Requesting Information on the IRS

I went both to the City Hall and the IRS building (in the federal building with the Dept. National Security) in downtown Los Angeles today to request documentation on the Internal Revenue Service that establishes it as a federal body. I've been aware for a while now that the Federal Reserve is a private entity and had heard more recently that the same was true of the IRS. I was nevertheless shot down time and again as I was given answers like, "Did you Google it?" and "Check the Yellowpages under federal services, if those still exist." and "I'll redirect you to this other office." and "We tried calling one of our attornies but he's not in right now.... yeaa have you checked the downstairs office?" and "Go to the IRS building, they'll tell you." I was in the front office of the Chief Counsel to the IRS and again, nothing.

I've heard that the IRS operates out of Puerto Rico as a public trust and that there's no act or statute that establishes it, again, as a federal body. The only thing on the books is the position of Chief Counsel, whom the president appoints. I would not have gone out of my way to make the trip on bike and subway and bike again if I didn't find all of this rather outrageous.

I'd like some proof that the IRS is federally owned. Can any of your provide that for me? No state laws, please. Federal.

<3

The first federal law establishing the IRS was IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, but the Office of the Commissioner of Revenue was established in 1862, although it existed before that.