In a report released today, the IRS Oversight Board recommended that Congress increase the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) FY 2010 budget by $363 million over what the Obama administration requested. The independent panel, which Congress created in 1998, cited the "IRS's archaic computer systems," a lack of adequate computer hardware and IT infrastructure, and the need for better taxpayer service programs as targets for the extra money. Unfortunately, the report comes a tad late.

Even though the House and the Senate are set to consider the FY 2010 Financial Services spending bill, which covers the IRS, this week, each house has already set a monetary ceiling for their respective measures. This essentially makes the appropriations process going forward a zero-sum game. It is therefore unlikely that Congress will provide the recommended funds because any money added to the IRS budget will have to come from other programs in the bill. That is a shame, because the recommendations are spot on.

Image by Flickr user AMagill used under a Creative Commons license.