It's one thing to increase the budget to audit people more efficiently, it's another to have this armed IRS division.
Let's apply some common sense to the situation. What type of crime does the IRS investigate? Isn't it tax evasion?
I mean first they must detect the discrepancy which is done at a desk with computers. If something is found, doesn't the IRS send out a notice and assess penalties? From there, the party of interest can respond directly, through an accountant, or even a lawyer.
Let's say the party of interest opposes the audit, rightly or otherwise. In what world does it make sense for armed IRS agents to confront the party with guns? I mean do we assume all people who have a tax dispute are sitting on cash and the IRS is bringing a van to load it up? What's the recovery process? What happened to garnishments and seizing bank accounts?
Even in cases of arrest, how often do you see the party of interest waging war? Why isn't the FBI responsible for potentially violent confrontation? Aren't they the federal police?
And given the digital automation available with regards to payroll, banking transactions, and the tax code, it seems any significant capital investment would go towards technology and the people who manage it, not 87K humans.
Just doesn’t add up.