U.S. Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) and David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) have introduced the DETECT Act, a bill that would require the United States Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on how artificial intelligence could help the IRS detect tax fraud.
“The IRS identified over $9.1 billion in fraud from tax and financial crimes in Fiscal Year 2024 alone,” said Buchanan. “We have a responsibility to protect hardworking Americans by ensuring their tax dollars are used wisely and government operates at peak efficiency. That’s why I’m proud to join Chairman Schweikert in introducing the DETECT Act to harness emerging artificial intelligence capabilities to strengthen fraud detection, cut waste and ensure the IRS can conduct efficient, thorough investigations to protect American taxpayer dollars.”
The proposed legislation is intended to support ongoing efforts by the IRS Criminal Investigation division, which has increased its investigations and convictions related to tax fraud over recent years. In 2020, the division identified $2.3 billion in tax fraud through 1,598 investigations, resulting in 945 prosecution recommendations and 593 sentencing actions. By 2024, those numbers had risen: there were 2,667 investigations launched, 1,571 convictions secured, more than $9.1 billion uncovered in tax and financial fraud, and nearly $3 billion recovered through restitution and asset seizures.
Buchanan and Schweikert’s bill has attracted bipartisan support with original cosponsors including Reps. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.), Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas), Adam Smith (D-Wash.), and Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.).
In addition to his work on this bill, Buchanan previously introduced legislation such as the No Tax on Tips Act aimed at eliminating federal income tax on qualified tips for traditionally tipped occupations; this proposal was included in House Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law earlier this year.
Buchanan has represented Florida’s 16th congressional district since replacing Katherine Harris in 2007 https://www.house.gov/representative/vern-buchanan/about . He previously served in the Florida House of Representatives https://www.congress.gov/member/vern-buchanan/B001260 . Born in Detroit in 1951, he currently lives in Sarasota.
