President Bill Clinton had resisted Republican-controlled Congress’ attempts to overhaul the IRS for a while. Clinton and his administration decided to stop resisting these attempts when the nationally televised Senate hearings featured taxpayers and IRS employees telling their tales of agency abuse.

On this day, July 22nd, 1998, President Clinton, who was once an opponent of Congressional efforts to overhaul the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), signed a bill to make the agency into a better tax collector.

Republican lawmakers shared the credit with him as they stood by his side during the signing.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman and main author of the legislation William Roth said, “Today marks the dawning of a new era for the IRS—the way it does business, its service orientation, its efficiency and mission.” He also called this bill the broadest IRS reform ever.