Boston Globe Article: IRS is failing
In the 2/17/2014 Boston Globe, Michael Kranish wrote an article “IRS is America’s Feared and Failing agency”. He asked the question, “Is the IRS, which collects 90% of the nations revenues, up to the basics of its job”. His conclusion, “It often is not”. He further notes that the IRS “fails at detecting refund fraud before paying out billions of dollars a year”. Further, he indicates that “many taxpayers and their preparers can’t contact the IRS to answer questions or complaints” and even those that are received are not answered in a timely manner. He goes on to indicate that the IRS “cannot answer nearly 40% of phone calls and it has failed to meet its own 45 day deadline to respond to millions of letters per year from taxpayers”. As we noted before at United We Stand, the IRS has had it budget cut by over $1 billion since 2011. Mr. Kranish pointed out that Nina Olson, the National Taxpayer Advocate, June 2013 declared the IRS to be “an institution in crises’. Her January 2014 report was more urgent as she indicated that the IRS ‘will fail at its missions unless changes are made’.
No positive changes have yet been made by the President or the Congress. It is time they pay attention to the IRS and provide it with a budget that will allow it to collect the monies owed to our government. Curtail refund fraud and insure everyone pays their fair share.
Harry Pukay-Martin
