Internal Revenue Service--Status of the Modernized Research Operations
Abstract
In an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) memorandum from December 1999, you highlighted the importance of research in key decision-making processes and in finding ways of improving performance on IRS' strategic goals in light of limited resources. 1 Because we agree that using research in an effective manner is important, we monitored the status of IRS efforts to improve its research operations. Since 1998, IRS has been undergoing a major effort to modernize its overall structure, which included the creation of four operating divisions that each focus on a particular group of taxpaying customers, such as wage earners or large businesses. 2 In 2000, IRS began to restructure its research organization and created, among others, research units within each of its operating divisions. 3 During our review, we determined that a detailed study was not warranted at this time because IRS had made few decisions about the modernized research operations. However, from our limited work, we identified issues that present challenges for IRS management when making future decisions about research. This letter summarizes and transmits to you information we presented in a March 15, 2001, briefing to the Deputy IRS Commissioner and other IRS officials. 4 In particular, this letter discusses the (1) steps IRS has taken to modernize its research operations since October 1, 2000, (2) areas of concern raised in past reports and studies of IRS research operations, and (3) status of IRS efforts to address these concerns within the new research operations. To address these issues, we identified and summarized past studies on IRS research organization; reviewed relevant IRS documents, such as research plans; and interviewed key officials responsible for research. We conducted
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 26, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA389169
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office