The IRS Is a Mess—Now It’s Getting Audited
Stephen A Weisberg
Tax Attorney Resolving IRS & State Tax Debt Issues & Disputes for Individuals & Business Owners | I Fix Problems for Tax Professionals, Bankruptcy & Family Law Attorneys, Realtors Who Have Clients With Tax Debt ???
The IRS has long been an inefficient, bloated mess that mismanages taxpayer dollars while making life miserable for those who owe them money.
Well, Elon Musk’s team has arrived at IRS headquarters to take a hard look at how the agency operates.
Whether or not you agree generally with DOGE, it’s about time.
Why This Matters to Your Clients (and You)
For years, your clients have been dealing with an IRS that is slow, inconsistent, and frustratingly opaque.
Audits take forever.
Refunds get lost.
Collection notices seem to go out at random.
Now, with a much-needed review underway, might we see improvements?
3 Ways This Could Improve Tax Debt Resolution
1. Greater Accountability is a GOOD Thing.
Lost paperwork, inefficient processes, and inconsistent enforcement have plagued the IRS for years.
If this review leads to actual accountability, taxpayers dealing with IRS debt might finally get fairer treatment.
2. Transparency Could Lead to Faster Resolutions
One of the biggest frustrations in tax debt cases is the sheer lack of transparency.
Clients don’t know what’s going on with their cases, and IRS agents give different answers depending on the day.
Fixing this could mean faster, more predictable outcomes for those who owe money.
3. Fewer Resources Wasted on Pointless Bureaucracy
A review of their operations could help eliminate useless bureaucracy and actually improve service.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)
Let’s Talk…
Do you think this audit of the IRS is a good thing?
Or are you wholly opposed?
Let me know in the comments!
PARTNER at CARSON FISCHER PLC
1 周Doge is a lightning rod topic but it's happening and needs to be discussed.
Enrolled Agent; Principal, Tax Solutions; Former IRS Appeals Officer; Business, Divorce & Trial Taxation Consultant
2 周It is true that there are areas that need improvement. One is the training program. Without proper training the agency can not run. The other area is proper review of the work. I have a case that the IRS position that the Forms 941 and W-3 did not agree. Once they communicate this with me I prepare a spreadsheet that shows that they agreed. The remove the withholding from the employee- member of the LLC. Because of the above issue. They send a bill over 90,000 to the client. I requested an Collection Appeals Review. The IRS denied the Collection Appeals Review. I responded with the letter from the Philadelphia Service Center telling the taxpayer that was no discrepancy but they did restor the withholding to the employee- member. It took the Taxpayer Avocate Office involment to have a reconsideration. One day this month a refund was direct deposited into the employee bank account. No letter or phone explaining the deposit. I found out because I got an Account Transcript. I sure that tax practitioners have good examples we’re improvement is necessary. Raul F. Pendas Former Appeals Officer
Partner and Co-Chair of Corporate and Tax Practice Group @ Klintworth & Rozenblat, LLP | M&A, Finance, Tax, International, Estate and Trust, Transactional
2 周Excellent topic, Stephen - politics aside, I think that the Service (like any agency) could be made more efficient. How that impacts the practical day-to-day of our practices is an open question. Shrinking the agency is going to cause disruption in an already stressed organization. I think that updating the technology available to the service is the only real way to shrink the headcount, while creating efficiency. This is one where DOGE may have to suggest spending to make it more efficient. It may be a hot take, so your analytical mileage may vary.
Tax Controversy and Criminal Tax specialist. Over 30 years experience with the DOJ Tax Division and the IRS Office of Chief Counsel. Currently Senior Director, Tax Controversy at Omega Accounting Solutions.
2 周This will not end well.