Why is IRS service so bad in 2021?

A new report by a government watchdog alleges that the Internal Revenue Service is “in crisis,” and that American taxpayers are paying an outrageous price.

And thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, years of budget cuts, a reduced workforce, and a slew of new responsibilities, the IRS even managed to make 2021 “the most challenging year ever.” to taxpayers,” the National Taxpayer Advocate said in the report, sections of which are marked by Articles washington.

“Throughout 2021, tens of millions of taxpayers have been forced to wait an exceptionally long time for the IRS to process their tax returns, issue refunds, and process their correspondence,” reads the document released by the advocate. on behalf of national taxpayer Erin M submitted to the National Assembly. Collins. “The IRS is in crisis.”

In addition to the spike in web traffic that led to frustration and a deep backlog of profits, the watchdog found that the IRS “response rate to taxpayer phone calls has plummeted.” down 11%” last year, writes Post, down from 29% the year before the pandemic. What’s more, the growing number of calls and a stressed workforce combine to make IRS phone service in 2021 “the worst it’s ever been,” the report found. Notably, the agency received 282 million calls in 2021, compared with 100 million in 2019.

Further investigation of the watchdog’s findings at Articles washington.