Declining IRS workforce leaves calls unanswered as Tax Day approaches, union says

Source: W Post

By Lisa Rein

Taxpayers across the country are lining up for hours outside walk-in centers and getting just four in 10 calls for information answered by the Internal Revenue Service as April 15 approaches, the union representing IRS employees said Monday.

The National Treasury Employees Union released data showing state-by-state declines in the agency’s workforce after five years of budget cuts by Congress.

“These figures should shock the conscience of Congress,” NTEU President Colleen Kelley said at a news conference to draw attention to the budget cuts’ effect on customer service this tax season.

Congress has reduced the IRS budget by a total of $1.2 billion since 2010. The cuts have come as the agency battles a growing epidemic of identity theft and new responsibilities created by the Affordable Care Act. The volume of calls to the toll-free number are on the rise, along with the number of Americans filing tax returns.

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U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 1040 Individual Income Tax forms for the 2014 tax year Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/04/06/declining-force-of-irs-employees-leaves-calls-unanswered-as-tax-day-approaches-union-says/