Most people I talk to about their IRS problem have already built the worst-case scenario in their head. The reality is usually much more manageable. I'm Darrin Mish, and I've been representing taxpayers before the IRS for 32 years. Here's what actually tends to happen.
You would think that whistleblowing would produce greater returns in the government’s tax collection process. Whistleblowers expose wrongdoing and get a percentage of the monies collected by the government. However, due to bureaucracy, late payments and an inability to products whistleblowers, the system, or program, or whatever name you choose to use is in trouble.
As such, people are discouraged from coming forth to report wrongdoing to the government. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is supposed to be a non-partisan office, and is responsible for fixing the broken system.
Recommendations by the GAO include tightening documentation procedures and awarding payments on time. It also recommends that communication between the GAO and whistleblowers improve so that informants will know the status of their claims. This could allow them to better assist in the process. Most importantly, whistleblowers need to know that they will be protected from being retaliated against. With the threat of losing their job, or worse, people are naturally reluctant to step outside their safety zone. It’s not rocket science, but the IRS needs to do a better job so that their collection efforts run more smoothly.
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