The problems are many, and complex.
One major problem is the number of new untrained employees. The IRS lost their middle management and most of the older knowledgeable employees have retired.
They have been so overworked that most employees bailed as soon as possible. The case load in both audit and collections was unmanageable.
Last year, in order to get the backlog of correspondence audits cleared, the IRS sent statutory notices of deficiency to many taxpayers, forcing them to appeal to tax court. Thus the normally overloaded docket was absolutely swamped.
I do many IRS audits, collection cases, and tax court cases, even in retirement. It’s harder retiring than getting started in business.
It’s about to get far worse. I think Joe Biden made a deal to give the IRS lots of money in exchange for letting him and Hunter go free.
I paid taxes due on a Trust I manage last year and received a letter in November stating taxes were due in the same amount that I had paid. I checked the Trust account checking and saw that the amount was electronically debited 4 days after I paid them via check.
Sent this proof to them and asked them to verify receipt of payment. Got a letter back in January 2024 saying they needed 60 days to review. Another letter in March saying they need another 60 days. Yesterday received Notice of intent to levy assets! Through all of this I have called them numerous times and on hold for up to 4 hours and they disconnect me. Cannot speak to representative. Now they have added taxes and interest to the amount they have already received. This is a court ordered Trust that I am trying to close out and this tax issue is delaying things, let alone the heirs are upset because they want the balance distributed to them and I have to hold back to pay this tax and appeal. I guess that will be my only choice.