U.S. citizens like Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich who are unjustly detained in other countries face large bills from the Internal Revenue Service for unpaid taxes when they return home.
Mr. Gershkovic and another American hostage, Paul Whelan, who was released in August, were charged for unpaid taxes and consequential costs incurred while held in a Russian prison. , I found myself with a surprising amount of IRS debt and credit. Reported reason.
This is an issue that all freed hostages grapple with, and the IRS says there is only so much it can do because federal law does not allow it to discharge all debts.
Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who was detained in Iran for 544 days, said he was stuck paying a bill to the IRS of more than $6,000 in unpaid taxes during his illegal detention.
“I received one of my bills from the IRS. I owe this much this year because I didn't pay it on time. This is the interest that has accrued,” said Rezaian, who was released in 2016. told NPR.
His bill eventually ballooned to $22,000, and the IRS forgave most of it. But Rezaian said he was told the reporters were still forced to pay the original $6,000 because federal law limits the agency's ability to waive or waive fees.
“I don't see this as the IRS out for blood and treasure. That's not the case,” he told the news outlet. “This is an oversight that no one thought about.”
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, learned of the issue from Rezaian and wants to correct the oversight.
Earlier this year, he introduced the “Suspension of Tax Penalties for American Hostages Act'' to do exactly what the bill's name suggests.
“This bill postpones certain tax filing deadlines for U.S. persons and their spouses who are unlawfully or illegally detained or held hostage abroad,” the bill's summary states succinctly. There is. “It also allows for the refund or reduction of fines and fines paid by detained individuals.”
The bill has bipartisan support in both houses of Congress and has already passed in the Senate. But before it passes the House, Speaker Mike Johnson must bring it to a vote.
Mr. Coons wrote an op-ed on the bill. in the wall street journal Sunday to raise awareness and support.
He also mentioned additional legislation he has since introduced to help freed hostages return home with credit penalties and reduced social security benefits.
“Americans taken hostage or unjustly detained should not be treated as if they were being defrauded of their taxes,” Coons wrote.
