According to a study of government data, audits of businesses by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) declined last year, while the audit rate for individuals increased. This is surprising given the Bush administration?s tough stance on corporate scandals. The IRS responded that they have been taking other enforcement actions such as sending warning letters to companies that are cheaper and less time consuming than conducting traditional audits.
See "Audits of businesses declined last year, study says", USA Today, April 11, 2004