Rep. Sewell, Ways and Means Members Call for Investigation into Leak of Immigrant Taxpayer Information

Washington D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07), Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee, along with Reps. Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), and Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), led 14 of their Ways and Means Democratic colleagues in calling on the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to investigate the leak of 47,000 taxpayers' confidential information by the Internal Revenue Service to the Department of Homeland Security.

Despite strict privacy laws protecting taxpayers, the IRS agreed last April to share sensitive information, including names and addresses, of individuals who were being targeted for immigration enforcement. This agreement is just another example of the Trump administration recklessly and unlawfully violating the rights of immigrants and working families. Federal courts have since held that sharing this private data violates taxpayers' rights.

"When agencies take advantage of public trust by illegally sharing taxpayer data, it creates an environment wherein undocumented individuals are not comfortable complying with tax law," the Members wrote. "Undocumented immigrants have paid taxes for years with assurances that they can safely do so - this illegal action has pulled the rug out from under working individuals who are trying to comply with the law."

In addition to Sewell, Sánchez, Thompson, and Gomez, the letter was signed by Representatives Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), John Larson (D-Conn.), Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Suzan K. DelBene (D-Wash.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Stacey Plaskett (D-V.I.) and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.).

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Acting Inspector General Hill:

As members of the Committee on Ways and Means, we ask the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) to immediately investigate the leak of confidential taxpayer information of 47,000 individuals reported today by the Washington Post in this morning's article entitled IRS improperly disclosed confidential immigrant tax data to DHS.

Not only does this action endanger working, tax paying individuals who contribute to our economy, but it disincentivizes tax compliance for everyone. When agencies take advantage of public trust by illegally sharing taxpayer data, it creates an environment wherein undocumented individuals are not comfortable complying with tax law. Undocumented immigrants have paid taxes for years with assurances that they can safely do so - this illegal action has pulled the rug out from under working individuals who are trying to comply with the law. We are seeing an increasing rise of violence and illegality in President Trump's immigration enforcement; it is highly unprecedented and completely inappropriate that the Department of the Treasury should take part in such efforts.

Since February 2025, we have been deeply concerned that confidential taxpayer information protected by Section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code was being unlawfully and unjustly disclosed to or accessed by other government agencies. In fact, just last week, the Department of the Treasury responded to a letter from many members of this committee, alongside other Members of Congress, stating that they "share[d] our commitment to taxpayer privacy."

On February 16, 2023, Chairman Jason Smith wrote to the Department of Treasury regarding a previous disclosure of private information, which has now resulted in the President suing the Internal Revenue Service for $10 billion. We similarly ask the following:

"Therefore, I request that TIGTA commit in writing that it will complete the following actions:

1. Conduct a comprehensive and timely investigation.
2. Produce a report that summarizes TIGTA's investigation with findings and recommendations.
3. Provide these Members with a full copy of TIGTA's unredacted report.
4. Make as much of that report public as possible, consistent with 26 U.S.C. § 6103."

Thank you in advance for your attention to this request. We look forward to learning the results of your investigation.

###