IRS’s Private Debt Collection Reports ‘Incomplete,’ Watchdog Says

The IRS has painted an “incomplete picture” of the true costs and revenue of its private debt collection program in reports to Congress, according to a government watchdog.

The agency told lawmakers that as of September 2018 revenue from the program—which allows the agency to use private companies to collect unpaid tax debts—was about $89 million, and costs were about $67 million. This suggests a positive balance of $22 million for Treasury’s general fund, which pays for essential government services, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said in a report publicly released April 29.

However, the Internal Revenue Service didn’t clarify ...