The Compliance Services Collection Operations Function Needs
to Set Specific Quantifiable Goals to Ensure Its Reengineering Efforts Are
Effective
May 2004
Reference
Number: 2004-40-102
This report has cleared the Treasury
Inspector General for Tax Administration disclosure review process and
information determined to be restricted from public release has been redacted
from this document.
May
19, 2004
MEMORANDUM FOR
COMMISSIONER, WAGE AND INVESTMENT DIVISION
FROM: Gordon C.
Milbourn III /s/ Gordon C. Milbourn III
Acting
Deputy Inspector General for Audit
SUBJECT: Final Audit Report - The Compliance
Services Collection Operations Function Needs to Set Specific Quantifiable Goals
to Ensure Its Reengineering Efforts Are Effective (Audit # 200340060)
This
report presents the results of our review of the Compliance Services Collection
Operations (CSCO) function. The overall
objective of this review was to determine whether management policies and the
purpose, strategies, and plans of the Wage and Investment (W&I) Division
CSCO function are effectively designed to ensure it meets the Internal Revenue
Service’s (IRS) goal of improving voluntary compliance. We also determined whether the CSCO function
is effectively designed to ensure it is meeting the requirements of the
Government Performance and Results Act of 1993.
The
W&I Division Compliance function’s long-term goals are designed to create
an environment that encourages taxpayers to voluntarily comply with tax laws
and brings non-compliant taxpayers into compliance in the most fair, accurate,
and cost-effective way. The W&I
Division Compliance function has a comprehensive strategic planning process to
help ensure it manages resources and meets its long-term and annual performance
goals. As part of the strategic
planning process, W&I Division Filing and Payment Compliance function
management establishes program priorities and annual performance goals for its
CSCO function. Even though
the CSCO function does not have comprehensive long-term goals, its activities
directly support the long-term goals of the overall W&I Division Compliance
function. In support of the long-term goals, the CSCO function has begun
reengineering efforts to address compliance trends and maximize resource
utilization.
The
CSCO functions in both the W&I and Small Business/Self-Employed Divisions
initiated joint reengineering efforts aimed at improving and modernizing many
of the CSCO function’s manual processes.
Improving the efficiency of the CSCO function will allow the W&I
Division Filing and Payment Compliance function to have a larger impact on
compliance by moving support resources to other compliance programs. However, specific quantifiable goals have
not yet been developed to enable the CSCO function to effectively measure and
drive its reengineering efforts.
We
recommended that the Commissioner,
W&I Division, ensure that specific quantifiable goals are set as part of
the efficiency improvements planned in the reengineering efforts of the CSCO
function. By establishing quantifiable
measures, clear time periods, and targets for its reengineering efforts that
are in line with its goals of addressing compliance trends and maximizing
resource utilization, the CSCO function can better manage its resources,
improve its program efficiencies, and measure its overall impact on voluntary
compliance.
Management’s Response: IRS
management was pleased that we acknowledged their efforts and has developed an
action plan for many additional improvements.
Management agreed with our recommendation that quantifiable goals are
needed. They plan to revise the current
action plan by September 2004 to include quantifiable goals with specific due
dates. Management’s complete response
to the draft report is included as Appendix IV.
Copies of this
report are also being sent to the IRS managers affected by the report
recommendation. Please contact me at
(202) 622-6510 if you have questions or Michael R. Phillips, Assistant
Inspector General for Audit (Wage and Investment Income Programs), at (202)
927-0597.
Appendix
I – Detailed Objectives, Scope, and Methodology
Appendix
II – Major Contributors to This Report
Appendix
III – Report Distribution List
Appendix IV
– Management’s Response to the Draft Report
Taxpayers are responsible for filing tax returns that report the full amount of taxes owed and for paying any taxes that are due. The Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) mission is to “provide America’s taxpayers top quality service by helping them understand and meet their tax responsibilities and by applying the tax law with integrity and fairness to all.”
The IRS’ Wage and Investment (W&I) Division serves
approximately 121 million taxpayers who file a Form 1040 with no accompanying
Schedules C, E, or F; no Form 2106; and no international activity. Through its Compliance function, the W&I
Division conducts examinations of individual tax returns and collects any
outstanding taxes due. Similar to the
IRS’ overall mission statement, the W&I Division Compliance function’s
mission is to “fairly and effectively assist taxpayers in the determination and
fulfillment of their tax obligations by providing accurate and consistent application
of the tax law and by using a risk-based approach to exam and collection.”
The collection of unpaid taxes is critical for ensuring taxpayers meet their tax responsibilities and ensuring fairness in the tax system. The Office of Management Controls has identified delinquent taxes as one of the IRS’ Material Weaknesses. As of September 2002, there were approximately 4 million taxpayer accounts in the W&I Division’s inventory with unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest totaling more than $23 billion.
The W&I Division Compliance function is made up of two program areas, Reporting Compliance and Filing and Payment Compliance. Similarly, Filing and Payment Compliance is made up of two functions. They are the Compliance Services Collection Operations (CSCO) function and the Automated Collection System function. Estimated resource levels for the W&I Division Filing and Payment Compliance function are $237 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004.
The primary tasks of the CSCO function involve securing delinquent returns that individuals have a legal responsibility to file and securing payment for taxes, penalties, and any interest owed. This review focused on the W&I Division CSCO function’s activities of securing payment from taxpayers for taxes, penalties, and interest.
The CSCO function assists taxpayers in deciding what payment option to use and processes and monitors these requests. CSCO function employees answer taxpayer questions concerning their accounts, as well as:
· Process taxpayer installment agreement requests.
· Handle correspondence from taxpayers in regards to balance due notices.
· Monitor Offer-in-Compromise agreements and installment agreements.
· Resolve certain other balance due conditions on taxpayers’ accounts.
This review of the W&I Division CSCO function followed the Office of Management and Budget’s Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART). We focused on PART sections 1 and 2, which provide the information necessary to determine if a program has laid a solid foundation to be successful in its goals and mission.
In addition, the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) requires executive agencies to prepare multiyear strategic plans, annual performance plans, and annual performance reports on prior year accomplishments. Strategic plans have six basic requirements and are the starting point for setting goals and measuring progress toward achieving them. This review concentrated on two requirements as they related to the W&I Division CSCO function. Specifically, the strategic plan must contain:
· A comprehensive mission statement covering the major functions and operations of the agency.
· General goals and objectives, including outcome-related goals and objectives, for the major functions and operations of the agency.
The GPRA also has six basic requirements for annual performance plans. For this review, we concentrated on two requirements as they relate to the W&I Division CSCO function. Specifically, the performance plan must:
· Establish performance goals to define the level of performance to be achieved by a program activity.
· Express such goals in an objective, quantifiable, and measurable form.
This review was performed at the W&I Division Headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and the CSCO function offices in Chamblee, Georgia, and Overland Park, Kansas, during the period October 2003 through March 2004. The audit was conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards. Detailed information on our audit objectives, scope, and methodology is presented in Appendix I. Major contributors to the report are listed in Appendix II.
The W&I Division Compliance function has a comprehensive strategic planning process to help ensure it manages resources and meets its annual performance goals. As part of the strategic planning process, W&I Division Filing and Payment Compliance function management establishes program priorities and annual performance goals for its CSCO function. The CSCO function’s activities support the W&I Division Compliance function’s strategic goals and the mission of effectively assisting taxpayers in completing their tax obligations. They also support the IRS’ goal of increasing voluntary compliance.
The annual planning process begins 6 months prior to the start of the new FY. W&I Division Filing and Payment Compliance function management includes CSCO function site staffs in their planning efforts. For example, W&I Division Filing and Payment Compliance function analysts held meetings with CSCO function site management to obtain input to the planning process and assist in setting the annual performance goals. This involved reviewing historical trends and any other factors that may influence the workloads at the CSCO function sites. W&I Division Filing and Payment Compliance function management then sets the performance goals and measures for the upcoming FY. An additional meeting is held with each CSCO function site’s staff to share and discuss the performance goals and how they will be measured.
The annual performance goals and measures are intended to help the CSCO function achieve its purpose and ensure consistency across the W&I Division. W&I Division Filing and Payment Compliance function management sets annual performance goals for customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, work quality, and overage cases. For example, 1 of the current work quality performance goals is to complete 80 percent of all case actions in the CSCO function timely. In addition, specific performance goals are set for each CSCO function site based on these strategic planning efforts. For example, the Kansas City CSCO function site has a case action timeliness goal of 99 percent, the Atlanta CSCO function site has a case action timeliness goal of 89 percent, the Austin, Texas, CSCO function site has a case action timeliness goal of 60 percent, etc. The different goals are attributable to factors such as the number of employees and employee experience. These measures are in line with the overall W&I Division Compliance function’s long-term strategic performance goals and are specific, quantifiable, and measurable.
To assist in achieving these long-term goals, W&I
Division Filing and Payment Compliance function management provides specific
operating guidelines for each program.
These guidelines cover various topics and are issued periodically to
remind managers and employees of their mission, identify priority work, and
emphasize existing and new procedures for each program. These guidelines are also designed to assist
the CSCO function in meeting its annual performance goals. For example, there are guidelines for most
of the programs that emphasize the importance of timeliness of case
actions. Even though these guidelines
should help the CSCO function meet its 80 percent work quality timeliness goal,
they also impact other annual performance goals, such as improving customer
satisfaction and reducing the number of overage cases.
Although the CSCO function does not have comprehensive long-term goals, its activities directly support the long-term goals of the W&I Division Compliance function. These long-term goals are designed to create an environment that encourages taxpayers to voluntarily comply with tax laws and brings non-compliant taxpayers into compliance in the most fair, accurate, and cost-effective way. The W&I Division’s Concept of Operations includes outcome-focused long-term goals, such as resolving compliance issues with the first human contact and ensuring employees have access to 100 percent of the information they need. In addition to supporting these long-term goals through the annual performance goals and measures, the CSCO function has begun reengineering efforts to address compliance trends and maximize resource utilization.
While the IRS as a whole has been modernizing many of its critical processes, the CSCO function has continued to rely on paper-driven and labor-intensive processes. With the increased availability of computers, many of the actions taken by IRS employees on CSCO function cases can now be done electronically. For example, IRS computer systems generate weekly listings of installment agreement cases that require the attention of CSCO function employees (e.g., a payroll deduction, a direct deposit installment agreement has been full paid, a taxpayer has not made a payment, etc.). These listings require employees to do research; prepare letters to taxpayers, employers, and banks; or take other actions on the taxpayers’ accounts. Many of these actions could be done systemically.
The CSCO functions in both the W&I and Small Business/Self-Employed Divisions initiated joint reengineering efforts aimed at improving and modernizing many of the CSCO function’s manual processes. Improving the efficiency of the CSCO function will allow the W&I Division Filing and Payment Compliance function to have a larger impact on compliance by moving support resources to other compliance programs. However, specific quantifiable goals have not yet been developed to enable the CSCO function to effectively measure and drive its reengineering efforts to improve work quality and increase customer satisfaction.
The goals for the reengineering
efforts should be quantifiable and have clear time periods and targets. Federal Government agencies are expected to
identify high-quality outcome measures and have clear time periods and targets. In addition, the improvements being
considered in the reengineering efforts for the CSCO function need to be
measured. These measures should be able
to determine the amount of resources saved by implementing an improvement. For example, these goals should be able to
measure the amount of resources that could be saved by reducing the amount of
manual work needed for employees to research and take a specific action on a
taxpayer’s account.
The W&I Division CSCO function is an integral part of the W&I Division Compliance program. Its purpose is clear and addresses specific needs aligned with the goals stated in the IRS and W&I Division Compliance function mission statements. By establishing quantifiable measures, clear time periods, and targets for its reengineering efforts that are in line with its goals of addressing compliance trends and maximizing resource utilization, the CSCO function can better manage its resources, improve its program efficiencies, and determine its overall impact on voluntary compliance.
1. The Commissioner, W&I Division, should ensure that specific quantifiable goals are set as part of the efficiency improvements planned in the reengineering efforts of the CSCO function.
Management’s Response: Management agreed with our recommendation. They plan to revise the current action plan by September 2004 to include quantifiable goals with specific due dates.
Appendix I
Detailed Objectives, Scope,
and Methodology
The overall objective of our review was to determine whether management policies and the purpose, strategies, and plans of the Wage and Investment (W&I) Division Compliance Services Collection Operations (CSCO) function are effectively designed to ensure it meets the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) goal of improving voluntary compliance. We also determined whether the CSCO function is effectively designed to ensure it is meeting the requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. To accomplish our objectives, we:
I.
Determined whether the design
and purpose of the CSCO function is clear and properly aligned with the mission
of the W&I Division and the IRS.
A.
Discussed research activities
concerning the CSCO function with personnel in the IRS Office of Program Evaluation
and Risk Analysis and the W&I Division Research function.
B.
Determined
whether the CSCO function’s purpose is clear and addresses a specific interest,
problem, or need by:
1.
Researching the
W&I Division Filing and Payment Compliance function website to identify the
CSCO function’s mission.
2.
Interviewing
the Director, Filing and Payment Compliance, and appropriate CSCO function
managers to determine their interpretations of the CSCO function’s goals.
C.
Evaluated
whether the CSCO function’s mission is logical and likely to yield the intended
outcomes.
II.
Determined
whether the CSCO function has set valid annual and long-term goals that focus
on outcomes and reflect its purpose.
A.
Reviewed annual
and long-term strategic plans (W&I Division Strategic Assessments for
Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005) for the CSCO function and interviewed CSCO function
personnel to identify its goals.
B.
Evaluated
long-term goals by reviewing the W&I Division Compliance function’s Concept
of Operations and the CSCO function’s reengineering efforts documentation and
discussed these goals with CSCO function personnel and W&I Division Filing
and Payment Compliance management.
C.
Evaluated
short-term goals (CSCO function Operating Guidelines and balanced measures) and
discussed these goals with CSCO function personnel and W&I Division Filing
and Payment Compliance function management.
D.
Conducted
walkthroughs of the CSCO function operations at Chamblee, Georgia, and Overland
Park, Kansas, to identify how balance due accounts are processed and how these
processes relate to the overall CSCO function mission.
Appendix II
Major Contributors to This Report
Michael R. Phillips, Assistant Inspector General for Audit
(Wage and Investment Income Programs)
Mary Baker, Director
Bryce Kisler, Audit Manager
Alan Lund, Senior Auditor
Ronnie Summers, Senior Auditor
Nelva
Blassingame, Auditor
Appendix III
Commissioner C
Office of the
Commissioner – Attn: Chief of
Staff C
Deputy Commissioner
for Services and Enforcement SE
Deputy
Commissioner, Wage and Investment Division
SE:W
Director,
Compliance SE:W:CP
Director, Filing and Payment Compliance SE:W:CP:FPC
Director, Strategy and Finance SE:W:S
Chief Counsel CC
National Taxpayer Advocate TA
Director, Office of Legislative Affairs CL:LA
Director, Office of
Program Evaluation and Risk Analysis
RAS:O
Office of
Management Controls OS:CFO:AR:M
Audit Liaison:
GAO/TIGTA Liaison, Wage and Investment Division SE:W:S:PA
Appendix IV
The response was
removed due to its size. To see the
response, please go to the Adobe PDF version of the report on the TIGTA Public
Web Page.