Case: Paz v. Internal Revenue Service

1:25-cv-03256 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Sept. 18, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

The plaintiff, Holly Paz, is the former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner of Large Business and International Division. At the beginning of September, 2025, the IRS issued a Notice of Proposed Adverse Action (“Proposal”) to Ms. Paz that proposes to remove her from federal service “in order to promote the efficiency of the Service." The plaintiff alleged that the IRS relied on allegations dating back two decades that had been previously investigated in the plaintiffs favor. The IRS gra…

The plaintiff, Holly Paz, is the former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner of Large Business and International Division. At the beginning of September, 2025, the IRS issued a Notice of Proposed Adverse Action (“Proposal”) to Ms. Paz that proposes to remove her from federal service “in order to promote the efficiency of the Service." The plaintiff alleged that the IRS relied on allegations dating back two decades that had been previously investigated in the plaintiffs favor. The IRS granted the plaintiff  until on or before October 17, 2025, to submit her written response to the Proposal.

On September 9, 2025, Fox News published an article with the headline: “IRS fires top aide linked to Obama-era Tea Party targeting scandal.” Allegedly, other news sources went on to echo the Fox story. The plaintiff alleged that the IRS unlawfully disclosed her termination and proposed firing to Fox News. She further alleged that this is not the first time that the IRS has disclosed information about her from her Privacy Act Systems of Records to unauthorized individuals. 

Following these events, the plaintiff brought this suit against the IRS and the Department of Treasury in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The complaint alleged violations of the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. § 552a(b), (g)), requested the court declare the government's actions unlawful, and that the plaintiff be awarded monetary damages. This case has been assigned to Judge Amir H. Ali.

 

Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (9/19/2025)

Jinan Abufarha (10/17/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71378201/parties/paz-v-internal-revenue-service/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Moss, Bradley Prescott (District of Columbia)

Zaid, Mark Steven (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-03256

Complaint

Paz v. Internal Revenue Service et al.

Sept. 18, 2025

Sept. 18, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71378201/paz-v-internal-revenue-service/

Last updated Oct. 28, 2025, 11:09 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11965619) filed by HOLLY PAZ. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons USADC, # 3 Summons AG, # 4 Summons IRS, # 5 Summons Treasury)(Moss, Bradley) (Entered: 09/18/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons USADC

View on PACER

3 Summons AG

View on PACER

4 Summons IRS

View on PACER

5 Summons Treasury

View on PACER

Sept. 18, 2025

Sept. 18, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

ERRATA regarding LCvR 5.1(c) errors by HOLLY PAZ re 1 Complaint,. (Attachments: # 1 Errata Corrected Complaint)(Moss, Bradley) (Entered: 09/18/2025)

Sept. 18, 2025

Sept. 18, 2025

PACER
3

SEALED DOCUMENT filed by HOLLY PAZ(This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(Moss, Bradley) (Entered: 09/18/2025)

Sept. 18, 2025

Sept. 18, 2025

PACER
4

SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 09/18/2025)

Sept. 18, 2025

Sept. 18, 2025

PACER

Notice of Error- New Case

Sept. 18, 2025

Sept. 18, 2025

NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR The following error(s) need correction: Noncompliance with LCvR 5.1(c). Please file a Notice of Errata stating the error and attach the corrected initiating pleading to include the name & full residence address of each party and file using the event Errata. Invalid signature. Please file the signed document using the event Errata. All filings must have an original signature or /s/ Attorney Name of the attorney representing the plaintiff as appearing in the docket, to represent an electronic signature of the filer. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (zmtm)

Sept. 18, 2025

Sept. 18, 2025

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Sept. 18, 2025

Sept. 18, 2025

Case Assigned to Judge Amir H. Ali. (zmtm)

Sept. 18, 2025

Sept. 18, 2025

5

NOTICE of Appearance by Mark Steven Zaid on behalf of HOLLY PAZ (Zaid, Mark) (Entered: 09/22/2025)

Sept. 22, 2025

Sept. 22, 2025

PACER
6

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 9/18/2025. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 11/17/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - Proof of Service USAO DC)(Zaid, Mark) (Entered: 09/22/2025)

Sept. 22, 2025

Sept. 22, 2025

PACER
7

STANDING ORDER. The parties are ordered to comply with the directives set forth in the attached standing order. See document for details. Signed by Judge Amir H. Ali on 10/3/2025. (lcaha2) (Entered: 10/03/2025)

Oct. 3, 2025

Oct. 3, 2025

PACER

.Order

Oct. 3, 2025

Oct. 3, 2025

MINUTE ORDER. A responsive pleading in this matter shall be filed in accordance with the time allowed under the applicable federal and local rules. A party that intends to move for dismissal of the complaint in this matter shall, before filing a motion to dismiss, file a premotion statement of no more than five double-spaced pages setting forth the basis for the anticipated motion. The statement shall identify whether the party intends to seek full or partial dismissal of the complaint and state the basis for dismissal, including the legal standards applicable to the claims at issue. The filing date of the premotion statement shall serve as the operative date for determining compliance with Rule 12's timing requirement. Within fourteen days of such a premotion statement being filed, the party opposing dismissal shall file a responsive statement of no more than five double-spaced pages, identifying their anticipated responses to the proposed motion. The responsive statement shall also include at least three one-hour windows in which counsel for both parties would be available for a premotion conference on a Wednesday or Thursday between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The parties shall also indicate their preference for an in-person or Zoom conference and shall provide a joint proposed briefing schedule for the motion to dismiss. Upon receiving the parties' statements, the Court will schedule a premotion conference or set a briefing schedule for the motion to dismiss. Signed by Judge Amir H. Ali on 10/3/2025. (lcaha2)

Oct. 3, 2025

Oct. 3, 2025

Case Details

State / Territory: District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 18, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The plaintiff is Holly Paz, a former IRS official.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Internal Revenue Service (- United States (national) -), Federal

Department of Treasurey, Federal

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201

Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552a

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Records Disclosure