IRS slips on taxpayer service - Business First of Buffalo:

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For example, the chances of taxpayersz getting assistance throughthe agency’d toll-free lines have dropped dramatically. In fiscal 2007, 87 percentr of taxpayers who sought to speak with an IRS representativre on the assistance line were able todo so. In fiscaol 2008, however, that number fell to 53 The IRS has reducedits “level of goal for fiscal 2010 to 71.2 percent. The IRS attribute last year’s poor numbers to a spike in calls about economistimulus payments, but Nationalk Advocate Nina Olson said, “That is small comforr to taxpayers who need assistance, and it does not bode well for taxpayere compliance.
” Olson’s report to Congress also recommended regulating federall tax preparers who are not certified publif accountants, attorneys or enrolled agents. Investigationas have shown that these tax preparers oftenbmake mistakes, usually resulting in tax underpayments. These preparerw should be subject to initial testint and continuingeducation requirements, Olson said, and the IRS should step up its enforcement efforts against tax preparersx who fail to perform due diligenced or consciously help taxpayers avoid payin the correct amount of taxes.