Management

Lawmakers Confronted the IRS Over Tax Audits That Target the Poor

Following up on ProPublica stories about the IRS, lawmakers pressed the commissioner on the agency’s disproportionate focus on auditing the working poor while examinations of the rich plummeted.

Management

Bill to Limit IRS’ Ability to Offer Free Tax Filing Service Is Getting New Scrutiny

The attention comes after ProPublica reported on the provision.

Management

IRS and Private Partners Tout Success in Combating Identity Theft

Numbers of reported taxpayer victims fell 71 percent from 2015 to 2018.

Oversight

Congress Is About to Ban the Government From Offering Free Online Tax Filing. Thank TurboTax.

A bill supported by Democrats and Republicans would make permanent a program that bars the IRS from ever developing its own online tax filing service.

Management

Alabama Senator to the IRS: Stop Picking on the South

Why are the rural poor audited more frequently than other groups, he asks, citing ProPublica. Another Democratic senator adds, “There are two tax codes in America, and there are also two enforcement regimes.”

Pay

IRS targeted for cuts

The House Appropriations Committee this week released a fiscal 2015 appropriations bill that slashes funding for the Internal Revenue Service.

Pay

Tax-delinquent IRS employees received cash awards

An audit of an Internal Revenue Service awards program revealed that more than 1,100 IRS employees with federal tax compliance problems received in excess of $1 million in cash awards, as well as more than 10,000 hours in time-off awards.

Employee Policy

GAO says budget cuts affect IRS performance

A Government Accountability Office performance audit of the IRS shows that budget cuts have had a negative impact on the agency's operations.

Financial Planning

IRS execs incorrectly classified own travel expenses

Some IRS executives apparently could do a better job of understanding some of the tax rules that apply to them.