Dole: Shrink IRS

THE DAILY FED

Dole: Shrink IRS

According to a report in The Washington Post, a working paper prepared by Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole's campaign recommends shrinking the Internal Revenue Service and curtailing its powers in connection with the $600 billion in tax cuts over six years that Dole intends to propose.

The proposals the campaign is considering include a taxpayer "bill of rights" that would waive interest and penalties in cases where the IRS is judge to be at fault, shifting the burden of proof in tax audits from taxpayers to the government, and shift ing IRS employees from auditing and enforcement to helping taxpayers with tax questions.

"The IRS should be on the side of the taxpayer, helping individuals comply with the law, not just punishing them for being unable to figure out an incomprehensible tax system," asserted the document, according to the Post.

Dole campaign communications director John Buckley told the paper that the policy paper contains "a range of options that we are looking at."