IRS plan to use private tax collectors runs into snags

By Kevin McCoy, USA TODAY
Thu May 4, 6:47 AM ET

A private debt-collection firm tapped by the IRS to seek repayment from Americans who owe back taxes has been tangled in legal controversy, including a bribery scheme involving a collection contract in Texas and a federal investigation of another collection deal in Louisiana.

Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, an Austin law firm, was one of three firms chosen from among 33 bidders in March for the potentially lucrative IRS contract to attempt collection of an estimated $1.4 billion in tax debts over 10 years.