Budget

IRS to offer buyouts, early retirements

IRS will offer buyouts to employees who do not deal directly with taxpayer services. It\'s possible that a second round of buyouts will be offered to a wider ra...

Federal News Network Staff

November 4, 2011 3:14 pm

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wfedstaff | June 4, 2015 1:36 pm

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By Jolie Lee
Federal News Radio

The IRS is the latest agency to offer buyouts and early retirements to its employees.

The buyouts will be offered to a “limited set of employees in positions that do not involve direct service or enforcement interactions with taxpayers,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman in a statement today.

He said the budget outlook for fiscal year 2012 is “challenging.”

“We must reduce our workforce if our final budget is reduced by the amounts now being discussed in Congress,” Shulman said.

More than 90 percent of the IRS budget is related to employee expenses, Shulman said.

Shulman added it’s possible there will be a second round of buyouts to more employees, including those who work directly in taxpayer services.

Last month, the House Appropriations Committee approved a bill that would provide $11.5 billion for the agency in fiscal year 2012. That is $600 million less than it received last year and $1.8 billion less than President Obama’s request. The Senate Appropriations Committee approve IRS funding at $11.7 billion.

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