The need for IRS funding: January 11, 2002.

On January 11, 2002, TEI President Bob Ashby sent the following letter to Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Office of Management and Budget Director Mitchell Daniels concerning the need for adequately funding the Internal Revenue Service.

On behalf of Tax Executives Institute, I am writing to urge you to ensure that the Internal Revenue Service receives the funds it needs to effectively administer this country's tax laws.

TEI's 5,200 members are accountants, attorneys, and other business professionals who work for the largest 2,800 companies in the United States, Canada, and Europe. TEI's members work on tax issues, and with the IRS, on an every day basis. They are responsible for conducting the tax affairs of their companies and ensuring their compliance with the tax laws. TEI is dedicated to the development and effective implementation of sound tax policy, to promoting the uniform and equitable enforcement of the tax laws, and to reducing the cost and burden of administration and compliance to the benefit of taxpayers and government alike. The Institute is committed to maintaining a system that works -- one that builds upon the principle of voluntary compliance and is consistent with sound tax policy, one that taxpayers can comply with, and one in which the IRS can effectively perform its audit function without unduly burdening taxpayers.

As the preeminent association of business tax executives, TEI knows how critical it is to invest in and plan for the future. Our members know the importance of sound business processes and strict internal controls. Equally important, the companies represented by TEI's membership know that to be successful, they...