United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2005-10-26 monographic deposited born digital 19 p. GA 1.13:GAO-06-208T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-208T P0b002ee180379e9a f:d06208t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-208T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-208T GAO-06-208T Deficit reduction Econometric modeling Income taxes Noncompliance Strategic planning Tax administration Tax evasion Tax nonpayment Tax violations Taxpayers Earned Income Tax Credit IRS Taxpayer Compliance Measurement Program Testimony A40317 Long-term budget simulations by GAO and others show that we face large and growing structural deficits due primarily to known demographic trends and rising health care costs. Reducing the annual tax gap--the difference between what taxpayers timely and accurately pay in taxes and what they should pay under the law--could help the nation cope with these long-term fiscal challenges. The tax gap arises through the underreporting of tax liabilities, underpayment of taxes due or "nonfiling" of required tax returns. This testimony discusses the findings of GAO's recent tax gap report. It addresses the significance of reducing the tax gap, measuring the extent of the tax gap, collecting data on reasons why noncompliance occurs, and the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) strategies for reducing the tax gap. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-208T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-208T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-208T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-208T.pdf GAO-06-208T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-06-208T Testimony GAO-06-208T; Tax Gap: Multiple Strategies, Better Compliance Data, and Long-Term Goals Are Needed to Improve Taxpayer Compliance; Deficit reduction Econometric modeling Income taxes Noncompliance Strategic planning Tax administration Tax evasion Tax nonpayment Tax violations Taxpayers Earned Income Tax Credit IRS Taxpayer Compliance Measurement Program Public Law 105-206