What is the primary purpose of the IRS?

The primary purpose of the IRS is to administer and enforce federal tax laws. This encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, including the collection of federal income taxes, overseeing the tax return process, and ensuring compliance with tax regulations. The agency is tasked with interpreting tax laws and providing guidance on their application, which includes auditing taxpayers and conducting investigations to identify noncompliance or fraud.

While the IRS does issue tax refunds, this is a function of its broader mandate to ensure the proper collection and payment of taxes rather than an end in itself. Assisting with state tax regulations or providing financial education to taxpayers are activities that do not fall primarily under the IRS's jurisdiction. The IRS operates at the federal level, and state tax regulations are typically managed by state revenue departments. As such, the focus remains primarily on the enforcement and administration of federal tax laws.