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发帖数: 29846 | 1 Employees at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) who deliberately did not pay
their own taxes were rewarded with bonuses, according to a new inspector
general report.
“As the Federal Government agency primarily responsible for administering
the Federal tax law, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) must ensure that its
employees comply with the same tax law to which all taxpayers are subject,
” the audit, released Wednesday by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax
Administration (TIGTA) said.
Employees who are found to willfully violate tax law are supposed to be
fired, according to a federal law passed in 1998 known as the “Taxpayer
Bill of Rights.”
However, the IRS has not only allowed thousands of its employees to avoid
paying taxes, but has rewarded many with time off, raises, and bonuses.
The audit found 1,580 employees who willfully did not pay their taxes, and
18,300 others who unintentionally did not comply with tax laws their agency
is responsible for enforcing.
Of those who willingly did not comply with federal tax law, 61 percent
received counseling, suspensions, or reprimands. Another 14 percent resigned
or retired to avoid being fired, and 25 percent were terminated.
Only 1 percent of the 18,300 employees who were found to be in “nonwillful
tax noncompliance” were fired.
Other IRS employees were rewarded with for “outstanding performance”
within a year after intentionally avoiding their taxes.
“In addition to not being terminated for willful tax violations, some IRS
employees also received promotions, performance awards, and permanent pay
increases within one year after their willful tax noncompliance case was
closed,” TIGTA said. “Specifically, 108 of 364 employees with willful tax
noncompliance cases closed between October 1, 2008, and September 30, 2013,
received one or more awards, promotions, quality step increases, or
Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIP) within one year after being
disciplined for the tax noncompliance.”
Quality step increases are a “within-grade” pay increase “used to
recognize employees who “display outstanding performance,” TIGTA said. A
VSIPs is a “direct buyout incentive used to encourage voluntary separation
by employees who occupy positions affected by organizational change,” of up
to $25,000.
The audit said the IRS “did not consider tax compliance or other misconduct
when issuing performance awards.”
TIGTA added that there are no government-wide policies to guide agencies on
whether “employees with conduct issues” should get awards.
The more than one hundred IRS workers who intentionally did not pay their
taxes received nearly $145,000 in performance and “special act” awards,
nearly 900 hours in time-off awards, over 30 temporary and permanent
promotions, and four permanent pay increases, all after being disciplined
for willful tax noncompliance.
The audit was based on cases that were closed between 2004 and 2013, prior
to the term of current IRS Commissioner John Koskinen.
Under section 1203 of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, an employee who
intentionally did not pay their taxes can only avoid termination if the IRS
Commissioner intervenes to lessen the penalty. TIGTA recommended that the
IRS change its existing policy to make officials explain why employees are
not fired after willfully not paying their taxes.
The IRS said it has “plans to review existing procedures” and will consult
with its lawyers. | U**********t
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