IRS Hires 1,000 Seasonal Employees, Plans to Downsize in Other Areas

Government Executive: The Internal Revenue Commissioner on Thursday credited Congress for a $290 million funding increase that will help reverse declining customer service by allowing him to hire 1,000 seasonal employees.

John Koskinen told reporters in a conference call Thursday that the Internal Revenue Service’s preparations are “on time” for the 2016 filing season, which begins on Jan. 19, even though a major tax extenders package didn’t clear Congress until Dec. 18. “The increased funding is an important development for the agency,” as the first budget hike in six years, he said, promising that IRS employees “stand ready” to handle the expected 150 million tax returns.

Read article