Internal Revenue Service History in the United States

Internal Revenue Service Recent Developments

Introduction to Internal Revenue Service History

In 1997 and 1998 the IRS became the subject of dramatic congressional hearings. Several taxpayers testified that the agency had persecuted them for years for taxes that they did not owe. Some former IRS agents told Congress of questionable management practices within the agency. Some agents claimed, for example, that IRS managers set quotas for the collection of back taxes, which led some agents to use very aggressive collection tactics in an effort to meet the quotas. In mid-1998 the House and the Senate each passed bills that would curtail many of the abuses and give taxpayers more rights in disputes with the IRS. The two chambers then tried to work out differences between the two bills so they could approve a final bill and send it on to the White House.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Internal Revenue Service History in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Internal Revenue Service History