Should America abolish the IRS?

Luke (Yes)

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the federal agency responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing tax laws in the US. However, over the years, there have been concerns regarding the use of the IRS as a political tool by various administrations to target or harass their opponents or critics. Some prominent figures have cited historical examples of alleged abuse, such as former congressman Ron Paul who claimed that Franklin Roosevelt audited New Deal opponents, John F. Kennedy used audits against political enemies, and Barrack Obama used the IRS to target conservative groups. These claims raise legitimate concerns about the potential for the IRS to be used as a tool for political gain rather than for the fair and impartial enforcement of tax laws.

According to section 7801 of the Internal Revenue Code, the IRS is granted the authority to administer and enforce internal revenue laws. The IRS has the power to collect taxes using various means, including auditing, levying, garnishing, and seizing property. In light of the ability of politicians to misuse the IRS, serious concerns should be raised regarding the level of power held by the IRS over American citizens, as it is clear that such power could potentially be abused or used to violate privacy rights.

Fundamentally, the IRS extracts hard-earned money from US citizens, handing it to the inefficient and ever-burgeoning federal system. This behavior only serves to discourage entrepreneurship and investment by taxing the profits of businesses and individuals, a form of government overreach that diminishes individual liberty and general prosperity. The United States and its citizens would be better off giving more power to the people and abolishing counterproductive institutions like the IRS. 

Chad (No)

America should not abolish the IRS. Our government largely relies on the income gained from taxes to function, and the IRS is the body responsible for collecting those taxes. Additionally, the IRS is responsible for assisting taxpayers and enforcing tax codes. Without the IRS, our government would have little to no budget to function. The alternatives that have been proposed do not solve the issue. We clearly need to rely on something other than the honor system in this country. Also, many states do not have sales or income tax to tie a federal tax to. 

Despite the politically-charged view surrounding the IRS of late, the government-funded group is one of our country's best investments. For every dollar we spend on the IRS, we get back about $345. This money goes to infrastructure, the military, social welfare programs, and everything else that makes this country run. 

Other reasons for abolishing the IRS are invalid, as most Americans trust and support the IRS. It's mostly rich tax cheats who are against it. The gap between rich and poor is ever-increasing in our country, and the richest largely avoid paying taxes back to the country that allowed them to prosper. While the IRS does need reforms and modernization, like any group, the answer is not to abolish it wholesale without providing any effective replacement. Instead, we need our government to work constructively to improve the system so it works better for the average American and does more to hold the richest in this country accountable for their fair share.