Monday, June 29, 1998

IRS reform welcome

Americans are about to be living with a new version of the IRS. That will not make all of our tax miseries go away or even make many of us feel entirely comfortable about this overwhelmingly powerful agency in our midst, but its reform is good news that can be chiefly attributed to congressional Republicans.

President Clinton also likes the idea of reform. Now. He wasn't a fan of reshaping the agency until Congress started conducting IRS hearings that elicited an extraordinary public response. When witnesses told horror stories of IRS arrogance and inconsiderateness, the public understood because so many people had similar, if less drastic, experiences. The president decided to favor reform, too, as well he should have.

The changes are important in a free, democratic society. One of them would put the burden of proof on the agency in certain disputes; another simply tries to ensure better management; a third relieves spouses of the consequences of certain obligations of a deceased or divorced husband or wife; another change would eliminate penalties when the IRS takes too long to notify people of mistakes.

Some people may take unfair advantage of these changes, but mostly the changes will serve innocent, well-meaning citizens. Tax reform -- not just IRS reform -- will finally be necessary to enable the agency to be as helpful as many of its employees would no doubt like, but there's no need to wait until then to make sure some current abuses are ameliorated.