The number of tax-delinquent federal workers and retirees increased by 11.5 percent in 2011, according to Internal Revenue Service data.
The delinquency rate rose to 3.17 percent from 2.85 percent the previous year. The 311,566 delinquent taxpayers owe a total of $3.5 billion in federal taxes, according to the IRS data released today.
Among large executive branch agencies, the Department of Housing and Urban Development had the highest percentage of delinquent workers at 4.42 percent. The Treasury Department, which includes the IRS, had the lowest, at 1.08 percent.
Employees of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System had a 5.55 percent delinquency rate, while active-duty military had a 2.02 percent rate.
The data present a snapshot as of the conclusion of the 2011 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, 2011. It includes taxpayers who owe balances, haven’t filed tax returns and have balances deemed not collectible.
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