IRS Announces a ‘Soft Notice’ Approach Instead of Hitting Americans With Tax Audits

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said in its recently released strategic plan that while it’s planning to get tough on wealthier tax dodgers, it would adjust enforcement efforts for ordinary filers to rely more on “soft notices” rather than tax audits.
The IRS on Thursday released its 150-page plan (pdf) for how it will use the $80 billion cash infusion provided by Congress to provide “better service” to taxpayers, hire more staff, and focus its enforcement efforts on high-income filers.
“Our efforts outlined in the Plan to provide better service to taxpayers, help them file accurately and resolve issues at filing, coupled with technology and data advances, will allow us to focus enforcement on taxpayers trying to avoid taxes, rather than taxpayers trying to pay what they owe,” IRS commissioner Daniel Werfel said in a memo to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen….