The IRS not only has to develop its spending plan, it will also have to implement it.
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Approval of the $80 billion will give lawmakers something else to consider — whether they think Rettig is the right person to lead an overhaul of the agency.
Finally, it’s worth noting that, despite the cash infusion, things are not going to change overnight. The IRS not only has to develop its spending plan, it will also have to implement it.
Hiring could be slow, for example, thanks to the government’s laborious processes and the nation’s ultra-low 3.5 percent unemployment rate that could make it hard to fill positions. Democrats had included provisions in their bill that would have eliminated some of the red tape in hiring, and allowed the IRS to pay people more, but those too were struck by the parliamentarian.
Of the $80 billion, CBO predicts the IRS will only actually spend $5 billion more next year. Most of the money won’t go out the door for years to come.