03/02/2017

Budget-challenged IRS Lags in Enforcement

Challenges expected to continue as federal budget slashes mount

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had a 12 percent drop last year in the number of criminal cases it investigated, according to an annual report released by the agency earlier this week.

Budget cuts have resulted in a 19 percent drop in the staffing of agents at the IRS who enforce the nation’s tax laws over the past five years, the report said.

“We’re at the same staffing level as 1956, which is just unbelievable when you think about it,” said Richard Weber, division chief, to reporters after the report came out. “There’s still no realistic expectation of increasing that number anytime soon. It’s very difficult to be able to do everything we are mandated to do.”

President Trump outlined a budget plan before his address to Congress earlier this week that would increase military spending by $54 billion but cut spending from many other federal agencies, including the IRS. Trump’s plan would slash the IRS budget for the next fiscal year by 14 percent.

This article was provided to OSAE by The Power of A.