President Biden proposes $80 billion for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Five former commissioners write in the Washington Post this week that money could help create a fairer tax system.
- Charles Rossotti and Fred Goldberg, former Internal Revenue Service commissioners who support the proposal, said in order to fully function, the agency needs a $20 billion annual budget, which the plan would amount to over 10 years.
- Rossotti said the IRS is down about 22,000 staff in the last 10 years and has fewer auditors than it has had since World War II.
- Goldberg said workforce attrition results in declines in audit rates and voluntary compliance.