By Steven D. Mercatante Esq.

 
In recent years, the IRS has noticeably ramped up its efforts to close the tax gap (gap between tax revenue owed to the IRS and what the IRS collects). Increasing enforcement measures, including massively expanded audit programs, targeted at third party reporters (third party reporters chiefly include organizations making payments to non-employees) are among the primary means the IRS has sought to close a tax gap estimated at well over $300 billion in 2010. The period of minimal IRS Form 1099 examinations has long since ended.