When it comes to keeping the IRS accountable, there's one agency tasked with doing exactly that: TIGTA, or the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Established in 1999, TIGTA serves as an independent watchdog over IRS activities. Its job? To ensure that the IRS operates with integrity, efficiency, and fairness. TIGTA investigates misconduct, evaluates internal controls, and publishes public reports that shine a light on mismanagement and systemic issues.
Recently, TIGTA released two troubling reports that reveal serious concerns about the way the IRS is handling its workforce and taxpayer resources.
First, in February 2025, the IRS, following a federal directive, issued termination notices to 7,315 employees still in their probationary period. These notices cited performance issues and shifting agency priorities as justification. However, TIGTA found little to no evidence that individual performance was actually considered:
51% of those terminated had no performance rating on file.
90% of those with ratings were marked “Fully Successful” or better.
The same generic letter was used for all employees, regardless of their individual circumstances.
Even more alarming: IRS leadership had raised red flags internally, but their concerns were overridden. Some critical roles were mistakenly included in the terminations, forcing the agency to rehire certain employees after the fact. Following court challenges and a Supreme Court ruling, all 7,315 terminated employees were reinstated by May 2025—after being placed on administrative leave for months.
This debacle raises major questions about internal communication, adherence to policy, and basic fairness.
Additionally, another TIGTA investigation focused on the IRS’s self-service kiosks—devices intended to help taxpayers handle simple tasks like retrieving tax transcripts or applying for an EIN without needing to speak with an agent.
The findings were frustrating:
Out of 100 kiosks, only 55 were operational.
40 were inoperable, and 5 were of unknown status.
Taxpayer use dropped drastically: from 80,000 users in 2017 to just 4,600 in the first half of 2024.
The IRS had been paying about $500,000 annually to a contractor who failed to maintain the machines.
Despite promising to fix the kiosks by December 2024, TIGTA found in January 2025 that none of the promised repairs had occurred. Soon after, the IRS quietly pulled the plug on the program, deciding not to renew the contract—but only after TIGTA raised concerns.
These reports are just the latest in a long line of examples showing that the IRS isn’t always functioning the way it should, and this highlights a sobering reality:
If the IRS makes a mistake on your case—or is coming after you for a tax debt—you can’t assume they’re always right.
That’s why it’s critical to have an experienced tax attorney on your side. If you’re facing IRS collections, wage garnishments, liens, or audits, don’t try to navigate it alone. Contact Bryson Law Firm, LLC today.
