crossposted from unbossed
The NTEU has got to be one of the best unions at making its case to the public. Take its IRS Watch site. See how it makes its case - in a clear, dramatic, and authorative way - that demonstrates that the Administration is up to no good. For example, the site shows that most of us are paying higher taxes to make up for not collecting taxes from the very rich.
This barrage has apparently gotten the IRS' goat. Scroll to the end to see how [pathetically] the Administration is responding.
You will find the IRS Watch site here. For example, here's a nice clear graphic of how the administration is cheating at taxes.
The graphics and presentation make a fun game - Find your Favorite Statistic. Here are mine:
From 2.9 percent to 0.35 percent. The rate of face-to-face audits of high-income taxpayers from 1992 through fiscal 2004.
157 out of 345. The number of estate and gift tax attorneys—who audit the wealthiest Americans—the IRS wanted to eliminate last year despite these employees being the most productive in the agency. Eighty-one positions have been eliminated thus far.
$11 million. The projected sweetheart payout to private debt collectors for bringing in only $46 million in tax debts this year.
So what is your favorite?
The IRS Responds
Clearly, the NTEU's campaign is starting to get to the IRS. They now have a new webpage to tell the public that private tax collectors are A-OK. link
But, wait.
If this is supposed to make us feel OK - to believe that things are in good, hands, scroll all the way down. You will see a link to another website with IRS press release announcing who these wonderful debt collectorsare:
The firms are:
* The CBE Group Inc., Waterloo, Iowa.
* Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP, Austin, Texas.
* Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc., Arcade, N.Y.
A total of 33 firms took part in the competitive bidding process that resulted in today’s contract awards.
Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson where have we seen this name recently?
Faithful unbossed readers (and maybe even some faithless ones) may recall that we honored them with a posting about their being canned by the IRS.
So now there are only 2 private contractors who "made the grade." What is it with these guys? They can't even figure out who to trust with collecting our taxes?
Ironic that in trying to assure us that hiring private debt collectors is a good idea they just make it clear that the whole process is a mess.
Extra credit reading
I have written many posts and diaries on related issues. Here are links to a just a few of those stories for background information - most recent first:
NTA Report Blasts IRS Private Debt Collectors
IRS and Private Debt Collectors - I Don't Make this Stuff Up. I'm Not that Funny
Finding the Missing $300 Billion
Your Private Information – Sold off by the Republicans