Other factors figure into collecting unpaid taxes

Re “The Irrational Revenue Service,” Opinion, Aug. 30

It is healthy to have a debate about the best methods to collect unpaid income taxes. But the debate becomes absurd when bogus facts are used as a means of opposing the employment of private contractors to help collect those unpaid taxes.

Lauren Willis writes that the Internal Revenue Service itself can collect those unpaid taxes for 3 cents on the dollar. That figure calculates the cost of employee salaries, not including benefits and pensions, training, computers, telephones, desks, chairs, or even a pad and pen. A more accurate figure, based on data from a report issued by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, puts the IRS’ cost at a minimum of 21 cents on the dollar, and the figure approaches 29 cents when factoring indirect costs. Those who argue that the IRS plan to utilize private firms should be stopped are, innocently or otherwise, taking up the cause of those few Americans who believe they can evade their responsibilities and stick taxpayers with their bills.

GARY D. RIPPENTROP

CEO, Assn. of Credit and

Collection Professionals

Minneapolis