Internal Revenue Service Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Outsourcing collection and tax-assistance=== In September 2006, the IRS started to outsource the collection of taxpayers debts to private debt collection agencies. Opponents to this change note that the IRS will be handing over personal information to these debt collection agencies, who are being paid between 29% and 39% of the amount collected. Opponents are also worried about the agencies' being paid on percent collected, because it will encourage the collectors to use pressure tactics to collect the maximum amount. IRS spokesman Terry Lemons responds to these critics saying the new system "is a sound, balanced program that respects taxpayers' rights and taxpayer privacy". Other state and local agencies also use private collection agencies.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/uniontrib/20060823/news_1b23irs.html |title=IRS plan for private debt collection draws criticism |work=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] |date=Aug 23, 2006 |access-date=Apr 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602133304/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/uniontrib/20060823/news_1b23irs.html |archive-date=June 2, 2016 }}</ref> In March 2009, the IRS announced that it would no longer outsource the collection of taxpayers debts to private debt collection agencies. The IRS decided not to renew contracts to private debt collection agencies and began a hiring program at its call sites and processing centers across the country to bring on more personnel to process collections internally from taxpayers.<ref>[https://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Conducts-Extensive-Review,-Decides-Not-to-Renew-Private-Debt-Collection-Contracts "IRS Conducts Extensive Review, Decides Not to Renew Private Debt Collection Contracts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128123133/https://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Conducts-Extensive-Review,-Decides-Not-to-Renew-Private-Debt-Collection-Contracts |date=January 28, 2016 }}</ref> As of October 2009, the IRS has ceased using private debt collection agencies. In September 2009, after [[ACORN 2009 undercover videos controversy|undercover exposé videos]] of questionable activities by staff of one of the IRS's volunteer tax-assistance organizations were made public, the IRS removed [[Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now|ACORN]] from its volunteer tax-assistance program.<ref>Wheaton, Sarah (September 23, 2008). [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/us/politics/24acorn.html "Acorn Sues Over Video as I.R.S. Severs Ties"]. ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page