Former IRS Official Calls for Tax System Reform in Letter to Editor

PORTLAND — A former Internal Revenue Service official is adding his voice to the national debate over tax policy, arguing that the current system is unfair and places an disproportionate burden on lower-income Americans.

Stephen Myerson, who served as an official in the IRS Criminal Division, submitted a letter to the editor this week responding to a recent opinion piece published by the Press Herald. Myerson, who described himself as also being a student of federal tax policy, wrote in support of an Aug. 18 op-ed titled "It's the tax code, stupid!"

In his letter, Myerson acknowledged that most people prefer not to pay more taxes than necessary, but stressed that cheating the system should not be tolerated. He placed much of the blame for the current state of tax law on Congress, which he described as "ineffectual" and unwilling to pass legislation that serves the public interest fairly.

"The system presently favors the rich at the expense of the poor," Myerson wrote.

The former IRS official also weighed in on proposals to increase the agency's enforcement staff, which have been a subject of political debate. While some have raised concerns about adding 50,000 new IRS personnel, Myerson suggested that only a few thousand would be necessary for criminal enforcement matters, with the rest focused on addressing civil mistakes and misunderstandings about tax provisions.

Myerson referenced historical concerns about the IRS being used as a political tool, noting that some leaders have expressed fear of the agency's reach. He drew a parallel to the Watergate era, when a president allegedly threatened opponents by suggesting they could face IRS scrutiny.

The letter concluded with a call for fundamental changes to the tax system, advocating for rules that offer greater coherence, fairness, and simplicity. Myerson maintained that shifting a larger percentage of the tax burden to lower-income individuals would be unjust.

The opinion piece Myerson was responding to, written by Mark Love, had addressed broader issues with the nation's tax code. Myerson's letter joins a larger public conversation about tax policy, enforcement resources, and the balance between funding government operations and ensuring the tax system treats all Americans equitably.

Myerson can be reached through the newspaper's letters submission process.