Why does the IRS let people go years/decades without filing their taxes but then audit people that do file their taxes on time? Wouldn’t their energy be better spent going after those that have W2s…
For the large part, a lot of individuals who don't file in a given year likely have paid more in taxes than they owe, or owe a relatively modest amount. Those people, even if they did something wrong in the eyes of the law (not filing when you overpaid by itself is not illegal), aren't worth goin…
The Short Answer
For the large part, a lot of individuals who don't file in a given year likely have paid more in taxes than they owe, or owe a relatively modest amount. Those people, even if they did something wrong in the eyes of the law (not filing when you overpaid by itself is not illegal), aren't worth going after. However, if the IRS has any red flags that you might have underpaid a lot of money, they will investigate if resources permit. Afaik, child support is not handled by the IRS either, so it's out of their jurisdiction.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Large, part, individuals
This explanation focuses on large, part, individuals and spans 97 words across 4 sentences. At 35% above the average Science explanation (72 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “For the large part, a lot of individuals who don't file in a given year likely have paid more in taxes than they owe, or” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 4 connected points.
How This Compares in Science
Ranked #130 of 500 Science questions by answer depth (top 27%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why the irs let people go years/decades without filing their taxes but then audit people that do file their taxes on time? wouldn't their energy be better spent going after those that have w2s but haven't filed in years?
For the large part, a lot of individuals who don't file in a given year likely have paid more in taxes than they owe, or owe a relatively modest amount. Those people, even if they did something wrong in the eyes of the law (not filing when you…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Science questions?
This is an above-average answer at 97 words, ranked #130 of 500 Science questions by depth. The key concepts covered are large, part, individuals.
What approach does this answer take to explain the irs let people go years/decades without filing their tax?
The explanation uses contrasting perspectives across 97 words. It is categorized under Science and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.