by David Burnham

This is a stunning investigation into the enormous power possessed by the Internal Revenue Service and how it systematically abuses that power. The IRS controls more information about more Americans than any other agency. No other agency has comparable sweeping powers to seize property and other assets or demand access to financial records. Burnham shows how seemingly small IRS errors can swiftly escalate into situations where millions of taxpayers are left enraged, frustrated, and often seriously financially damaged. Burnham also reveals numerous cases where the IRS---sometimes at the bidding of the President and sometimes on its own initiative---has injected itself into social and political movements (like the civil rights movement and religious fundamentalism). And Burnham also includes eye-opening accounts of bribes and pay-offs to IRS agents and supervisors. If you want to know why demands for abolition of the IRS are increasingly heard, this book is a good place to start!