Chip Somodevilla | Getty ImagesIRS scrutiny of the employee retention creditThe plan is part of the agency's elevated focus on employee retention credit claims, according to April Walker, lead manager for tax practice and ethics with the American Institute of CPAs.
A pandemic-era tax break, the employee retention credit, or ERC, was designed to support small businesses that kept employees on payroll during shutdowns or revenue declines in 2020 and 2021.
He included the earned income tax credit, a tax break claimed by low- to moderate-income filers, which has been prone to mistakes due to complex eligibility requirements.
While IRS audit rates have dropped overall, the rates have declined more slowly for filers claiming the earned income tax credit than higher earners.
"The IRS audits a higher percentage of taxpayers with the earned income tax credit than any other taxpayers, except those with at least $5 million of total positive income," National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins wrote in her 2022 report.
Persons:
Daniel Werfel, Chip Somodevilla, April Walker, Werfel, Chuck Marr, Erin Collins
Organizations:
Senate, Getty, American Institute of CPAs, ERC, IRS, Budget, National Taxpayer, filers
Locations:
Worth