This story is not new, but Alex Newman has written an interesting article about why it is wrong for Congress to give this power to the IRS:
Still, despite the travel “exceptions,” experts say the whole scheme is unconstitutional and represents a blatant violation of due process rights. “It takes away your right to enter or exit the country based upon a non-judicial IRS determination that you owe taxes,” constitutional attorney Angel Reyes explained to Fox Business. “It’s a scary thought that our congressional representatives want to give the IRS the power to detain US citizens over taxes, which could very well be in dispute.”
A financial expert also told Fox that the unconstitutional provision would apply to an alarmingly high number of people — especially in the wake of the economic crisis. And in the coming years, as jobs continue to evaporate and the value of the dollar continues to sink, more and more people will likely be affected by the travel ban.
IRS Would Revoke Passports for Alleged Tax Debt Under Bill
Thatisme has also found the following article:
No Taxes, No Travel: Why the IRS Wants the Right to Seize Your Passport
A good article from Investors Business Daily:
“IRS Might Have Stalinist Powers Under New Law”
http://news.investors.com/article/608156/201204171850/irs-taking-away-your-passport-obviously-unconstitutional.htm
@all, We have several places where the passport revocation is discussed, so I’m adding this link here as well:
Kelly Phillips Erb, Contributor
4/23/2012 @ 8:35AM |1,072 views
“Mammoth Bill Makes IRS Play Border Control”
excerpt;
“So let me summarize for you: if the IRS liens or levies you, the Department of State can choose to restrict your right to travel without a judicial hearing. To be clear, these aren’t cases of U.S. citizens who have been found to have committed a crime or have been proven to owe taxes. There’s no day in court. There’s no opportunity to argue a case or prove that there has been a mistake. In other words, it gives the IRS the authority to determine your future travel plans. No due process for you.
Ah, that pesky due process. Generally, the taking or denial of a passport is a judicial matter when there is a risk of a person trying to flee the country. Not so here.”
Link to the Forbes article above, by Tax Girl Kelly Phillips Erb is here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2012/04/23/mammoth-bill-makes-irs-play-border-control/2/