On Monday, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced the termination of its decades-old policy of making unannounced home and business visits.
In effort to safeguard employees and combat scammers impersonating IRS agents, revenue agents will refrain from conducting unplanned visits to taxpayers’ homes and businesses, with exceptions made for unique circumstances, according to a statement issued by the Treasury Department.
Instead, the agency will adopt a new approach – scheduling meetings by sending letters to taxpayers.
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“Today’s announcement is the right thing to do, at the right time,” new IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel told reporters on a call Monday.
This marks the end of an era at the IRS, reversing the longstanding practice where revenue officers visited residences and firms to address unpaid taxes and unfiled tax returns on-site.
The decision comes after the agency encountered increased threats in recent years, partially stemming from the speculation that agents would be targeting middle-income taxpayers more aggressively following the passage of a climate, healthcare, and tax bill allocating $80 billion to bolster tax collections.
Responding to concerns about employee safety, the IRS initiated a comprehensive review of security measures at its facilities last August. In May, the agency also took steps to limit workers’ personal identifying information in communications with taxpayers.
A report by the Treasury Department’s Inspector General for Tax Administration raised alarm about potential malevolent actors exploiting the internet and social media to track down and threaten IRS employees and their families.
The National Treasury Employees Union, representing IRS workers, lauded the agency’s decision to discontinue unannounced visits.
“The officers we represent will continue to efficiently and effectively carry out their mission of helping taxpayers meet their lawful tax obligations through other means of communication,” union leader Tony Reardon said in an emailed statement.
IRS Acting Commissioner, Danny Werfel, expressed confidence that the policy change would go a long way in addressing concerns related to unannounced visits, including those raised by the U.S. Congress. Further, the agency cited an uptick in scam artists posing as IRS agents, contributing to the confusion surrounding unannounced home visits.
With this new policy in place, the IRS aims to enhance worker safety and maintain the integrity of its operations while continuing to serve taxpayers effectively.
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