Auditor: IRS could be more active with tax treaties

The study also found that, while the IRS has other ways to attain needed tax facts, getting that information in hand can sometimes take months. And, GAO added, the IRS does not analyze what sort of information is asked for and whether it was successfully obtained.

“Without reliable and consistent data like these, IRS managers may be missing opportunities to identify and address possible problems with the information exchange program and improvements that could make the program more successful,” the study said.

{mosads}As part of its recommendations, Congress’s investigative arm pushed the IRS to get more useful feedback from those involved in the information exchange process, which the agency agreed to do.

For his part, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), the investigations subcommittee ranking member, added that the GAO report showed why the agency should not see its budget sliced, as some appropriators have proposed.

“Short-sighted budget cuts at GAO are not the answer when there are plenty of other places to cut first,” Coburn said.