IRS pledges more audits of wealthy, better customer service

News Summary

  • WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS released details Thursday on how it plans to use an infusion of $80 billion for improved operations, pledging to invest in new technology, hire more customer service representatives and expand its ability to audit high-wealth taxpayers.
  • “We will use data and analytics to improve our understanding of the tax filings of high-wealth individuals.”Treasury and IRS officials have in recent months promoted the impact of the new spending on internal processes.
  • No hiring boost is foreseen for the criminal investigation unit, which represents 3% of the agency’s workforce and employed roughly 2,077 special agents as of the 2022 budget year, according to the IRS’ annual report.
  • “But I can see the processing time of written submissions is not back to pre-pandemic sufficiency.”Additional money for the IRS has been politically controversial since 2013, when the agency during the Obama administration was found to have scrutinized political groups that applied for tax-exempt status.
  • At least 50,000 IRS employees are expected to retire over the next five years.The strategic plan does not include final numbers on long-term hiring.
  • Those are the agents who may be armed.There are “no plans to increase” that division, Werfel said during a call with reporters.
By FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) The IRS released details Thursday on how it plans to use an infusion of $80 billion for improved operations, pledging to invest in new technology [+4447 chars]