Monthly Archives: April 2012

So today, I wanted to share with you some of the results of four years of relentless focus on a handful of strategic priorities we set for the IRS. The priorities are:

I am pleased to report that this year the IRS successfully migrated from a weekly processing cycle to daily processing. This was a multi-year, incredibly complex undertaking that went to the heart of systems that process trillions of dollars in tax revenue. This is an incredibly important milestone for the IRS, one which we first set our sights on in the late 1980s. Our next major priority is leveraging data analytics in order to continually improve our operations.

Let me now talk about how the IRS is managing its responsibilities in an increasingly global environment. Both corporations and individuals operate in the global economy. For example, many individuals have global exposure through their investments and 401Ks. Yet, this fundamental shift to a more global economy has created a real set of challenges for the IRS. On the individual front, we have made putting a big dent in offshore tax evasion a major priority.

We have fundamentally changed the risk calculus of taxpayers who are thinking about hiding their money overseas, and we are well on our way to deterring the next generation of taxpayers from using hidden bank accounts to cheat on their taxes.

We are also moving from information sharing to more coordinated action among government tax authorities on a global basis. I’m the chairman of the main global body of tax authorities, which is comprised of my counterparts from 43 nations, including those from all G20 nations.

We have stepped up our coordinated efforts on offshore tax evasion by individuals, and have embarked on a project to conduct joint audits of certain multinational companies – which should reduce administrative burden on a company and help increase compliance.

Judge Robert E. Blackburn of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado said that Colorado's 2010 “Amazon” law, so called for one of the online retailers it ostensibly targets, violated the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

The law, approved by the 2010 Colorado General Assembly (H.B. 1193), requires out-of-state vendors that do not collect state sales and use taxes to notify consumers they may have an obligation to pay taxes on remote purchases. The law also requires the vendors to report certain information about such transactions to the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Blackburn's ruling enjoins the enforcement of the act and related regulations against retailers that sell to Colorado customers but do not have a physical presence in the state.

His ruling came on cross motions for summary judgment filed by the Direct Marketing Association, the plaintiff in the case, and the Colorado Department of Revenue, the defendant.