IRS unveils kinder, gentler mission statement

The IRS Thursday unveiled its new mission statement to "reflect the agency's new emphasis on serving taxpayers."

Specifically, it says the IRS' mission is to "provide America's taxpayers top quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and by applying the tax law with integrity and fairness to all."

Senate Finance Committee Chairman William Roth, R-Del., applauded the mission statement, saying it "begins the job of turning the agency around and pointing it in the right direction. These 27 words can serve as the building blocks for a new culture at the agency-a culture in which helping the taxpayers understand and meet their responsibilities is more important than extracting the last dollar at any cost."