IRS sets 71 percent call answer goal for tax season.

The nice note at the end of your tax bill says to call with any questions, but only seven of 10 that take them up on that offer will actually get to talk to somebody.

The IRS has set a goal of answering 71 percent of the calls that come in this tax season, leaving the rest of us on permanent hold.

The agency is “is committed to providing the best possible service to every taxpayer”, according to spokesperson for the Internal Revenue Service Michelle Eldridge.  “The bottom line is we have answered millions more phone calls in the last two years than ever before,” Eldridge told the Washington Post.

National Taxpayer Advocate’s Nina E. Olson disagrees, “This level of service is unacceptable … [it is the] number one most serious problem for taxpayers.”

In 2005 the agency was able to answer 82.6 percent of calls that came in.  That number dropped to just 52.8 percent by 2008.  The 2010 goal is slightly higher than the actual rate of last year, which was at 70 percent.