IRS Pursues 1,600 Millionaires and 75 Large Businesses for Unpaid Taxes
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced its intention to take aggressive action against 1,600 millionaires and 75 large business partnerships that owe substantial amounts of money in unpaid taxes. With an increase in federal funding and the assistance of artificial intelligence tools, the IRS is using new methods to target wealthy individuals who have evaded paying their fair share.
According to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel, it is particularly frustrating for law-abiding citizens when they see wealthy filers getting away with avoiding their tax obligations. Werfel revealed that the agency is specifically targeting 1,600 millionaires who owe a minimum of $250,000 each in back taxes, as well as 75 large business partnerships with an average asset value of $10 billion.
Werfel explained that a significant hiring effort and the utilization of AI research tools developed by IRS employees and contractors are playing instrumental roles in identifying affluent tax evaders. The agency aims to showcase positive results from its recent influx of funding under President Biden’s Democratic administration, while facing potential cutbacks to its budget from Republicans in Congress.
The IRS previously collected $38 million in delinquent taxes from over 175 high-income taxpayers in just a few months. Now, the agency plans to expand these collection efforts. In fiscal year 2024, dozens of revenue officers will focus on these high-end cases.
A team of academic economists and IRS researchers discovered that the top 1% of U.S. income earners fail to report more than 20% of their earnings to the IRS. The newly announced tax collection efforts will commence as early as October, as the agency embarks on a busy fall season of hiring and enforcement.
While some conservatives express concerns that the IRS may eventually target middle-income Americans for audits, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden welcomes the agency’s fresh approach to fighting sophisticated tax cheats. Wyden sees this action as crucial in ensuring that the wealthiest individuals pay their fair share.
David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, emphasizes the importance of everyone paying their taxes. However, he hopes that the IRS’ efforts won’t lead to the indiscriminate auditing of American citizens. Williams fears that thousands of new agents could be hired under the guise of these tax collection initiatives.
The IRS gained enhanced abilities to identify tax delinquents through resources provided by the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law by President Biden in August 2022. The agency was designated to receive an $80 billion infusion under the law, but this funding is susceptible to potential reductions by Congress.
House Republicans have already included a $1.4 billion reduction in IRS funding in the debt ceiling and budget cuts package passed over the summer. Additionally, there is a separate agreement to redirect $20 billion from the IRS to non-defense programs over the next two years. With the possibility of a government shutdown and disputes over spending levels, further cuts to the agency may be on the horizon.
In summary, the IRS is ramping up its efforts to go after wealthy individuals and large companies with unpaid taxes. With additional funding and the aid of artificial intelligence tools, the agency aims to ensure that those who owe substantial amounts in back taxes are held accountable. However, concerns have been raised about potential overreach and the IRS potentially targeting middle-income Americans in the future. It remains to be seen how effective these new measures will be in closing the tax gap and collecting what is owed to the government.
