Tax Administration:
How IRS' Philadelphia Service Center Is Addressing Processing Problems
GGD-86-60BR: Published: Mar 14, 1986. Publicly Released: Mar 14, 1986.
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the activities of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) service centers, in particular, the Philadelphia Service Center, to: (1) develop information on problems experienced in 1985; (2) identify actions taken to prevent recurrence in 1986; and (3) comment on the status of service center operations during the 1986 processing season.
GAO found that, in 1986, the center had: (1) processed more returns and issued more refunds; (2) more computer capacity and more efficient computer programs; and (3) more staff increases and training improvements. However, despite the improvements, GAO identified two areas requiring attention, including: (1) implementation of adequate procedures and controls to ensure timely processing of computer tapes; and (2) the impact of backlog inventory levels on service center resources and service. IRS indicated that all of the service centers encountered problems during 1985 and, although some of the problems were due to insufficient computer capacity, other problems might have been due to operational inefficiencies. IRS organized a task force to study the structure, functional responsibilities, and management of its computer branch organizations. The task force recommended a reorganization that would provide: (1) managerial oversight of computer operations at all times; and (2) the necessary support functions on a continuous basis through the creation of teams which would staff the systems on 4-hour shifts. GAO believes that: (1) the reorganization seems to be an appropriate step toward improving the effectiveness of the service centers' operations, but GAO could not assess the reorganization until it was fully staffed and had time to function; and (2) the task force recommendations adequately addressed the issues.
Jan 14, 2021
Tax Administration:
Better Coordination Could Improve IRS's Use of Third-Party Information Reporting to Help Reduce the Tax GapGAO-21-102: Published: Dec 15, 2020. Publicly Released: Jan 14, 2021.
Nov 18, 2020
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IRS Reorganization:
Planning Addressed Key Reform Practices, but Goals and Measures for the Plan Have Not Been FinalizedGAO-21-18: Published: Oct 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 18, 2020.
Nov 9, 2020
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Opportunity Zones:
Improved Oversight Needed to Evaluate Tax Expenditure PerformanceGAO-21-30: Published: Oct 8, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 9, 2020.
Oct 19, 2020
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Tax Administration:
Opportunities Exist to Improve Oversight of Hospitals' Tax-Exempt StatusGAO-20-679: Published: Sep 17, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 19, 2020.
Sep 23, 2020
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Taxpayer Service:
IRS Could Improve the Taxpayer Experience by Using Better Service Performance MeasuresGAO-20-656: Published: Sep 23, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 23, 2020.
Aug 31, 2020
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Abusive Tax Schemes:
Offshore Insurance Products and Associated Compliance RisksGAO-20-589: Published: Jul 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 31, 2020.
Jun 29, 2020
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Taxpayer Compliance:
More Income Reporting Needed for Taxpayers Working through Online PlatformsGAO-20-366: Published: May 28, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 29, 2020.
Jun 16, 2020
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Tax Exempt Organizations:
IRS Increasingly Uses Data in Examination Selection, but Could Further Improve Selection ProcessesGAO-20-454: Published: Jun 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 16, 2020.
May 1, 2020
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Management Report:
Improvements Are Needed to Enhance the Internal Revenue Service's Internal Control over Financial ReportingGAO-20-480R: Published: May 1, 2020. Publicly Released: May 1, 2020.
Apr 30, 2020
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Priority Open Recommendations:
Internal Revenue ServiceGAO-20-548PR: Published: Apr 23, 2020. Publicly Released: Apr 30, 2020.
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