In testimony before the House, IRS Commissioner Rettig provided an update on the significant processing backlog at the Internal Revenue Services (IRS).
With tax season ending, taxpayers remain confused and frustrated with the extreme slowdown at the IRS. Coming into the 2022 tax season, the IRS had yet to process returns for the 2021 tax season for approximately 24 million taxpayers. This includes those owed refunds. It is not a joke that most taxpayers who reached out to the IRS in the last year were not able to reach a representative, due to overwhelming call volume and the chronically understaffed IRS.
Overall, the backlog is attributed to a number of factors which include:
- The COVID-19 pandemic: Like many agencies and businesses throughout the country, many IRS workers went remote. Unlike some other enterprises, the IRS saw a drop in productivity as a result. At the same time, the IRS processed and distributed stimulus checks throughout the country in addition to its usual responsibilities. In addition, many IRS workers left their jobs during the pandemic and did not return.
- Budget woes: The IRS has been underfunded for years. As the responsibilities of the agency have grown, its budget has correspondingly declined. Old equipment, archaic processes, and inability to hire to meet its staffing needs continue to plague the agency. Even with a pressing need to hire staff to handle the backlog, the IRS does not pay competitive wages and the starting salary is low. Starting pay for clerks and tax examiners is $15.61 an hour.
Throughout 2022, the IRS has struggled to manage the backlog. In the past year, taxpayers have received IRS automated penalty notices for unpaid taxes. The agency has currently stopped sending out automatic notices to taxpayers with so many returns stuck in the backlogged pipeline.
The budget squeeze impacts the ability of the agency to pursue tax crime, conduct criminal tax investigations, examine offshore tax transactions, and staff civil and criminal tax audits, among other activities.
In March 2022, Commissioner Rettig offered testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee to discuss the backlog problem. The Commissioner discussed the current tax season, ongoing resource challenges, and the inadequate budget. In his testimony, Commissioner Rettig also noted the agency experiences approximately 2.4 million cyberattacks per day. That figure has increased since 2017, when the agency was fielding only one million digital attacks each day.
When questioned, the Commissioner said he expects the agency backlog will be resolved by year-end, 2022. The IRS remains challenged, as do taxpayers who rely on the agency to maintain their own compliance and obtain refunds in a timely manner. There is little doubt the IRS has an action plan in place for the resources that it has. It may ultimately be up to the American taxpayer to accept limited services for the budget provided.
Skilled legal advice on tax litigation, compliance, and foreign bank accounts
Representing local, national, and international clients from offices in Chicago and Cleveland, the legal team at Robert J. Fedor, Esq., LLC helps you respond strategically to questions about payroll tax issues, bankruptcy, or other tax controversy. Call 800-579-0997 or contact us today.
