Federal employees would face firings for delinquent taxes

The bill would not apply to those employees who made oversights in their personal taxes but agree to pay them, or those who are challenging the delinquency in court or through the IRS.It would also exclude those who are paying taxes under an installment plan, people who have worked out a compromise on the tax amount and interest and penalties owed, employees who have not exhausted their rights to due process, and those who experience some complications pertaining to a joint return.Nearly 100,000 civilian federal employees were delinquent on their federal income taxes in 2009, owing a total of $1 billion, the IRS found. "The very nature of federal employment and the concept inherent to 'public service' demands those being paid by taxpayers to also pay their fair share of taxes," Coburn said. According to , failing to file a tax return is a misdemeanor and normally civil rather than criminal tax penalties are assessed. Although the possibility is unlikely, some people can face up to one year in jail and $25,000 in fines for each year they failed to file.