The apparent reasons: A slashed IRS budget and a Congressional mandate to prioritize audits — but of low-income filers. Among households with income between $1 million and $5 million, the audit rate dropped from 3.52% to 2.21% in 2018. For those making less than $25,000, the audit rate fell 0.02% (to .69%) from 2017 to 2018. Adjusted for inflation, the 2019 IRS budget is 19% below its funding in 2010, according to the Government Accountability Office, which means fewer auditors. “You need a real live human being going through their transactions.”Why isn’t the audit rate for poorer Americans falling at the same rate?

Source: Forbes May 21, 2019 20:37 UTC