Figure
IRS funding and employment have been cut drastically: IRS operating costs (in 2017 dollars) and average positions realized as a share of total returns, 1994–2017
| Average positions realized | Operating costs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 0.054% | 6.631% |
| 1995 | 0.054% | 6.528% |
| 1996 | 0.051% | 6.097% |
| 1997 | 0.047% | 5.624% |
| 1998 | 0.044% | 5.455% |
| 1999 | 0.044% | 5.662% |
| 2000 | 0.043% | 5.328% |
| 2001 | 0.043% | 5.452% |
| 2002 | 0.044% | 5.519% |
| 2003 | 0.044% | 5.679% |
| 2004 | 0.043% | 5.627% |
| 2005 | 0.042% | 5.722% |
| 2006 | 0.040% | 5.629% |
| 2007 | 0.039% | 5.395% |
| 2008 | 0.036% | 5.295% |
| 2009 | 0.039% | 5.903% |
| 2010 | 0.041% | 6.326% |
| 2011 | 0.040% | 6.080% |
| 2012 | 0.038% | 5.781% |
| 2013 | 0.036% | 5.422% |
| 2014 | 0.035% | 5.293% |
| 2015 | 0.033% | 4.939% |
| 2016 | 0.032% | 4.916% |
| 2017 | 0.031% | 4.697% |

Source: EPI analysis of data from table 2.3.3 from the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPA) from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and IRS data books, 1995–2017
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