Regulators say the e-commerce giant forced more than a million advertisers to pay more than they should have. The company denies the claims.
Page F4From§Eachthe early evening edition — 31 August 2026
IRS audit revenue plummets under Trump as Amazon faces FTC and 22 states in court
As it ran on the front
IRS audit revenue has sharply declined under the Trump administration, according to a watchdog report. Meanwhile, Amazon finds itself facing legal action from the FTC and 22 states over advertising practices. The ledger is precise: federal audit receipts go missing on one side, and enforcement shifts to the business front on the other.
The gap is measurable. Audit revenue is not simply a line item—it’s the mechanism that keeps the tax system honest, especially for higher earners and large corporations. When enforcement lapses, the money doesn’t vanish; it simply moves. Amazon, a company whose revenue dwarfs many state budgets, stands accused in court. The FTC and the states step in, filling the void left by the IRS’s retreat.…
…(cont) What’s reconciled is not just the dollar amount, but the priorities. Enforcement is a tool—where it’s aimed marks the agenda. The receipts say: audit revenue plummets, but the system finds new targets. The ledger’s gap is the price paid by schools, roads, and lunchboxes. Hon, the math never surprises, but it lands right on the bottom line.
“The IRS pulls back on audits for the rich, and Amazon ends up in court with nearly two dozen states and the FTC. The money goes missing, but the enforcement goes after advertising. They say there's no money, but it's just not for you.”
“It's important to prioritize resources—audits take time, and Amazon is cooperating fully with regulators. The drop in revenue is simply a sign of efficiency. Did I say plummets? I meant adjusts. That's the responsible thing to do.”
The receipts
The I.R.S. lost roughly a quarter of its employees since President Trump took office, hampering the agency’s ability to conduct audits.
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.