The IRS collects federal income taxes and enforces tax law for the United States government

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the federal agency that collects income taxes from individuals and businesses, and it enforces the tax code. It is part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. When you file a tax return, you send it to the IRS. When the IRS suspects you owe more tax than you reported, it contacts you. When you claim a tax credit — like the Earned Income Tax Credit — the IRS verifies your claim and processes the payment.

The IRS does not decide who gets housing vouchers, food stamps, or disability benefits. It does not run Medicaid or Social Security. But it does verify income for those programs. When you tell a housing authority or a benefits office how much you earn, they often ask the IRS to confirm the number. That is why your tax return matters even if you do not owe tax.

Key Takeaways

  • The IRS is a federal tax agency that collects income taxes and verifies income for other government programs.
  • The IRS maintains records of your reported income, which housing and benefits programs use to confirm what you earn.
  • You can contact the IRS directly by phone, mail, or through its website at irs.gov if you have questions about your tax account.
  • The IRS issues refunds, processes tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, and pursues people who do not pay taxes owed.

What the IRS actually does day to day

The IRS processes tax returns. Every year, millions of people and businesses file returns showing their income and calculating how much tax they owe. The IRS checks these returns for math errors and missing information. If your return looks correct, the IRS either sends you a refund or records that you paid what you owed.

The IRS also administers tax credits. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable credit for working people with low to moderate income. The Child Tax Credit is a credit for people with dependent children. If you meet the requirements, the IRS calculates the credit and includes it in your refund. You do not receive the credit from a separate office — it comes through your tax return.

The IRS verifies income for other programs. When you apply for housing assistance, Medicaid, food stamps, or other benefits, the program asks you to report your income. Many programs then contact the IRS to confirm the number you reported. The IRS does not make the decision about whether you get the benefit — it only confirms what you told the program is accurate.

How the IRS gets its information about you

The IRS receives income reports from employers, banks, and other sources. Your employer sends the IRS a W-2 form showing your wages. Banks send 1099 forms showing interest you earned. If you are self-employed, you report your income directly on your tax return. The IRS compares what you report to what it receives from other sources. If the numbers do not match, the IRS may contact you to ask why.

The IRS also keeps records of tax payments you made during the year. If your employer withheld tax from your paycheck, that withholding is recorded in the IRS system. When you file your return, the IRS compares what you paid to what you owe. If you paid too much, you get a refund. If you paid too little, you owe the difference.

Why housing and benefits programs ask about the IRS

Housing authorities and benefits programs need to know your income to decide if you meet their income limits. Instead of taking your word for it, they often ask the IRS to confirm. This is called income verification. The program sends the IRS your name and Social Security number, and the IRS sends back what you reported on your most recent tax return.

If you did not file a tax return, the IRS has no record to send. In that case, the program may ask you for other proof of income — pay stubs, a letter from your employer, or bank statements. But if you did file, the IRS record is usually the fastest way to verify what you earn.

What the IRS does not do

The IRS does not run housing programs, food assistance, Medicaid, or Social Security. It does not decide whether you get a voucher or a benefit. It does not manage waiting lists or conduct home inspections. Those tasks belong to other agencies — the Department of Housing and Urban Development, state housing authorities, state Medicaid offices, and the Social Security Administration.

The IRS also does not provide case management or help you navigate other programs. If you need to know whether you may have access to for housing assistance or food stamps, you contact the housing authority or your state benefits office, not the IRS. The IRS's role is limited to collecting taxes and verifying income when other programs ask.

How to contact the IRS

You can reach the IRS by phone at 1-800-829-1040 for general tax questions. The IRS website is irs.gov. You can also mail questions to the IRS address shown on your tax return notice or on the irs.gov website. Response times vary. Phone lines are often busy during tax season (January through April), and mail takes several weeks.

If you need the IRS to verify your income for a housing or benefits program, you usually do not contact the IRS yourself. The program contacts the IRS on your behalf. You provide your name, Social Security number, and permission, and the program handles the rest. Ask the program how long verification takes — it is usually a few days to a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the IRS decide if I get housing assistance or food stamps?

No. The IRS only collects taxes and verifies income. The housing authority or benefits office makes the decision about whether you get assistance. They use the IRS income record as one piece of information to confirm what you reported.

What if I did not file a tax return?

The IRS has no record of your income. When a program asks the IRS to verify, the IRS will say it has no return on file. The program will then ask you for other proof — pay stubs, a letter from your employer, or bank statements showing deposits.

Can the IRS tell me if I may have access to for a benefit?

No. The IRS does not know the rules for housing programs, food assistance, or other benefits. Contact the program directly — your local housing authority, your state benefits office, or 211 — to learn what you need to do.

How long does income verification through the IRS take?

Usually a few days to a week. The program you are applying to sends the request to the IRS, and the IRS sends back your tax record. The program then uses that record to make a decision. Ask the program for a timeline when you apply.

What if the IRS record shows different income than what I reported to the program?

Tell the program right away. There may be a simple explanation — you may have earned more or less than you thought, or the IRS record may show a different year. The program will ask you to explain the difference. Bring pay stubs or other documents to show what you actually earned.