🔍 Verification Guide: Step-by-Step Example

Real example: How to verify claims about IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service reports

📋 The Claim to Verify

Original Claim (from our sources): "IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service reports removed from https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/reports/ around January 26, 2025"

Priority Level: HIGH (affects 160M taxpayers, statutorily required to be public)

Step 1: Check the Actual Site Directly

Always start with the simplest verification - visit the claimed URL:

✅ Test URL: https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/reports/

✅ RESULT: Site is Live and Accessible

Reports section loads properly
2024 Annual Report to Congress is available
Multiple years of reports are accessible
No removal or restriction notices

Step 2: Compare with Wayback Machine Snapshots

Check if there were any actual changes around the claimed removal date:

🔍 Wayback URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20250120000000*/https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/reports/

📸 Analysis Needed

Compare snapshots from:

January 25, 2025: Before claimed removal
January 27, 2025: After claimed removal
Current status: What's available now

Step 3: Contact the Source Agency

For statutory reports like TAS, direct contact can clarify any temporary issues:

Contact Information:

National Taxpayer Advocate: taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/contact-us
IRS Media Relations: For public information requests
Congressional TAS Contacts: House/Senate tax committees

🔄 Verification Outcome

Status Update Required: The claim about TAS reports being removed appears to be inaccurate.

Actions Needed:

Update sources-validation-table.html to mark as "VERIFIED - NO REMOVAL"
Remove or correct any references to TAS report removals
Document the verification process for transparency
Focus verification efforts on other high-priority claims

Step 4: Document Your Findings

Proper documentation ensures transparency and helps other researchers:

Documentation Template:

Claim: Original statement being verified
Verification Date: When you checked
Method: Direct site check, Wayback comparison, agency contact
Result: Verified, debunked, or needs more research
Evidence: Screenshots, URLs, contact responses
Next Steps: Update documentation, focus elsewhere

📋 Historical Comparison Limitations

Important Note: This documentation focuses on changes since January 20, 2025, but lacks comprehensive comparison to previous presidential transitions. We have not systematically documented federal website changes during 2017 (Obama→Trump), 2021 (Trump→Biden), or typical administrative patterns. Claims about "unprecedented" scope or speed should be considered preliminary pending more complete historical analysis.

🎯 Key Takeaways

Start Simple: Direct URL checks often resolve claims immediately
Use Multiple Sources: Wayback Machine, agency contacts, news coverage
Document Everything: Your verification process helps others
Update Promptly: Correct inaccurate claims as soon as verified
Focus Resources: Move to higher-impact claims once resolved

Apply This Process to Other Claims

Use this same methodology for other high-priority verification targets:

EPA EJScreen Tool: Check ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/ directly
VA Health Quality Data: Search VA.gov for specific pages
CDC HIV Resources: Test specific CDC.gov URLs
State Department Reports: Verify state.gov content status