The IRS received enhancements in taxpayer services through the **Inflation Reduction Act**, but still struggles with unresolved claims related to tax credits from the pandemic.
The independent watchdog's report reveals that **identity theft resolution** delays have increased, rising from **19 months** in 2023 to **22 months** in 2024.
**Employee Retention Credit** claims face significant backlogs as eligible businesses await refunds crucial for their operations.
IRS Commissioner **Daniel Werfel** acknowledges identity theft as the agency's largest service gap, with a rise in theft incidents attributed to shifting scams to online platforms.
The report suggests Congress increase support for taxpayer services to avoid jeopardizing improvements from previously allocated funds.
For more details, visit the [original news article](https://apnews.com/article/tax-season-irs-audits-watchdog-report-fb5a1ecec7424362e34e9502270f1e21).