The IRS is planning to cut the number of estate tax lawyers and audit staff it employs.

With the efforts of the Bush administration to reduce the number of people liable for the estate tax, the IRS will cut the jobs of 157 of the agency's 345 estate tax lawyers, and an additional 17 support personnel. The cuts are expected to occur within a two month time period.

Kevin Brown, IRS Deputy Commission explained to the New York Times that the cuts have been made necessary because there are far fewer taxpayers subject to the estate tax.

This year, estates worth over $2 million for singles and $4 million for couples are taxed at a maximum 46% tax rate. Under legislation passed in 2001, the exemption will rise to $3.5 million in 2009. The rates are set to decline to 45% for 2009. The tax will then be repealed for 2010. However, in 2011, the tax will then be reinstated at a pre-2001 rate of 55%.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA), says that the compromise legislation he drafted would permanently eliminate the estate tax for 99.7% of Americans. It would increase the exemption amount to $5 million per person. Estates between $5 million and $25 million would be taxed at a rate equal to the capital gains tax rate. Estates worth over $25 million would be taxed at double the capital gains rate.

Some tax lawyers that will be cut have suggested that the cutbacks aren't made to save money, they are being made to protect wealthy individuals with political links to the Bush administration. According to the Times, these lawyers are claiming that the agency is reluctant to pursue cases involving complex schemes to understate the value of assets.

Critics say that the Bush administration is bypassing Congress to eliminate the estate tax where it lives -- in the IRS.

However, Brown says the IRS has no intention of letting down its guard over wealthy taxpayers. Brown explains that the money saved by reducing the estate and gift tax compliance department will be used to hire extra staff to audit tax returns of over $1 million.