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Healthcare Reform Law Requires New IRS Army Of 1,054
USNews - "Washington Whispers" ^ | February 15, 2011 | Paul Bedard

Posted on 02/15/2011 7:55:19 PM PST by jgrand

The Internal Revenue Service says it will need an battalion of 1,054 new auditors and staffers and new facilities at a cost to taxpayers of more than $359 million in fiscal 2012 just to watch over the initial implementation of President Obama's healthcare reforms. Among the new corps will be 81 workers assigned to make sure tanning salons pay a new 10 percent excise tax. Their cost: $11.5 million.

[See a slide show of 10 ways the GOP can take down Obamacare.]

"The ACA [Affordable Care Act] will require additional resources to build new IT systems; modify existing tax processing systems; provide taxpayer outreach and assistance services; make enhancements to notices, collections, and case management systems to address and resolve taxpayer issues timely and accurately; and conduct focused examinations to encourage compliance," said the newly released IRS budget.

[See a slide show of 10 things that are, and aren't, in the healthcare law.]

In its request, the IRS explained that the tax changes associated with health reform are huge. "Implementation of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 presents a major challenge to the IRS. ACA represents the largest set of tax law changes in more than 20 years, with more than 40 provisions that amend the tax laws."

Unsaid: The requests are just the beginning, since the new healthcare program is evolving and won't be fully implemented until about 2014.

The detailed IRS budget documents spell out exactly what most of the new workforce will be doing. For example, some 81 will be tasked just to handle the tax reporting of 25,000 tanning salons. They face a new 10 percent excise tax on indoor tanning services. Another 76 will be assigned to make sure businesses engaged in making and imported drugs pay their new fee which is expected to deliver $2.8 billion to the Treasury in 2012 and 2013. The new healthcare corps will also require new facilities and computers.

[See editorial cartoons about the healthcare law.]

The document gives the GOP a bright target to hit if they plan to make good on promises to defund the president's healthcare plan.

Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who's become a point man in the budget battle, told Whispers, "The president's irresponsible budget empowers the IRS to begin to audit Americans' healthcare. As the IRS says, Obamacare represents the largest set of tax changes in more than 20 years. Adding hundreds of new jobs and millions of dollars to the IRS isn't going to make care better or more available for anyone. I will continue to fight to repeal and replace Obamacare with patient centered reforms that help the private sector—not the IRS—create more jobs."

The Treasury Department, which oversees the IRS said: "The Affordable Care Act includes important tax credits that help small businesses provide health insurance for their employees and partially cover the cost of health insurance for Americans who do not have access to affordable coverage, and Treasury's Budget includes funding for the IRS to administer these tax provisions. The vast majority of this funding will be used to develop information technology systems and other support to implement the law and help taxpayers claim these important credits."

The IRS document also noted that other tax law changes related to the stimulus require more workers, estimated at about 215 new employees.

[See photos of healthcare reform protests.]

It's not all tough news for taxpayers. The IRS regularly pays for its enforcement team and more when they collect taxes that companies and individuals try to skip out on. According to the budget documents, the IRS plans to get a big return on investment worth about $279 million by fiscal 2014.

•Check out our editorial cartoons on healthcare. •See a slide show of 10 ways the GOP can take down Obamacare. •See the 10 best cities in which to look for a job. Updated on 2/15/11


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: healthcare; irs; obamacare; socialism; taxes

1 posted on 02/15/2011 7:55:24 PM PST by jgrand
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To: jgrand

So, they are going to continue to impoverish over this illegal law? If it’s unconstitutional, I fail to see how they should be hiring anyone to implement it.


2 posted on 02/15/2011 8:01:04 PM PST by I still care (I miss my friends, bagels, and the NYC skyline - but not the taxes. I love the South.)
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To: I still care

This whole thing is so bad its hard to believe its really happening. The GOP better defund this thing.


3 posted on 02/15/2011 8:06:43 PM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

Bump


4 posted on 02/15/2011 8:08:51 PM PST by GlockThe Vote (Who needs Al Queda to worry about when we have Obama?)
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To: All; jgrand

“Internal Revenue Service says it will need an battalion of 1,054 new auditors and staffers and new facilities ..”

So we can be sure it will be many more than that.

Weren’t Rush, and others, saying that they would need around 16,000 new IRS agents?


5 posted on 02/15/2011 8:10:55 PM PST by Sun (Pray that God sends us good leaders. Please say a prayer now.)
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To: jgrand
Judge Vinson, a federal judge in the northern district of Florida, struck down the entire health care law as unconstitutional on Monday, though he is allowing the Obama administration to continue to implement and enforce it while the government appeals his ruling.
Monday, January 31, 2011
6 posted on 02/15/2011 8:12:02 PM PST by Just A Nobody ( (Better Dead than RED! NEVER AGAIN...Support our Troops! Beware the ENEMEDIA))
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To: jgrand

If a SINGLE new IRS officer is hired for Obamacare, the Supreme Court should find Obama, Sebelius and Geitner in contempt, and swear off a warrant for their arrest by U.S. Marshalls.


7 posted on 02/15/2011 8:12:02 PM PST by backwoods-engineer (Any politician who holds that the state accords rights is an oathbreaker and an "enemy... domestic.")
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To: jgrand
$359 million to start the implementation of the Affordable Care Act

Straight out of The Onion?
8 posted on 02/15/2011 8:16:05 PM PST by nhwingut (Palin '12... Accept No Other)
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To: jgrand

I’d love to see the GOP defund it but I’m not holding my breath waiting for it to happen.


9 posted on 02/15/2011 8:25:31 PM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: jgrand

Is this automatically funded too or can this be left out of the budget?


10 posted on 02/15/2011 8:42:52 PM PST by sickoflibs ("It's not the taxes, the redistribution is the federal spending=tax delayed")
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To: jgrand

No money, no additional IRS thugs. Put that in your bidet and spritz it, Nanny!


11 posted on 02/15/2011 9:01:50 PM PST by Rembrandt (.. AND the donkey you rode in on.)
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To: jgrand

Obama’s National Civilian Security Force.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt2yGzHfy7s&feature=related


12 posted on 02/15/2011 9:07:00 PM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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