With the tax filing deadline approaching, IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman testified before the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Oversight. Shuman stated that the IRS has 5,000 fewer employees this tax season and some taxpayers are complaining about the 18 minute hold times when calling the IRS.
The agency is asking for an 8% budget increase for 2013, focusing on tracking fraud. Last year, the IRS caught $14 billion in fraudulent refunds. He also addressed problems same-sex couples face in filing their taxes, because state and federal laws differ.
The IRS budget request for 2013 is $12.1 billion, an increase of 8% over 2012 levels.