How the I.R.S. Became a Political Boogeyman

<p>Earlier this month, the Internal Revenue Service unveiled an $80 billion plan to transform itself into a “digital first” tax collector focused on customer service and cracking down on wealthy tax evaders.</p><p>Today, on the day that taxes are due in the United States, Alan Rappeport, who covers economic policy for The Times, explains how the plan could result in the agency repeating a set of old mistakes.</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/alan-rappeport">Alan Rappeport</a>, an economic policy correspondent for The New York Times.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>I.R.S. unveiled their<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/06/business/economy/irs-tax-treasury.html"> $80 billion plan</a> to overhaul tax collection this month.</li><li>Here’s<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/04/us/politics/irs-chaos-tax-season-2022.html"> how tax season felt inside the I.R.S.</a> last year, after decades of neglect.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.</p>