Internal Revenue Service Assistance to Taxpayers in Filing Federal Income Tax Returns

Gao ID: GGD-76-49 April 1, 1976

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) directly assisted taxpayers on about 41 million occasions during fiscal year 1975. This assistance, consisting mainly of handing out tax forms, answering tax questions, and helping to complete returns, was provided over a toll-free telephone system, at Internal Revenue offices, and during the filing period, at temporary offices, shopping centers, and elsewhere.

GAO interviewed taxpayers visiting service locations in 1974 and found that almost all were satisfied with the help received. The IRS also helps taxpayers indirectly by holding classes to teach people how to prepare their own and others' tax returns, and providing specially prepared tax publications to high schools and colleges for use in the classrooms. The agency's information on the success of these programs is inaccurate and appears to overstate their impact on taxpayers. IRS did not monitor enough of its tax assistors to determine if they were providing correct information.

Recommendations

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