Trump and his sons sue IRS and US Treasury over leaked tax information

January 30, 2026

President Donald Trump, his two sons, and the Trump Organization have filed a $10 billion civil lawsuit against the IRS and Treasury Department in Miami federal court, alleging they failed to protect confidential tax information from unauthorized disclosure. The suit stems from leaks by former IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn, who is currently serving five years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing and leaking tax data from Trump and thousands of wealthy Americans to media outlets including The New York Times and ProPublica. The leaked 2020 New York Times report revealed Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes when he won the presidency and paid nothing in ten of the previous fifteen years.

Who is affected

President Donald Trump
Donald Trump Jr.
Eric Trump
The Trump Organization
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
The Treasury Department
Charles "Chaz" Littlejohn (former IRS contractor currently serving prison sentence)
Thousands of other wealthy Americans whose tax data was also stolen

What action is being taken

Trump and his sons are filing/have filed a civil lawsuit seeking $10 billion in damages in Miami federal court
Charles Littlejohn is serving a five-year prison sentence

Why it matters

This case highlights tensions between government transparency, public interest in officials' financial dealings, and privacy protections for confidential tax information. It raises questions about the federal government's responsibility to safeguard sensitive personal data and establishes potential legal accountability when agencies fail to prevent unauthorized disclosures by employees or contractors. The lawsuit's outcome could have significant implications for how government agencies handle confidential information and their liability when breaches occur, particularly involving high-profile political figures.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC