IRS to lose tax collectors, do fewer audits in 2015

The Internal Revenue Service will lose 1,800 tax collectors through attrition and do 46,000 fewer audits this year because of congressional budget cuts to the tax agency, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen told IRS employees Tuesday.

But the cuts could also be bad news for some taxpayers. Identity theft prevention efforts will be delayed, refunds could be held up and taxpayer services available by telephone will see longer wait times — if taxpayers can get through at all, Koskinen said.

“There is no way around the severity of these budget cuts without taking some difficult steps,” Koskinen told employees in an e-mail.