Ahhh… the old ‘the sky is falling because you didn’t give us enough money’ tactic. The IRS is cutting services just when complicated changes kick in. Thanks, guys!!
From Fox Business today:
WASHINGTON – The IRS is cutting taxpayer services just as President Barack Obama’s health law is making filing a tax return more complicated.
The agency blames budget cuts enacted by Congress. An IRS watchdog says service problems at the tax agency will make complying with the law harder for well-intentioned taxpayers.
“Without adequate support, many taxpayers will be frustrated, some will make potentially costly mistakes, others will incur higher compliance costs when forced to seek information and assistance from tax professionals,” said Nina E. Olson, the National Taxpayer Advocate, an independent office within the IRS.
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The silver lining of this change is in the last section of the article:
WILL IRS BUDGET CUTS REDUCE MY CHANCE OF GETTING AUDITED?
Yes. Last year, the IRS had fewer agents auditing returns than at any time since at least the 1980s. This year the number of agents will be cut again — by about 1,800 agents, Koskinen said.
To read the entire article CLICK HERE.
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***UPDATE***
But wait, there’s more! In this January 14, 2015 piece, Fox News reports that the IRS is not allowing the elderly and disabled to leave messages after they refuse to pick up their calls:
“The IRS does not answer the phone at local offices and has even removed the option it once provided for taxpayers, including the elderly and disabled, to leave a message,” according to the report.
“If you are disabled or elderly and require special accommodations for service, please email us at…,” the Taxpayer Advocate had to state.
As the National Taxpayer Advocate states:
“Demographic research data show only 57 percent of adults over age 65 use the Internet compared with 87 percent of all adults. According to 2010 Census data, only 41 percent of those with a non-severe disability use the Internet and only 22 percent of those with a severe disability age 65 and older use the Internet. For those without Internet access, the only viable ways to reach the IRS are by phone, or in person,” the report stated.
Want to bet they won’t be lenient on the elderly and disabled who file incorrectly or not at all for lack of access to assistance because of the new IRS policies?
An Economy Of One 