Prior to President Joe Biden issuing a pardon for his son Hunter Biden, who pleaded guilty to tax evasion, the administration had been vocal about cracking down on tax fraud. However, the president’s decision to grant clemency has drawn scrutiny, particularly given his previous efforts to target tax evasion.
Despite Hunter Biden’s guilty plea, President Biden defended his son, claiming he was “selectively and unfairly prosecuted” and “singled out because he is [Biden’s] son.”
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Critics noted the disparity in sentencing, as the average prison term for tax fraud in fiscal year 2023 was 16 months, involving a median amount of $359,000—far less than the $1.4 million in taxes Hunter initially failed to pay.
The Biden administration has implemented policies aimed at reducing tax evasion, including measures that impact small-scale earners.
One notable initiative requires Americans receiving payments of more than $600 through third-party platforms like Venmo and Cash App to report these transactions to the IRS.
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The policy primarily targets individuals running side hustles or part-time businesses, rather than addressing larger-scale tax gaps typically associated with high earners.
In February 2023, the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) introduced the Service Industry Tip Compliance Agreement (SITCA) program, a voluntary tip reporting initiative designed to enhance compliance while reducing administrative burdens.
The program leverages advancements in point-of-sale systems and electronic payment methods to improve transparency and accuracy in tip reporting.
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Critics have pointed to the perceived inconsistency between the administration’s aggressive tax enforcement measures, such as the SITCA program and $600 reporting rule, and the president’s pardon of Hunter Biden.
“Hunter Biden evaded taxes. Hunter lied on a gun form. Hunter facilitated the Biden family corrupt, foreign influence peddling scheme that netted Joe Biden nearly $30M. For years the Biden admin & the media lied to us that Joe would never pardon Hunter. But they did it anyway,” said Congressman Byron Donalds.
“Hunter Biden gets a pardon for his serious tax crimes, while Joe Biden lectures ppl about paying their fair share. Meanwhile 363 Americans were sentenced to tax fraud in 2023 and sentenced to an average of 16 months in prison. The median loss in these cases was $359k,” said John Kartch on X.
Many argue that these policies disproportionately target middle- and lower-income earners while high-profile cases like Hunter’s receive clemency.
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