Home Media Center News Releases

Washington, D.C.—Today’s release of the 2013 IRS Data Book details the loss of thousands of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees in just one year’s time, intensifying the problems taxpayers are having in getting assistance this filing season.

The annual publication shows that overall IRS staffing fell by almost 6,000 employees just from fiscal 2012, including a reduction of more than 3,300 in taxpayer assistance occupations.

“We are seeing the results of these reductions in staffing, particularly in customer service, all across the country this filing season,” said President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).

“Both taxpayers and employees are frustrated by the lengthy lines at Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs) and the long telephone hold times for those who call the IRS with a question,” she added.

Going back to 2010, the IRS budget has been cut by nearly $1 billion, with the loss of some 10,000 employees. Not only that, President Kelley said, the IRS has been forced to reduce the range of services available to taxpayers this filing season, including what for a great many is the principal reason they come to the walk-in sites—for assistance preparing their returns. “Taxpayers are shocked, frustrated and angry to find out that vital service is no longer available,” she added.

The White House budget proposal for fiscal 2015 begins to address some of these problems, the NTEU leader said, noting that it would provide a roughly 7.5 percent increase for taxpayer services over the current funding level. That would include an 8.1 percent increase for account filing and services—functions that include customer service, processing tax returns, issuing tax refunds and maintaining taxpayer accounts.

“Enacting the administration’s budget would be a good first step,” Kelley said. “It is critically important to rebuild IRS staffing so help is available for taxpayers who are trying to navigate the complex tax code and be compliant.”

During 2013, the IRS assisted almost 91 million taxpayers through its toll-free telephone helpline or at walk-in sites.

NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.