Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
EDITORS:
The following story has moved as this week's Monday Spotlight, a feature showcasing the best off-the-news enterprise in the AP report:
TAX ENFORCEMENT
WASHINGTON — As millions of Americans race to meet Tuesday's tax deadline, their chances of getting audited are lower than they have been in years. Budget cuts and new responsibilities are straining the Internal Revenue Service's ability to police tax returns. This year, the IRS will have fewer agents auditing returns than at any time since at least the 1980s. Taxpayer services are suffering, too, with millions of phone calls to the IRS going unanswered. Last year, the IRS audited less than 1 percent of all returns from individuals, the lowest rate since 2005. This year, the commissioner says the numbers will go down. The budget is down nearly $1 billion from a few years ago, just as the agency is gearing up to enforce the president's health law. By Stephen Ohlemacher. SENT: 960 words, photo, graphic.
—TAX ENFORCEMENT-GLANCE. SENT: 150 words.
The AP
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
