Summary

The IRS is considering drastic workforce reduction plans that could cut up to half of its 90,000 employees through layoffs, attrition, and buyouts.

The Trump administration, working through Elon Musk’s DOGE, has already laid off 7,000 probationary (newly hired) employees and plans further reductions.

Former IRS commissioners warn that such cuts would make the agency dysfunctional: “Reducing the IRS’s resources will make our government less effective and efficient in collecting taxes Congress has imposed.”

The agency may also lend workers to the Department of Homeland Security for immigration deportation.

  • NotLemming@lemm.ee
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    1 day ago

    They will erase the departments chasing businesses and rich people for money and only poor’s will have to pay taxes

  • Podunk@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Run government like a buisiness they said.

    Lets fire everyone in accounts receivable they say.

    I know what direction this “business” is going…

    Fucking morons.

  • GrundlButter@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 days ago

    This should make tax season pressure free for new families, given the sudden uptick in octuplets birthed in the previous tax year. It’s nice not to have to worry about getting audited.

    Besides, the IRS is definitely going to get turned into a political weapon, given that they’ve already accused Democrats of that, this is one of their next projections.

  • Ledericas@lemm.ee
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    2 days ago

    its been shown they can only go after people earning less than 100k/year if they are cut too much, and ignore the bigger fish like corporations and rich people.

  • WaxiestSteam69@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    It’s dysfunctional now. I’ve been dealing with a problem with my 2018 return because of mistake by my preparer. I tried multiple times over a two year period to reach someone on the phone with no success. On my last attempt I got to a person after 1 hour 45 minutes on hold. I sent the requested documents in November 2024 and still haven’t received so much as an acknowledgement in the mail.

    • henfredemars@infosec.pub
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      2 days ago

      It’s on the brink of complete collapse, which is exactly where they want it so they are free to lie and cheat and steal from the people.

      • WaxiestSteam69@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        Once I got in touch with someone they were helpful and professional. They’re just so understaffed you can’t speak to someone. The first three times I tried to call tye system message was basically “There is no more room in the queue. Please try again later. You will be disconnected now.” And I was.

      • WaxiestSteam69@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        Here’s the kicker. The IRS won’t accept mail with a return response. You can send it and track it but you can’t be sure anyone actually received it. That happened on one of my attempts to send it via mail. It was received the second time.

    • MyTurtleSwimsUpsideDown@fedia.io
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      2 days ago

      It’s the 2021 return for me.
      I finally got a letter saying “you goofed you calculations, we recalculated them. If you don’t contest the new amount by [DATE], we will send your return in the new amount.”

      [DATE] was six months ago.

      • WaxiestSteam69@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        My preparer didn’t e-file and I didn’t find out until 9 months after the due date. I had paid the taxes due electronically and had all the receipts so the IRS agreed I didn’t owe them. They just wanted me to file. Five years since the first notice and I still don’t have a final status. I’m guessing a lot of people simply won’t pay or file if they cut the staffing that much.

  • AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    But don’t some of those .1% types get loads of money from the US government? Where do they think that money comes from? The money fairies?

    • Lesrid@lemm.ee
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      1 day ago

      I suppose to them, the US Treasury is magic. You’d think the ‘titans of industry’ would understand that taxing is needed even when you can print money because money itself is a commodity. It’s only worth something if not everyone has it.

  • tal@lemmy.today
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    2 days ago

    I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that IRS employees are most-likely revenue-positive for the government.

    • Ledericas@lemm.ee
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      2 days ago

      right now they are just raiding the govt for money and then leave an empty husk, more or less its being run like a PE firm does.

  • bean@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    Well, time to start learning how to do NEU USA taxes. Where we shirk our own tax responsibilities through loopholes just like big companies! Grandma and Grandpa, Mom, Dad, Aunty Em. Let’s all get us some offshore accounts and shell companies! Hey, I’m just doing what the President is encouraging. If they don’t have staff to enforce it either, whooo boy. But not my problem. I voted for the other gal 🤷 This is “America First!”

  • d00ery@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Lmao the republicans are the not the party of the little people.
    The article is from 2022 Inflation Reduction Act https://www.caltaxadviser.com/irs-audits-are-about-to-surge-heres-who-theyre-targeting/

    Commissioner Werfel emphasized that most Americans, particularly middle- and low-income taxpayers as well as small business owners, will not experience a significant increase in audits. Instead, by prioritizing high-wealth individuals, large corporations, and intricate partnerships, the IRS aims to target its resources where they can have the most significant impact

    Lol https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report/irs-should-target-large-complex-partnerships-watchdog-says

      • GaMEChld@lemmy.world
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        18 hours ago

        Too obvious imo, would consume more resources if investigation were required. If you had a few more deductions and losses on the other hand, that reduces your tax burden and boom.