Werfel Defends IRS as GOP Picks at Funding Ask, Direct File (1)

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel Tuesday took fire from Senate Republicans over how the agency is spending billions in supplemental funding, as he defended progress toward modernizing and improving taxpayer service.

Werfel appeared the day after a second filing season where the IRS reported beating customer service goals, a rebound after pandemic-era lows. While Democrats praised that effort, Republicans accused the agency of lacking transparency on how it plans to use funds from the 2022 tax-and-climate law, and probed a new request for an additional pot of multiyear funding.

“Last year, I raised concerns with the IRS’ strategic operating plan, including ...