re: The real problem with the IRS

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It is a problem, but not the problem. The IRS has more than enough resources for administering our income tax system except for examinations to ensure compliance. The need for examinations is a direct result of the complexity of our tax laws. Simplify the laws and the amount of resources necessary to ensure compliance decreases substantially.

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What is the definition of income?

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However, this must be understood in the light of the fact the
Congress has underfunded the IRS, overburdens it with new provisions, and, for
the job Congress expects the IRS to perform, IRS is decidedly undermanned.49
A 2014 TAS Objective Report is notable in that the TA states that “Today the
IRS is an institution in crisis. In my view, however, the real crisis in not the one
generating the crisis. The real crisis facing the IRS—and therefore taxpayers—is
a radically transformed mission coupled with inadequate funding to accomplish
that mission. As a consequence of this crisis, the IRS gives limited consideration
to taxpayers’ rights or fundamental tax administration principles as it struggles to
get its job done.”50

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47 National Taxpayer Advocate 2012 Annual Report to Congress, p. vii.
48 TAS 2012 Annual Report to Congress, p. 2.
49 TAS 2012 Annual Report to Congress, p. 5 states “The significant and chronic underfunding of
the IRS poses one of the most significant long-term risks to tax administration today. Because of
funding shortages, the IRS is unable to answer millions of taxpayer telephone calls or timely
process letters; the tax gap (i.e. the amount of tax due but uncollected) stands at nearly $400
billion each year; taxpayers believe the tax laws are not being fairly enforced against others; and
the federal deficit is unnecessarily large. Some taxpayer problems identified in this report result
from poor planning or execution, and it is important that the IRS not use lack of funding as a
justification for failing to address these problems. However, the lack of sufficient funding is the
sole or significant cause of many taxpayer problems.”
50 See GAO 2014 Objective Report to Congress and Special Report to Congress, p. v.

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Getting value out of trolling this board on a topic like this is as embarrassing as expressing this opinion.

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Either way, it makes no sense to consider your opinions on any other topic moving forward.

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