Supreme Court can restrict tax

The Internal Revenue Code is riddled with excessive penalties for what are often honest mistakes. This year, taxpayers must prepare for a newly emboldened Internal Revenue Service, which Congress has allocated an additional $46 billion for enforcement. The Supreme Court has the opportunity to protect taxpayers by hearing one of three cases that could declare the IRS’ most punitive penalties to be unconstitutional violations of the Eighth Amendment’s excessive fines clause.

Heavy fines from the IRS can turn a simple tax error into a financial nightmare. For Americans who live paycheck to paycheck, these penalties can be devastating. For businesses, fear of penalties can slow down productive transactions.