The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) made a landmark decision on Monday, declaring the cessation of its long-standing practice of unanticipated visits by revenue officers to taxpayers.
The decision comes in the wake of rising concerns about the safety of IRS agents and the growing number of tax-related scams.
IRS revenue officers, who are unarmed, have been known to make surprise visits to residential and commercial premises to recover unpaid taxes and obtain unfiled tax returns.
“The growth in scam artists bombarding taxpayers has increased confusion about home visits by IRS revenue officers. Sometimes scam artists appear at the door posing as IRS agents, creating confusion for not just the taxpayers living there but local law-enforcement,” the IRS articulated in its press release detailing the policy shift.
Under the new policy, these unscheduled appearances will be phased out, barring a few exceptional cases.
Instead, the IRS will use mailed letters as a means of communication, allowing taxpayers to arrange meetings at their convenience.
“In place of the unannounced visits, revenue officers will instead make contact with taxpayers through an appointment letter, known as a 725-B, and schedule a follow-up meeting,” the press release reads. “This will help taxpayers feel more prepared when it is time to meet.”
The IRS Commissioner, Danny Werfel, provided additional insight, acknowledging the apprehension generated by these unexpected visits on both sides—the taxpayers as well as the agency’s employees.
“We are taking a fresh look at how the IRS operates to better serve taxpayers and the nation, and making this change is a common-sense step,” Werfel stated. “Changing this long-standing procedure will increase confidence in our tax administration work and improve overall safety for taxpayers and IRS employees.”
The announcement also revealed plans for the agency to increase its staffing levels, concentrating more on compliance work.
The funding for these enhancements will be secured from the IRS’s budget allocation for the next decade, under the recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act.
This change in IRS operations aligns with its Strategic Operating Plan, which was initiated in April, subsequent to the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.
The strategy aims at optimizing IRS operations, and the transition from unannounced visits to a more structured process is seen as a key component of the initiative.
