President Donald Trump on Thursday directed the IRS to ensure tax-exempt organizations are refraining from financing what the administration deems “political violence or domestic terrorism.”
“In addition, where applicable, the Commissioner shall ensure that the Internal Revenue Service refers such organizations, and the employees and officers of such organizations, to the Department of Justice for investigation and possible prosecution,” Trump said in a memo.
The directive to the IRS is part of a set of instructions to several agencies aimed at combating political violence following the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. It comes after administration officials vowed to revoke tax-exemption for groups promoting political violence.
Tax-exempt status is generally only revoked after an audit, although it’s easier to revoke the exemption for terrorist organizations. It’s illegal for the president or vice president to instruct the IRS to audit a specific taxpayer.
Trump’s memo also calls for the Treasury Department to “make available all resources, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to identify and disrupt financial networks that fund domestic terrorism and political violence.”
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