WASHINGTON - Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees are in compliance with fair tax

collection practices in their work collecting taxes from taxpayers, according to a new report

publicly released today by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).

The report, which reviewed IRS collection practices during Fiscal Year 2010, found no

documented violations of Fair Tax Collection Practices (FTCP), a set of Federal standards

governing the collection of taxes to ensure the protection of taxpayer rights and prevent taxpayer

abuse or harassment.

TIGTA conducted its statutory review to obtain information on IRS administrative or civil

actions resulting from FTCP violations by IRS employees. It also found no civil actions

resulting in monetary settlements paid to taxpayers because of a FTCP violation.

"Our report is good news, as it found that taxpayers have the reasonable assurance that

communications with the IRS in connection with the collection of unpaid taxes are in compliance

with Federal standards for fair tax collection," said J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector

General for Tax Administration. "The abuse or harassment of taxpayers while attempting to

collect taxes is never acceptable," he added.

TIGTA made no recommendations in its report.