The Tax Report: IRS plans for cuts in service

The Tax Report: IRS plans for cuts in service: "The Tax Report: IRS plans for cuts in service
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
By Tom Herman, The Wall Street Journal

The IRS faces heavy fire for plans to cut programs designed to help taxpayers figure out what they owe and unravel bureaucratic tangles.
Internal Revenue Service officials are planning to reduce the number of walk-in service centers, where taxpayers can meet with IRS employees. The IRS also plans to reduce hours for toll-free phone assistance. And officials are considering reducing a program enabling taxpayers to get answers to tax questions via email.
At the same time, the IRS is planning to increase spending on enforcement. For example, taxpayers can expect more audits, especially of high-income individuals. Also expect an increase in liens, levies and seizures. The IRS plans more crackdowns on tax shelters, as well as on accountants, lawyers and other tax advisers involved with inventing or promoting shelters."