Two different news items came out today about the IRS, and as yet they haven’t been tied together. But if you think about it, they mesh perfectly.
The first one is the same disturbing-yet-true story we hear every year: “IRS Customer Service is horrible/pathetic/non-existent“. Yes, we know. And water is wet. Got it.
Actually, I wrote about this last year:
(from February, 2013) – “…more than 115 million people called the IRS for help; only 68 percent of those who wanted to speak with tax experts actually got through — and only after holding for an average of 17 minutes on phone lines. One million of the 10 million written inquiries mailed to the IRS last year also did not get a response…”
And apparently the story hasn’t changed much since then:
(via Fox News) – Have a question on your tax returns? Don’t ask the IRS.
As tax day looms, an annual watchdog report to Congress finds that the agency is falling short when it comes to answering Americans’ questions about the convoluted tax code. The National Taxpayer Advocate found only 61 percent of people seeking to speak with a customer service representative last year got through to anybody — leaving nearly 20 million calls unanswered.
The report largely blamed budget cuts, and lamented the impact the poor customer service is having on taxpayers.
Hmmm, so they can’t answer my phone call because of “budget cuts”, you say? Yet according to the congressional report referenced above, the IRS’ budget was cut a whopping …8%!!
Eight. Percent.
I wonder: has any Private Sector business had to cut their budget by 8% in the last three years? Or maybe I should ask what private sector company HASN’T had to cut their budget by that amount (or more)?
An 8% reduction in funding can hardly be the primary reason that little more than half of IRS “customers” are receiving so much as a how-do-you-do. No, I’d wager that the answer lies less in the Internal Revenue Service being “underfunded”, and more with where their true focus is these days:
We’ve already documented plenty of examples where the IRS seems to have plenty of time (and the requisite staffing, to boot) to pursue activities other than the mundane task of “answering the phone”.
So, based on this newest revelation from the video above, it seems the IRS has a choice on their hands:
- either continue to target the current Administration’s ideological opponents, OR
- start trying to properly assist the country’s taxpayers when we have questions concerning our unbelievably complicated tax laws.
One more thing to keep in mind, however: last spring the IRS acting Commissioner Steven Miller referred to his agency’s intimidating Conservative groups as “Horrible Customer Service”, a turn-of-phrase which immediately gained entry into the Ridiculous Euphemism Hall Of Fame.
But it’s also why I’m guessing that, if the IRS still holds that view, no amount of complaining about actual “horrible customer service” is likely to bother them all that much.
Two Heads are Better Than One 
I just love your blog. Thank you.
You’re very kind, Jim.
Always glad to see you, partner, and keep up the good work over at your place, as well!
If you liked this entry, I’d strongly urge you to take a peek at this earlier post.
Think it’ll help put this new post in even sharper perspective.
BULLSEYE
Thanks, tannngl.
It’s like we’ve been saying for months now, though: the Left isn’t really trying that hard to hide their intentions or activities anymore.
They are wildly emboldened, and our nation will continue to pay a horrible price until we can stop them.
Ya know….if we could SIMPLIFY the tax code, we wouldn’t NEED as many IRS employees! People call because the tax laws in this country are purposefully convoluted and ambiguous. When the IRS tells you (as they have told ME on a past occasion): “Well, just file it that way and if we have a problem with it later, we’ll just do an audit. Unless, of course you wish to request a Private Letter Ruling (about $10,000 cost)”, I am LESS than comforted.
So…I call you (IRS) to clarify the tax law, and you CAN’T/DON’T answer my question?
Gimme the flat tax, and you can cut the IRS by 80%.
That’s all true, partner, but …it’ll never happen.
The government needs a complex, impenetrable, impossible-to-understand tax code to hide their various confiscatory tax schemes. If it was easy, people would more easily see what they’re paying, …and they’d be ticked. Again, I cite the different ways people react to paying their taxes vs. paying for gasoline:
–For the latter, they’ll drive out of their way to save $.05/gallon.
–For the former, they have NO IDEA how much they’re “spending” and seemingly can’t be bothered to try and find out.
The difference is one they understand, the other they don’t. Plus, taxes are generally deducted from their pay. They don’t miss it, because it’s never been there to miss.
I, too, long for a simpler tax code.
But for today, I’d just settle for an IRS that doesn’t have a picture of me taped to their “Most Wanted” wall…
Ummm…..don’t know how to tell you this, but the last time I was at the IRS, I DID see a picture of a guy who “looked” like you! HA!
JTR: it just INFURIATES me that they (the IRS) whine about a lack of staffing and the need for more, when it’s the RIDICULOUS tax code in our Country that necessitates their presence to begin with. More gubmint jobs…..at taxpayer expense……generating union dues…..that feed the Democrat Party. (Insert primal scream HERE)
You’ve just reminded me of a recent quote from AG Holder, when he said that he thought Voter ID laws were a “solution in search of a problem”.
Because those words could be used to describe 95% of ALL government. It’s not ALL unnecessary, but the majority of it is…
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