Federal budget rules treat the cost of IRS tax collectors as an expense. Because lawmakers are cutting discretionary spending, they decided not to give any money to the IRS to hire tax collectors.

Instead, they authorized the IRS to outsource the tax collection work to private contractors.1 As you read this, private firms are chasing down taxpayers who owe money to the government.

The deal is sealed. According to a New York Times article by David Cay Johnston,2 the annual results ... Log in to view full article.