding citizens and should not hold a position of public trust for THOSE reasons, not because they complied after they were "caught" in the vetting process.

Re: Conscious ignorance Does Not Protect IRS Employe

So worker... can we then assume that you were FOR Obama the entire time? Sounds like some of your comments are a tad politically motivated also... I mean after all, yeah, we made up the whole thing about Obama's cabinet being tax cheats!

Re: Conscious ignorance Does Not Protect IRS Employe

Quit rattling your saber, Obama's cabinet dosen't
work for the IRS.

Re: Treasury tax cheat

Well, to be fair, Mr. Obama did promise change.

I think that everyone should be allowed a "pass" in minor criminal violations. If we held everyone accountable for every single criminal act, who would run the country?

Think about it, folks. We NEED these people running our government or we would get our PAY CHECKS!!

Re: Section 1203

Your observation is accurate, but we appointed and confirmed a Treasury Secretary who engaged in wilful tax evasion. Are our President and Senators are too jaded or corrupt to realize their folly?

Re: Section 1203

I totally agreed with all of the comments. If you work for the IRS, you are held to a higher standard with the logic that we must set the example for the rest of the country as we are the enforcers of the tax system. That is well and fine. If all employees of the IRS are held to this standard, Congress should be held to the same standard. You'll note that I added Congress here as they write the tax law and consequently should be held to the same high standard. There are a number of Congessmen that have violated this concept, some serving prison time, Dan Rostinkowski, Duke Cunningham come to mind. Section 1203 which covers violations that will get you fired, only apply to IRS employees. Why does this provision, written by Congress apply to the entire government? If it did a few members of Congress and the President's cabinet would be missing.

Re: Section 1203

For a retired District Director, you sure play fast and loose with terms like "wilful tax evasion." Do you have the facts to back that up? Did Geithner prepare his own taxes? How are you so sure it was "willful tax evasion" and not merely a mistake by Geithner's tax return preparer? Show me your proof and I'll condemn him. If you don't have proof, shut up.

Re: Section 1203

I agree the employee should have been fired...just like I agree so should Timothy Geithner et al.

Re: Section 1203

He was reimbursed by his employer for taxes he claimed he paid but did not. When first caught he paid only what he was forced to pay (not what he actually owed). When questioned he misrepresented his actions and the facts. That is wilful evasion, unless you use a "political" dictionary. IRS employees should be held to high stardards. So should those who manage and regulate them. This case (and others) illustrates the rules do not always apply. That is a sad message. It will have negative long term impact on tax compliance.

Re: Section 1203

Well, Attorney DoD - Treasury Secretary Geithner said he used TurboTax to prepare his own taxes, so I guess a "confession" of self-prepared-taxes should be considered proof. Maybe this lady should send her resume in to Pres. Obama - clearly she has the same inability-to-fill-out-tax-return-abilities as many of his other appointees.

One positive note: President Obama has proven himself a great tax collector - $500,000 in past due taxes, interest, and penalties from his own appointees (and those like Mr. Daschle who dropped out after the vigorous "vetting" process that let him through the gates).

Re: Section 1203

DoD Attorney - Your view is moronic, but like those you defend you lack the integrity to admit it. The nomination and confirmation was disgraceful. So is the failure of elected officials to comply with the law. IRS and other Treasury officials cannot speak out, but they are disgusted. Tax compliance is a function of the honesty of most Americans and confidence in the fairness of enforcement. That confidence is eroding, and the consequences will be felt.

Re: B.O.'s cabinet does not have to obey the law?

Well, you sure are throwing stones!!

We (federal employees) overwhelmingly voted for Mr. Obama and we should support him even if "some" of his cabinet choices have (maybe) committed crimes.

They're different than us. CUT THEM A BREAK!! Just try being a GS-15 or whatever grade they are. IT ISN'T EASY!!

How would you like it if someone pointed out everytime you sped on the way to work or shoplifted a small item from WalGreens? You wouldn't like that, would you? NO. So leave these people alone and let them run our country!! I need to get paid!!

Re: B.O.'s cabinet does not have to obey the law?

Diversity Manager...you're not serious right? You can't be.

Oh wait...you're a "diversity" manager for EEO, of course you're serious. My bad.