Overview
- Tax revenue for 2025 is expected to drop over 10%, equating to a $500 billion shortfall compared to 2024, according to Treasury and IRS officials.
- The revenue decline is attributed to taxpayer noncompliance and significant IRS staffing cuts, with over 11,000 employees dismissed and plans to cut nearly 20,000 more.
- Leadership turnover, including the resignation of compliance head Heather Maloy, has further strained the IRS's operational capacity during tax season.
- The IRS has redirected resources from investigating high-value corporations to basic operations, while online chatter suggests taxpayers are exploiting reduced audit risks.
- Treasury officials have dismissed the projected shortfall as 'sensational and baseless,' but internal data and expert analyses highlight serious fiscal risks for the federal government.