How Trump's IRS settlement could block tax audits of him, his family and their businesses

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. How Trump's IRS settlement could block tax audits of him, his family and their businesses9 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleLisa LambertWashingtonGetty ImagesThe US Department of Justice has announced that this week's unprecedented settlement of President Donald Trump's lawsuit over the leaking of his tax returns blocks the IRS from reviewing tax filings that Trump, his family and his businesses made in the past. Some lawmakers and legal experts say the department has violated federal law with its addendum to the settlement that shuts down current possible tax audits and investigations. The justice department, however, says the addendum is simply a customary waiver used in legal settlements.

In January, Trump and his two eldest sons sued the IRS for $10bn over leaks of their business and personal tax returns. It was the first time a president had sued the US government. On Monday, the justice department announced the suit was settled and the government had agreed to create an almost $1.

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3bn) fund to compensate people who believe it unfairly investigated them. What does the addendum do? On Tuesday, a day after announcing the settlement with Trump, the justice department released the addendum ending any possible pending audits.

The one-page addendum states that the United States is "FOREVER BARRED AND PRECLUDED" from a long list of actions that the IRS normally carries out to determine if a person or company has paid proper taxes and to seek recourse when they have not. That list includes filing claims, conducting examinations or similar reviews, and seeking injunctive relief related to taxes filed by Trump, his family members, and their trusts, companies or subsidiaries. Key in the addendum is that the taxes must have been filed before 19 May, 2026.

The justice department issued a statement clarifying that the addendum "is only with respect to existing audits, not future". Listen: Trump gets “forever” immunity on his past tax affairsThe IRS does not announce its investigations, and so we do not know what - if anything - it was reviewing related to the President, his family and their enterprises. In its statement, the department describes the addendum as "customary", and also a necessary part of settling lawsuits in a way that ends them for good.

"There would be little point in settling several significant claims if either party could simply turn around and seek to initiative more adverse claims that could have been pursued previously," the department said. As news of the addendum spread, though, lawmakers and legal experts raised alarms. The top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, Ron Wyden, said in a statement it is "clearly a violation of the law that prohibits interference by executive branch officials in IRS audits".

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.