IRS blames ObamaCare for poor customer service

(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

published 18 March 2015

If you have questions about your taxes this year, don't count on turning to the IRS for answers. The agency is answering just 43 percent of taxpayers' calls this year after being forced to refocus a substantial portion of its funding and energies toward handling the Affordable Care Act and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

The Washington Times reports that in addressing the House Appropriations Committee earlier today, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen revealed that he's had to shift millions of dollars intended for IRS customer service toward building computer systems for and answering questions about ObamaCare.

The Times also points out that the IRS has faced budget shortages recently as Republican lawmakers have denied the agency any more funding until it proves it has earned taxpayer dollars and can use public money responsibly.