IRS Commissioner John Koskinen issued a statement in August which he called the IRS Whistleblower Program “an important tool for improving tax administration” and said that he is “a strong believer in this program.”  Commissioner Koskinen, whose remarks on the program were a first for a standing IRS Commissioner, also said that the information whistleblowers provide about violations of the tax laws “helps ensure the integrity and fairness of our tax system.”

In his August statement, Commissioner Koskinen said that going forward “the IRS must do everything possible to strengthen the Whistleblower Program and build on the progress already made in implementing the law.”  At a conference for whistleblower lawyers in September, Commissioner Koskinen made good on that commitment, announcing that he had decided to increase staffing for the Whistleblower Office by 31 employees, even amid budget cuts across the agency.  Commissioner Koskinen said in August that he is “confident that the program will continue to grow and evolve as a critical element in the IRS’ program of tax compliance.”

Read IRS Commissioner John Koskinen’s full statement

Read Politico’s take on Commissioner Koskinen’s September announcement, “KOSKINEN: I LOVE WHISTLEBLOWERS”