Layoffs at IRS will Halve Audits of Wealthy Estates

[a kennedy]

NEW YORK - The U.S. government is moving to eliminate the jobs of nearly half of the lawyers at the Internal Revenue Service who audit the tax returns of some of the wealthiest Americans, specifically those who are subject to gift and estate taxes when they transfer parts of their fortunes to their children and others.

The administration plans to cut the jobs of 157 of the agency's 345 estate tax lawyers, plus 17 support personnel, in fewer than 70 days.

Kevin Brown, an IRS deputy commissioner, confirmed the cuts after The New York Times was given internal documents by people inside the IRS who oppose the action.

The Bush administration has successfully lobbied Congress to enact measures that reduce the number of Americans who are subject to the estate tax - which opponents refer to as the "death tax" - but has failed in its efforts to eliminate the tax entirely.

Brown said during a telephone interview that he had ordered the cuts because far fewer people were obliged to pay estate taxes under Bush's legislation.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0724-09.htm

[truebrit71]

1. Well that makes so sense...why make sure the rich are paying their taxes?

..especially when you have all of those po' folk to fuck with?

:grr:

[Megahurtz]

2. Oh how convienient.

:sarcasm:

:mad:

[Benhurst]

3. These people have no shame.

Hardly breaking news, but it has to be repeated and repeated until the sheeples get the message.

[partylessinOhio]

4. In the voice of the SNL preacher lady, "Now, ain't that special!"