A Time of Turmoil
For more than a decade, the IRS has been under intense pressure to reform and overhaul its operations.
| 1988 | The Taxpayer Bill of Rights restricts seizures and bars the IRS from basing staff evaluations on collection quotas. |
|---|---|
| 1990 | IRS rolls out $8 billion Tax Systems Modernization effort to improve technical capabilities. |
| 1994 | Congress presses the IRS to make tax compliance a priority. |
| 1995 | Republicans gain control of Congress and slash the IRS budget for 1996 by nearly $1 billion. |
| 1996 | GAO criticizes the IRS for mishandling modernization. Congress creates commission to restructure the agency. |
| 1997 | IRS is attacked in the Senate for alleged collections abuses. Charles O. Rossotti is named to take over the agency. |
| 1998 | The IRS Restructuring and Reform Act forces top-to-bottom reorganization, taxpayer protections and personnel flexibilities. |
| 2000 | Four new customer-oriented operating divisions, replace the 50-year-old regional structure. |
| 2001 | President Bush's Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act cuts taxes by $1.35 trillion. |
| 2003 | Bush's Jobs and Growth Act cuts taxes still further, with $350 billion in tax breaks. Mark W. Everson takes over as commissioner. |
NEXT STORY: Coast Guard’s Logical Home Port