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Bureaucracy Quote by David Cay Johnston

“Congress is supposed to fund the IRS, and it has been steadily reducing the number of auditors and tax collectors the IRS has at the very time that the tax system has become vastly more complicated. And of course America continues to grow, so there's an increasing number of tax returns coming in…” quote by David Cay Johnston
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“Congress is supposed to fund the IRS, and it has been steadily reducing the number of auditors and tax collectors the IRS has at the very time that the tax system has become vastly more complicated. And of course America continues to grow, so there's an increasing number of tax returns coming in. The IRS responds by doing exactly what Congress expects of them. That shouldn't surprise anyone. All bureaucracies do what they are told.”

David Cay Johnston

About This Quote

Source Article: Tax Policy Analysis, 2023

Congressional funding cuts reduce IRS capacity despite growing tax complexity.

In simple terms: Funding cuts weaken IRS amid complexity.

Key Takeaway

Advocate for adequate IRS resources.

Themes

government taxation bureaucracy

Mood

critical analytical

Type

informative explanatory

When to use this quote

  • budget planning
  • tax compliance
  • legislative oversight

Key Concepts

policy analysis public finance

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can taxpayers influence IRS funding?
  • What reforms could improve efficiency?
A Different Perspective

Political realities may limit funding increases.

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