March 19, 2009
Posted: March 19th, 2009 04:24 PM ET

From

WASHINGTON (CNN) - A spokesman for the IRS said Thursday that the agency "stands ready to take collection action if the need arises" to get back taxes from 13 still unnamed companies that received billions of dollars in federal bailout money.

"The IRS has every expectation that these amounts will be paid and is committed to collect every dollar of taxes that are owed," IRS spokesman Frank Keith said in a statement.

Georgia Rep. John Lewis, chairman of a House subcommittee overseeing the federal bailout, first revealed at a hearing on Thursday morning that 13 companies receiving stimulus money owed over $220 million in back taxes. Keith said the IRS will closely monitor the companies and take action to make them pay, if necessary.

"The IRS recognizes that those entities that receive taxpayer support have a special obligation to pay their taxes, and these taxpayer accounts will remain closely monitored by the IRS to ensure that the full amount of taxes due are paid," Keith said. "The IRS stands ready to take collection action if the need arises."

Keith said the IRS gave Lewis' committee tax information related to TARP recipients. He noted that there could be a number of reasons why the companies did not pay all of their taxes and that having an unpaid balance "does not signal any intent not to pay."

Filed under: John Lewis


The Death of America by Obama   March 19th, 2009 5:43 pm ET

I'd like to know if John Lewis has paid his taxes.

elana   March 19th, 2009 5:42 pm ET

Go get em, IRS!! It's about time we have an Administration that is challenging CORRUPTION in this Country! The bottom line is MOST of the banks, and fiancial institutions in America, and throughout the world are nothing but CROOKS!!! And Wall Street stinks of the same smell - skunks!!

Zac, Atlanta   March 19th, 2009 5:41 pm ET

My word, why would anyone ever want to take any money from the government ever again? All it brings is unwanted attention to your unscrupulous behavior...

4 years of nothing but excuses   March 19th, 2009 5:40 pm ET

First stop should be Nero's cabinet.

Then Charley Rangels house........

Pick a Democrat any Democrat.

Ya, we are way off base here.

One and done Barry, the experiment failed.

John   March 19th, 2009 5:29 pm ET

One trillion dollars in Tresuary BOnds.

Obama hands the Tresuary Department an IOU for 1 trillion dollars.

We would be getting billion of dollars in revenue if we could drill for oil and tap natural gas.

Billions and billions for our country. and

Instead of drill baby drill

Its

Print baby Print

Its called inflation baby inflation

GOLD Buy GOLD.

We are so screwed!

FreeNLovingIt   March 19th, 2009 5:27 pm ET

I dont know. We have already given the money I dont think we should take it back. If you do, it should be 50% off but not 90%.

Mississippi Mike   March 19th, 2009 5:26 pm ET

The first place they should look is the new cabinet. I've heard that anyone picked to work in the new administration is likely to owe a little something to Uncle Sam.

ck   March 19th, 2009 5:22 pm ET

They can start with a large percentage of politicians!

Tom in Delaware   March 19th, 2009 5:21 pm ET

Why wait??? Start with Charlie Wrangel.

Joe the Troll   March 19th, 2009 5:18 pm ET

Is anyone surprised that companies that needed a bailout can't pay their taxes?

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia in CA   March 19th, 2009 5:10 pm ET

Isn't it ironic that Congress has their own bank and they have outstanding bounced checks.

Yet we elect these jerks to write laws that benefit them and their donors and screw the rest of us.

I lost all the equity in my home because of these jerks and I am MAD.

Matthew, Detroit   March 19th, 2009 5:07 pm ET

Start and Get all the money back that was given to the campaigns for

Chris Dodd and Barack Obama.

They both took the most money from AIG. Jokers

Cindy   March 19th, 2009 5:03 pm ET

This is stupid. Is that what the bailout money is for? Paying back taxes? I thought it was to stimulate the economy? The IRS is acting just as bad as the banks; wanting their piece of the bailout pie, instead of helping out the ultimate recipients.

Zion   March 19th, 2009 5:01 pm ET

Ray Ray, getting back taxes does not involve Democrats or Republicans, it involves anyone who did not pay taxes. The most damaging thing to this country is people who cannot think outside of their ideology or political affiliation. Worriedmom, I know that's right, Charlie Rangel needs to be SILENT.

gary   March 19th, 2009 4:59 pm ET

they should check all the members of congress first with the money this group has scammed you could probably balance the budget

Matt in MN   March 19th, 2009 4:59 pm ET

So, they're going to collect back taxes from those 13 businesses.

What about any other businesses that owe back taxes and didn't receive TARP funds? What about Politicians, CEO's, Celebs and the average joe's who also have back taxes?

The wording they chose to use is just odd and frustrating.

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   March 19th, 2009 4:58 pm ET

These companies recieving TARP need to proide Congress with ALL of their outstanding debt. TARP isn't going to fix the problem if the companies don't even know how much in debt they are.

ray ray   March 19th, 2009 4:52 pm ET

QUOTE:

"the IRS said Thursday that the agency "stands ready to take collection action if the need arises" to get back taxes from 13 still unnamed companies that received billions of dollars in federal bailout money."

Notice what they DIDN'T mention? Getting back taxes from democrats.

Attack businesses – that's what a good socialist government agency does.

Pee Wee   March 19th, 2009 4:47 pm ET

Had they been this tenacious with Obama's appointees, we probably wouldn't be in our economic 'downturn'. Typical knee-jerk government reaction.

Jackie in Dallas   March 19th, 2009 4:43 pm ET

Ah, my tax dollars at work, creating more tax dollars from my tax dollars?

That gives me a headache just trying to figure out what is being said!

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia in CA   March 19th, 2009 4:41 pm ET

They are more INTERESTING in getting back taxes from you and I.

What an ugly circle of financial inequity this country has become.

worriedmom   March 19th, 2009 4:41 pm ET

Let IRS start with our congress people first and get all the taxes they owe. Start with Charlie Rangel!!

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