A second result, experts believe, has been a rise in dishonest returns. The record backs him up. The IRS sent 2,413 individuals to jail in 1998. That fell to 2,002 last year. Also down are the number of IRS auditing staff members, the number of levies and other enforcement efforts, and the amount collected from enforcement efforts.
Nobody has a firm count of how many tax cheaters are out there.
But Rossotti has been trumpeting his goal of stepping up auditing and collection activity. He blamed the declines on a drop in IRS staffing and added responsibilities from the 1998 tax reform law. He pointed out, however, the tax agency will add more than 2,000 employees this year, which should halt the decline in enforcement. The numbers can turn back up again if the IRS gets more money in future budgets, he added. Scammers claim blacks are entitled to tax credits or refunds, then offer to file the necessary paperwork for a fee.