On September 8, 2016, the IRS issued its final report on taxpayer compliance through fiscal year 2015 (the federal government’s fiscal year begins on October 1 and ends on September 30). The report is a compilation of statistical information collected by the IRS and provides taxpayers with information about how the IRS focuses its compliance resources and the impact of those resources on revenue and compliance over time.

For fiscal year 2015, the IRS continued to experience losses in the number of employees available to provide services to taxpayers and those needed to enforce the tax laws. In addition, after an increase in the in the IRS’s budget in 2014, the IRS’s budget for 2015 decreased $345 million (3 percent), from $11.3 billion to $10.9 billion. Despite fewer resources, however, total tax revenues received and collected climbed to $3.3 trillion, an increase of 8 percent from 2014. On the other hand, enforcement revenue collected decreased from $57.1 billion in 2014 to $54.2 billion in 2015, a decline of 5 percent. Unpaid assessments increased to $412 billion.

Total Tax Revenue by Type of Tax

Revenue

Source: TIGTA analysis of the IRS Data Book.


Amount of Enforcement Revenue Collected
Compared to Unpaid Assessments

 Enforcement Revenue

Source: Offices of Research, Analysis, and Statistics and the Chief Financial Officer.

For 2015, while some areas of compliance declined, collections on delinquent accounts increased in every collection program except Field Collection (which consists of revenue officers who handle face-to-face contacts with taxpayers to collect delinquent accounts or secure unfiled returns). However, the number of liens, levies, and seizures by the IRS all declined in 2015. In addition, although the number of offers in compromise and installment agreements decreased in 2015, the amount of delinquent taxes collected through these payment options increased.

Notably, examinations continued to decline in 2015, with 28 percent fewer tax returns examined than in 2011. The report attributes the decline in the number of examinations to the 24 percent decrease in revenue agents and tax compliance officers during the same period.

Percentage Change from FY 2011 of All
Tax Returns Filed and Examined

Percent Change

Source: TIGTA analysis of the IRS Data Book.


Number of Revenue Officers in the Field Assigned
Delinquent Cases at the End of Each Fiscal Year

Revenue Officers

Source: Collection Activity Report 5000-23.