Hello? 8M phone calls unanswered as IRS cut taxpayer service

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS' overloaded phone system hung up on more than 8 million taxpayers this filing season as the agency cut millions of dollars from taxpayer services.

For those who weren't disconnected, only 40 percent actually got through to a person. Many of those people had to wait on hold for more than 30 minutes.

A new staff report by Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee says the IRS diverted millions from taxpayer services and other areas to pay for President Barack Obama's health law.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20150422/us--irs-no_answer-8550a5ed9b.html

[jtuck004]

1. "The agency's budget has been cut by $1.2 billion since 2010." n/t

[Tripper11]

2. I would bet the "excuse" is dubious at best

And with a little more digging, I'm sure the republicans forced the issue whereas there was an alternative?
Painting with a broad brush? Perhaps...but I don't trust these weasels one bit and when I read "A new staff report by Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee.."

Yeah....right

[Jacoby365]

6. "Republicans seek to cripple IRS"

Back in December:

With seemingly little pushback from Democrats, the GOP this week secured $350 million in IRS budget cuts into the “cromnibus,” just weeks before one of the toughest tax seasons starts. The cuts to the IRS — and the larger negotiations on the year-end spending bill — offer a sneak peek at what Republicans plan to do when they are able to dominate government spending decisions.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/republicans-irs-regulations-113484.html#ixzz3Y3ah645B

[freshwest]

10. Well, it's on the Koch Libertarian agenda. GOP will do it by hook or crook. See the list:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024806298

[jtuck004]

11. "...With seemingly little pushback from Democrats" < When two politicians agree, you don't need one

of them.

[Sunlei]

3. i thought the new obamacare form(s) would be confusing, but it was easy to follow from instructions.

One form from insurance company with the amount paid and one form to file with my 1040.

I overpaid my premiums so got some tax reduction back in the end. self-employed so I estimated my yearly income high so I would not have to refund the gov.

I wish we didn't have to do income tax and just paid the tax on new not necessary items and pure luxury items. I could use the day back.

[dembotoz]

4. this is absurd taxpayer needs to get questions answered

Not filling out something correct is a problem if u can not get help

[marym625]

5. part of my job has included calling the IRS

I have held on hold for an hour on at least 20 occasions.

[elleng]

7. BS that

'IRS diverted millions from taxpayer services and other areas to pay for President Barack Obama's health law,' imo. IRS' budget's been cut by the damn repugs. Starve the Beast, ya know.

[blackspade]

8. well, duh.

You cut over a billion out of the budget, you have to cut somewhere.
Sorry rethugs, you own this one.

[Xithras]

9. Their web based question submission system is even worse.

I submitted a question this year about student loan interest deductions for a claimed dependent when you're a loan cosigner and are making the loan payments. The online documentation is a bit unclear.

I received my response 22 days after sending in the question. 22 DAYS! By that point I'd already called five times, getting disconnected the first four, and after waiting for nearly an hour on hold was finally given an answer by an actual human being.

Turns out that nobody could claim the deduction...I can't because I'm not the primary loan holder, and she can't because she didn't make the actual payments using her own funds.