Reasons Why the IRS Takes Taxes

History of the IRS

• The IRS as we know it today was formed in 1952, but its predecessor organization -- the Bureau of Internal Revenue -- was formed in 1913 after the 16th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, giving Congress the authority to enact an income tax. An income tax had actually been enacted by Congress twice prior to 1913, but the law was struck down by the Supreme Court on both occasions.
  
  

Mission of the IRS

• According to its website, the IRS's role is "to help the large majority of compliant taxpayers with the tax law, while ensuring that the minority who are unwilling to comply pay their fair share." This statement makes it clear that the job of the IRS encompasses both assistance in the filing and payment of taxes and enforcement of the tax laws.
  
  

Revenue for Government Services

• Social Security and Medicare taxes are automatically transferred to appropriate agencies, while income taxes collected by the IRS are sent directly to the U.S. Treasury. These tax revenues are used to support government operations (build buildings, pay employees and so forth) and to provide funding for a wide range of government programs that directly benefit the public.
  
  

Government Services Paid for by Tax Revenue

• Taxes pay for the government services we enjoy in our day-to-day lives, from roads to garbage collection to police and firefighters to schools. And in a very real sense it is fair to say that we pay for our freedom as a nation, as many of our tax dollars are spent on the military to protect us from our enemies.