IRS
The Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. government agency responsible for tax collection.
entitydetail.created_at
8/20/2025, 1:46:12 AM
entitydetail.last_updated
8/24/2025, 1:44:21 AM
entitydetail.research_retrieved
8/20/2025, 1:49:08 AM
Summary
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the U.S. federal government agency responsible for collecting taxes and administering the Internal Revenue Code. Established in 1862 to fund the Civil War, it has evolved through various iterations, including the Bureau of Internal Revenue, before being renamed the IRS in 1953. The agency, led by a presidentially appointed commissioner, plays a crucial role in funding the U.S. federal government, collecting approximately 96 percent of its operational funding. Despite its importance, the IRS has faced challenges such as budget cuts, a reduced workforce, outdated technology, and morale issues, which have impacted its enforcement capabilities and revenue collection. In fiscal year 2023, the IRS processed over 271 million tax returns and collected roughly $4.7 trillion. The agency has also been involved in overseeing benefits programs, including the Affordable Care Act.
Referenced in 2 Documents
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Challenges
Budget cuts, under-staffed workforce, outdated technology, reduced morale, inappropriate enforcement of tax laws against high earners and large corporations, reduced tax collection, rising deficits
Agency Type
U.S. federal government agency, Revenue service
Headquarters
Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Responsible For
Collecting U.S. federal taxes, administering the Internal Revenue Code, providing tax assistance, pursuing and resolving erroneous or fraudulent tax filings, overseeing various benefits programs (e.g., Affordable Care Act)
Number of Employees
10,001+
Revenue Collected (FY 2023)
Approximately $4.7 trillion
Tax Returns Processed (FY 2023)
Over 271 million (including over 163.1 million individual income tax returns)
Workforce Reduction (as of 2018)
15 percent overall
Enforcement Staff Decline (as of 2018)
More than 25 percent
Audit Effectiveness (above 90th income percentile)
An additional $1 spent yields more than $12 in revenue
Audit Effectiveness (below-median income taxpayers)
An additional $1 spent yields $5 in revenue
Operational Funding Contribution to Federal Government (FY 2023)
Approximately 96 percent
Timeline
- The Office of Commissioner of Internal Revenue, the precursor to the IRS, was created to assess the nation's first income tax to fund the American Civil War. (Source: Summary, Wikipedia)
1862-XX-XX
- The Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, authorizing Congress to impose a tax on income and leading to the creation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. (Source: Summary, Wikipedia)
1913-XX-XX
- The agency was renamed the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from the Bureau of Internal Revenue. (Source: Summary, Wikipedia)
1953-XX-XX
- The IRS underwent numerous significant reforms and reorganizations. (Source: Wikipedia)
1990s-XX-XX
- The IRS saw a 15 percent reduction in its workforce, including a decline of more than 25 percent of its enforcement staff. (Source: Wikipedia)
2018-XX-XX
- During the fiscal year, the IRS processed over 271.4 million tax returns and collected approximately $4.7 trillion. (Source: Summary, Wikipedia)
2023-XX-XX
- President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Billy Long to serve as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. (Source: Wikipedia)
2024-12-04
- As of this date, five officials had served as acting commissioner since the beginning of the second presidency of Donald Trump. (Source: Wikipedia)
2025-04-18
Wikipedia
View on WikipediaInternal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue service for the United States federal government, which is responsible for collecting U.S. federal taxes and administering the Internal Revenue Code, the main body of the federal statutory tax law. It is an agency of the Department of the Treasury and led by the commissioner of Internal Revenue, who is appointed to a five-year term by the president of the United States. The duties of the IRS include providing tax assistance to taxpayers; pursuing and resolving instances of erroneous or fraudulent tax filings; and overseeing various benefits programs, including the Affordable Care Act. The IRS originates from the Office of Commissioner of Internal Revenue, a federal office created in 1862 to assess the nation's first income tax to fund the American Civil War. The temporary measure funded over a fifth of the Union's war expenses before being allowed to expire a decade later. In 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, authorizing Congress to impose a tax on income and leading to the creation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. In 1953, the agency was renamed the Internal Revenue Service, and in subsequent decades underwent numerous reforms and reorganizations, most significantly in the 1990s. Since its establishment, the IRS has been largely responsible for collecting the revenue needed to fund the United States federal government, with the rest being funded either through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (collecting duties and tariffs) or the Federal Reserve (purchasing U.S. treasuries). The IRS faces periodic controversy and opposition over its methods, constitutionality, and the principle of taxation generally. In recent years, the agency has struggled with budget cuts, under-staffed workforce, outdated technology and reduced morale, all of which collectively result in the inappropriate enforcement of tax laws against high earners and large corporations, reduced tax collection, rising deficits, lower spending on important priorities, or further tax increases on compliant taxpayers to compensate for lost revenue. Research shows that IRS audits raise revenue, both through the initial audit and indirectly by deterring future tax cheating. According to a 2024 study, "an additional $1 spent auditing taxpayers above the 90th income percentile yields more than $12 in revenue, while audits of below-median income taxpayers yield $5." As of 2018, it saw a 15 percent reduction in its workforce, including a decline of more than 25 percent of its enforcement staff. During the 2023 fiscal year, the agency processed more than 271.4 million tax returns including more than 163.1 million individual income tax returns. For FY 2023, the IRS collected approximately $4.7 trillion, which is approximately 96 percent of the operational funding for the federal government; funding widely throughout to different aspects of American society, from education and healthcare to national defense and infrastructure. On December 4, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Billy Long to serve as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. As of April 18, 2025, five officials have served as acting commissioner since the beginning of the second presidency of Donald Trump.
Web Search Results
- Internal Revenue Service - Wikipedia
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue service for the United States federal government, which is responsible for collecting U.S. federal taxes and administering the Internal Revenue Code, the main body of the federal statutory tax law. It is an agency of the Department of the Treasury and led by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, who is appointed to a five-year term by the President of the United States. The duties of the IRS include providing tax assistance to taxpayers; [...] The IRS originates from the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, a federal office created in 1862 to assess the nation's first income tax to fund the American Civil War. The temporary measure funded over a fifth of the Union's war expenses before being allowed to expire a decade later. In 1913, the Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, authorizing Congress to impose a tax on income and leading to the creation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. In 1953, the agency was renamed [...] Since its establishment, the IRS has been largely responsible for collecting the revenue needed to fund the United States federal government, with the rest being funded either through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (collecting duties "Duty (tax)") and tariffs) or the Federal Reserve (purchasing U.S. treasuries).( The IRS faces periodic controversy and opposition over its methods, constitutionality, and the principle of taxation generally. In recent years, the agency has struggled with
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | USAGov
State and local governments Branches of government Elected officials Federal laws and regulations Indian tribes and resources for Native Americans Federal, state, territory, county, and municipal courts Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ============================== The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) administers and enforces U.S. federal tax laws. Website ------- Internal Revenue Service Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Contact ------- [...] Internal Revenue Service (IRS) | USAGov =============== Skip to main content Image 1: U.S Flag An official website of the United States government Here's how you know Here's how you know Image 2 Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Image 3 Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( ) or means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Home Close [...] 1. Home 2. The U.S. and its government 3. A-Z index of U.S. government departments and agencies 4. Internal Revenue Service The U.S. and its government Buying from the U.S. government U.S. facts and figures A-Z index of U.S. government departments and agencies current page Internal Revenue Service
- Internal Revenue Service - LinkedIn
# Internal Revenue Service Providing the nation's most accurate, timely and user-friendly tax information available Government Administration • Washington, District of Columbia • 344,392 followers • 10,001+ employees [...] Welcome to the Internal Revenue Service’s official LinkedIn account. Here, you will find the latest and greatest news and updates for taxpayers to help them understand and meet their tax responsibilities. Also, this is a place to learn about a meaningful career with the IRS. Check out the tabs above to learn more about us and view job openings. The U.S. government does not promote or endorse any non-government or commercial content appearing on this page. This service is operated by a third [...] Revenue Service (4d): Do you need tax answers from the #IRS right now? Our website has help available to you at any time: www.irs.gov/help [Likes: 16, Comments: 0]; Internal Revenue Service (4d): Beware of scammers posing as the #IRS . Here’s how to know if it’s really the IRS trying to contact you or if it’s an imposter: [Likes: 24, Comments: 0]; Internal Revenue Service (4d): #IRS and the Security Summit suggest six simple steps for #TaxPros to better protect themselves and their clients,
- Internal Revenue Service | An official website of the United States ...
Internal Revenue Service | An official website of the United States government =============== Skip to main content Home Page ========= An official website of the United States Government Image 1: HomeImage 2: Home Information Menu ---------------- Help News English Español 中文 (简体) 中文 (繁體) 한국어 Русский Tiếng Việt Kreyòl ayisyen Tax Pros Sign in [...] Taxpayer Bill of Rights Taxpayer Advocate Service Independent Office of Appeals Civil Rights FOIA No FEAR Act Data Reliance on Guidance Resolve an Issue IRS Notices and Letters Identity Theft Tax scams Tax Fraud Criminal Investigation Whistleblower Office Languages [...] Include Historical Content Include Historical Content Search Information Menu ---------------- Help News Tax Pros Sign in File -----------------------------
- Let us help you | Internal Revenue Service
Let us help you | Internal Revenue Service =============== Skip to main content An official website of the United States Government Image 1: HomeImage 2: Home Information Menu ---------------- Help News English Español 中文 (简体) 中文 (繁體) 한국어 Русский Tiếng Việt Kreyòl ayisyen Tax Pros Sign in Search Search Include Historical Content Include Historical Content Search Sign in Menu [...] Share Facebook Twitter Linkedin Print Footer Navigation ----------------- Our Agency About IRS Careers Operations and Budget Tax Statistics Help Find a Local Office Know Your Rights Taxpayer Bill of Rights Taxpayer Advocate Service Independent Office of Appeals Civil Rights FOIA No FEAR Act Data Reliance on Guidance Resolve an Issue
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Wärmekraftwerk Irsching, Irsching, Vohburg an der Donau, Landkreis Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Bayern, 85088, Deutschland
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