WASHINGTON — Some high-profile critics of President-elect Donald Trump, including members of his first administration, are taking steps to protect themselves against potential IRS audits if Trump returns to the White House. These individuals, fearing retaliation due to Trump's history of targeting opponents, have consulted with accountants to ensure their tax records are in order. Historians point out that past U.S. administrations have abused the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to target political foes.

Six of Trump's critics, including two national security officials and a CIA officer, told Reuters they are worried about the possibility of malicious audits. In response, five of them are proactively reviewing their finances. One former official explained that they are ensuring their tax returns are “audit-proof.” Trump has publicly voiced his intent to prosecute his enemies, mentioning several Democrats and former officials involved in investigations against him, including those who looked into the 2016 election and his campaign's alleged ties to Russia.

Though Trump has not publicly endorsed using the IRS for political retribution, his critics remain on alert, with some fearing that audits could be used as a tool for harassment, regardless of the validity of the claims. A lawyer representing several of these individuals pointed out that even unfounded audits would result in financial and emotional strain.

Although audits are rare, with the IRS auditing less than half a percent of tax returns, the fear of scrutiny is still present. The IRS has stated that audits are conducted by nonpartisan civil servants and that safeguards are in place to protect the integrity of the process.

Several individuals who spoke to Reuters cited the examples of former FBI director James Comey and his deputy Andrew McCabe, who were subject to the IRS's most intrusive audits after falling out of favor with Trump during his presidency. These audits, however, did not find significant wrongdoing.

Historically, other U.S. presidents, such as Calvin Coolidge, Franklin Roosevelt, and Richard Nixon, have been accused of using the IRS to punish political adversaries. Nixon, in particular, ordered audits of his "enemies list," though the IRS commissioner at the time refused to comply.

While the IRS is legally barred from discussing individual audits, the cases of Comey and McCabe have raised concerns about the agency’s potential use for political purposes under certain administrations. Legal experts suggest that despite the legal constraints, the perception of politically motivated audits remains a point of concern among Trump's critics.

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