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‘People have a lot of options. They have Amazon. They have Walmart:’ IRS chief says his agency competes with big-box stores for staff

Last Updated: March 18, 2022 at 10:19 a.m. ET
First Published: March 17, 2022 at 3:04 p.m. ET

By Andrew Keshner

‘I can only encourage people so much to come on board for the good of the country,’ Charles Rettig, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, said.

Hiring thousands of people to clear a tax return backlog that runs in the millions is tough enough. ... Now try doing it during a labor shortage when all kinds of employers are offering fatter salaries to snag and keep staff.

That’s the task for IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig — a man who’s not shy about saying when the agency gets “out-gunned” — and he knows he’s facing stiff competition in today’s labor market.

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