IRS Shifts Focus from Tax Evasion to New Roles Amid Staff Cuts

Sun Dec 14 2025 05:49:04 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The IRS's Criminal Investigations unit is navigating a pivotal year, focusing more on immigration enforcement and less on tracking tax evaders as workforce numbers dwindle.

The IRS Criminal Investigations unit is shifting its duties, engaging in immigration enforcement and supporting National Guard operations while grappling with a 10% reduction in staff. As the unit's resources diminish, the number of tax evasion cases prosecuted has notably decreased, prompting a reevaluation of their strategies in tackling corporate fraud and laboring amidst a challenging political landscape.

WASHINGTON (AP) — This year, the IRS's Criminal Investigations (CI) unit has moved away from its traditional focus on tracking down tax evaders. Instead, the agency has taken on new roles like assisting with immigration enforcement and supporting troops in two cities, all while dealing with a significant reduction in staffing.

Guy Ficco, the Chief of IRS Criminal Investigations, revealed that due to budget cuts and personnel changes, they’ve experienced a 10% decrease in staff — going from 3,474 agents in 2024 to just 3,143 in 2025. Despite these challenges, Ficco described his team as “resilient.”

In a major policy shift, the IRS-CI has deployed about 250 agents to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with deportations since May. While the unit has increased investigations into corporate fraud and money laundering, investigations for tax evasion have plummeted. The number of tax crime recommendations fell to 834, with only 34 cases of tax evasion being forwarded for prosecution in 2025.

This transition highlights the IRS's adaptability in a changing political climate, balancing traditional responsibilities of tax enforcement with pressing issues like immigration and national security.