H.R. 9075: Tax the Grift Act

The Tax the Grift Act, introduced by Representative Mark Pocan, proposes a 100% tax on payments received from settlement funds established as a result of civil lawsuits filed by the President of the United States against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This means that any money individuals receive from such settlements would be fully taxed, effectively preventing them from benefiting financially. The bill specifies that these taxed payments will not be counted as gross income for tax purposes, and no deductions will be allowed for them. The tax will be administered like regular income taxes by the IRS and will apply to payments received after the bill becomes law.

Supporters of the Tax the Grift Act argue that it ensures taxpayer money is not misused to financially benefit individuals involved in lawsuits initiated by the President against the IRS. Representative Pocan emphasized that the bill aims to prevent the distribution of taxpayer funds to allies of the President, particularly those he claims were victims of political targeting related to events from January 6th. By imposing a 100% tax on these settlement payments, the bill seeks to redirect funds back to the U.S. Treasury, promoting fiscal responsibility and preventing potential misuse of public funds.

Critics of the Tax the Grift Act contend that it unfairly targets individuals who may have legitimate claims against the IRS, effectively nullifying their settlements through taxation. They argue that imposing a 100% tax on these payments could discourage individuals from pursuing rightful legal actions against the IRS, potentially undermining checks and balances on governmental authority. Additionally, opponents suggest that the bill could set a precedent for using tax policy to penalize specific groups or individuals based on the nature of their legal actions, raising concerns about fairness and impartiality in the tax system.

The Tax the Grift Act, sponsored by Mark Pocan, does not show any direct industry overlaps with his top donor industries, which are primarily health professionals and retired individuals. The total contributions from these sectors amount to $157.5 million, with no evident ties to the specific subject matter of the bill. The lobbying activity related to this bill does not appear to be connected to Pocan's primary donor industries either, which further reduces the potential for conflicts of interest. While there are several lobbying entities involved, their contributions do not directly correlate with the interests of Pocan's top donors, suggesting a low risk of conflict in this instance.

Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.

Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026

Top industries funding Mark Pocan, ranked by total contributions.

Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)