John Koskinen revealed the startling statistic during a speech at the National Press Club . He says budget cuts have forced the IRS to pare back its staff numbers , leaving tax return filers largely on their own . The agency has been plagued by scandal since it was created in 1970 and is now facing an audit that could cost taxpayers billions of dollars over what they owe for past years.
John Koskinen revealed the startling statistic during a speech at the National Press Club . He says budget cuts have forced the IRS to pare back its staff numbers , leaving tax return filers largely on their own . Agency has already cried poor this year , complaining that it lacks the manpower to conduct as many audits as in past years . But the IRS paid out $ 5.8 billion in fake tax refunds to identity thieves in 2013 , the most recent year for which numbers are available . Americans have a hate-hate relationship with the agency : 'The IRS code is longer than the Bible , ' Koskinen admitted , 'with none of the good news '