The IRS is a familiar name in every American household because they are the people who we pay our taxes to, and those who will track us down if we don’t do it on time. But, that is just about as far as our knowledge goes.
Just in case you need to know a little bit more about the IRS, we have created this quick site for history and organization, so you can understand the IRS as well.
History
The beginning of the IRS was in the civil war when income tax was temporarily instituted in order to help pay for the necessary supplies of the war. However, it didn’t officially begin on a permanent level until the 16th amendment was ratified (allowing a ¾ vote to amend the constitution) in 1913.
In the 1950’s, the IRS finally got it’s official name, and in 1998 the IRS’s protocols where changed greatly to become what they are today.
Who Is in Charge
A commissioner runs the IRS, and together with other IRS leadership, he or she is in charge of organizing taxes and other key duties. The President of the United States appoints the IRS commissioner, and so a new commissioner is appointed with each new presidency.
How They Are Organized
Beyond the commissioner, the IRS is composed of several key departments (and corresponding department leadership) to effectively run the workings of tax collection in the United States.
The intricate IRS system is complicated and has many levels of authority and responsibility. But together, all of the departments work to make sure that the United States has the money it needs to constantly improve.
Understanding how the IRS functions can help you to better understand your own part in the success of American government, so take your new knowledge and make yourself aware of the important role you play in our country’s success!
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