IRS' 1996 Tax Filing Season: Performance Goals Generally Met; Efforts to Modernize Had Mixed Results
GGD-97-25
Published: Dec 18, 1996. Publicly Released: Dec 18, 1996.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) overall performance during the 1996 tax filing season, focusing on: (1) changes in 1996 that relate to taxpayer services and the processing of taxpayer refunds; and (2) some of IRS' efforts to modernize its processing activities.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Internal Revenue Service | If most eligible TeleFile users do not use the system during the 1997 filing season, as IRS is anticipating, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue should: (1) conduct a survey to determine why, including more specific information on why the nonusers prefer to file on paper; and (2) take steps to address any identified barriers to increased user participation. |
Closed – Implemented
IRS conducted a nonuser survey in 1997. It identified several changes that respondents said might encourage them to use TeleFile. IRS has taken steps to address some of those identified barriers but has decided to do nothing with respect to others.
|
| Internal Revenue Service | If the government is unable to negotiate lockbox fees that are more comparable to service center costs and in the absence of more compelling data on taxpayer burden, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, for filing seasons after 1977, should either discontinue having returns sorted by the banks or reconsider the decision to have taxpayers send their tax returns to the banks along with their tax payments. |
Closed – Not Implemented
This recommendation has been superseded by a related recommendation in GAO's report on the 1997 tax filing season (GGD-98-33).
|
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