sufficient funding. since 2010 the number of tax returns is up 19% but the agency's funding and staffing are down close to 20%. >> i think it all boils down to funding. >> john c. >> if you have to call, that's where the problems begin. >> last year the irs only answered 11% of customer calls with many waiting hours to get through. meanwhile, tax filing is getting more complicated than the pandemic with new programs around covid relief and child tax credits. traffic to the irs website nearly tripled in 2020 and rose again last year. now millions of taxpayers are still waiting for their refund. >> it's been frustrating. >> paul wantsing and his family need $7,000. he's on disability and his wife runs small business. >> knowing it's out there and we can't access it and we could use that money is a challenge.