- The IRS misled taxpayers in surveys and generated unsubstantiated cost and user estimates for a new direct online tax filing initiative, a new watchdog report concluded.
- The U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) released a report on Oct. 2 assessing the IRS’s plan for a free e-filing system and the TIGTA concluded that the IRS misled taxpayers in surveys about the e-file system and failed to produce data to justify its cost and user estimates.
- “The IRS obtained taxpayer opinions on a Direct File system. However, taxpayer interest in a Direct File tool may be overstated due to the design of the surveys conducted,” the report states. “In addition, the survey prompt may have led taxpayers to believe that the tool would have more options than it will immediately have available, such as the ability to file State tax returns.”
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IRS Survey Misled Taxpayers About New E-File System: Watchdog
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 15: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) building stands on April 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. April 15 is the deadline in the United States for residents to file their income tax returns. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images)
