comment: >
  
  The IRS does not search for tax returns with common black names when choosing who to audit.
context: Is there an study on how the returns are filed?
  It seems today via Turbotax or a small time tax advisor (HR Block, CPA firm in the corner store), they both would auto grab any kind of credit for you. 
  I think the onus is actually on the IRS--if someone qualify for the EITC they should be auto-added to the return. >
  
  I don't know what the rules are if you don't take a credit but since the IRS keeps records on how many people don't take the credit they probably don't care about fixing it. With how much of a problem this is and how much of a problem tax evasion is (almost our entire deficit in 2024 will be from tax evasion) the IRS should do everyone's taxes on their end and just send us the results. >
  
  It is less about the IRS as an organization “not caring” or anything of that nature. Rather, it is the rules (the law) that Congress passes. 
  The IRS as an organization is very much built around the rules. Following the rules, knowing the rules, enforcing the rules, etc. Exceptions do exist. But the rule is that the rules exist and must be followed. They also don’t like how the Congress has grossly over-complicated the tax code. Reading some of the IRS reports and studies is a fascinating exercise; they are frustrated as an organization and as people who pay taxes themselves. 
  If we want change we have to go through the legislative process. Unfortunately.
  For example, the IRS is certainly best positioned to process the overwhelming majority of tax filings. But it isn’t allowed to. Why? Because there are multi billion dollar enterprises built on filing taxes and portions of those revenues fund campaigns. Plus, distrusting the taxman is kind of central to the American story and ethos. 
  When was the last time you looked at your withholdings and thought “hell yeah! Doing my part! Woo!” Never. The answer is never. 
  Or when was the last time we met an IRS agent and thought “man, that person is doing it right. Making sure everyone is contributing to all the goods and services afforded to us just by living in this country.” Never. 
  The point is, Congress needs to be held accountable for the decades of crap they have added to the tax code. >
  
  This might make me sound strange, but I don't mind paying my share of taxes—note that I say this as a socialist.  For reference, my household's federal income tax liability is about $20k a year, give or take.  My wife is a Soldier and I see how government spending has helped regular folks (especially younger Servicemembers) make a decent living and provides needed services.
  Similarly, my state tax liability is about $6k.  Again, I never mind paying it and my state does a damn decent job of providing needed services at that level.
  And my wife's late friend (died in the 2000s) was an IRS agent who was a decent and kind person who did her best to help the average taxpayer.  My mother-in-law had positive interactions with the IRS a few years ago when she needed to sort out some issues with her small business taxes.
  I guess what I'm trying to say is that there are some exceptions.
  Edit to add: I do agree that some simplification of the tax code is needed.  I don't work in that area (as my full-time role is in telecom), but surely there are improvements that can be made. >
  
  Well, thanks for being the exception:)
  I am generally of the same opinion actually. Maybe we should start a viral thing? That would be wild. >
  
  The reason why Republicans won't say anything because acording to the conservatives, the system is hurting the right people. >
  
  It's not. It has nothing to do with the GOP at all. >
  
  Doesn’t it though? They always try to prove that systemic racism is made up, I’d like to see their answer/solution to this. 
  (We all know it’ll be “get rid of the IRS, problem solved”) >
  
  Because there's nothing racist about it.....
  The IRS audits the poor the most by a good amount and given black people have the highest poverty rate there's your answer!
  The problem here is poor people and frankly they really shouldn't be audited as much as they are given wtf can we really take. >
  
  That’s exactly what systemic racism is. It’s racism which is baked into the structure, not an intentional effort that is being sustained by people with racist goals. >
  
  I just don't understand, I really don't want to be rude but frankly I don't think you understand what racism even is....
  This isn't racism! The race plays 0 and I mean 0 in how the IRS operates they can't even see the race! For it to be racist it has to be against a specific race it's physically impossible for them to do that. >
  
  The racial causation is upstream. That's how systemic racism works. The point is not "boo, the IRS is full of racists". It's that the IRS's current practices combined with the persistent structural effects of racism lead to a situation where people are disadvantaged based on their race. You can even have systemic racism when the actual bigotry is entirely in the past. >
  
  No....that's not how it works!
  Ok stop trying to make everything about racism!
  If it has nothing to do with race it's not racist what about that is hard to understand? >
  
  
  the IRS's current practices combined with the persistent structural effects of racism lead to a situation where people are disadvantaged based on their race
  
  Do you agree with this statement? >
  
  No...how does race play a role? How?
  Again the IRS can't see race! So they're not at a disadvantage...
  And no being poor isn't racist either! >
  
  Do you acknowledge that poor people are disproportionately Black, and vice versa? >
  
  Any data about the rate at which those audits are finding issues? >
  
  Wasn't this just found out to be because there happens to be more mistakes in their filing? 
  There is no race line, the IRS doesn't know your race. 
  Doesn't the GOP fix this by their "Abolish the IRS" plan? 
  Oh it's MotherJones ...checks out. >
  
  What line on a 1040 do they ask what race you are? >
  
  The one where you put your common black name.