Published in ABC News January 23, 2010 by Kim Dixon

As the Obama Administration seeks backing for a tax on banks’ lucrative pay packages, the Internal Revenue Service has been stepping up its oversight of executive pay through its auditing and other powers.  President Barack Obama needs the U.S. Congress to help him pass the 10-year $90 billion tax on bank executive compensation, but the tax agency had already been bearing down on lavish pay and perks across industries on several fronts.