IRS Admits Higher Audit Rates for Black Taxpayers

The Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.) has acknowledged that Black taxpayers have been disproportionately audited and is considering changes to its case selection process to address discrimination in how the tax code is enforced. The I.R.S. commissioner, Daniel Werfel, said the agency was working to correct unfairness in the enforcement of the tax code and would use some of the $80 billion that has been dedicated to modernizing the I.R.S. to improving outreach to underserved communities and helping those taxpayers claim credits that are available to them. The research found that Black taxpayers were three to five times more likely than taxpayers who are not Black to be audited.