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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is headquartered at 1111 Constitution Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20224, in the Federal Triangle area. The IRS is a bureau of the US Department of Treasury and is one of the most efficient tax administrators globally. The IRS building was constructed between 1928 and 1936 and was the first of several large-scale US government buildings in the Federal Triangle area of Washington, DC.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | 1111 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20224 |
| Construction | Between 1928 and 1936 |
| Building Style | French Renaissance-style |
| Building Purpose | Headquarters of the Internal Revenue Service |
| IRS Founded | 1862 |
| IRS Employees | 6000 by the 1920s |
| IRS Divisions | Large and mid-size business (LMSB), small business or self-employed (SB/SE), wage and investment (W&I) and tax-exempt and government entities (TE/GE) |
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What You'll Learn
The IRS building is located at 1111 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20224
The IRS building, constructed between 1928 and 1936, was the first building to be erected within the Federal Triangle, a project that was the largest of its kind ever undertaken by the government. The Federal Triangle project was the first federally funded urban redevelopment programme of its scope and provided a model for city planning in the 1930s through to the 1950s. The new buildings were designed to reflect the "dignity and power of the nation".
The IRS building was designed as a simplified interpretation of the classical revival style. Although the exterior details are less elaborate than those of the cabinet-level agencies within the Triangle, the well-proportioned and austere building is considered a masterpiece in its own right. The building was opened for use in 1930, 16 months ahead of schedule, and was equipped with a synchronised system of 861 clocks, the largest such system at the time.
An extension to the building was begun in February 1934 to accommodate the sharp increase in the IRS's workload following the repeal of the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) in 1933. The extension duplicated the exterior detailing of the main building and completed the symmetry of the facade.
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The building was constructed between 1928 and 1936
The Internal Revenue Service Building, located at 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC, was constructed between 1928 and 1936. It was the first building to be constructed within the Federal Triangle, a project that was the largest of its kind ever undertaken by the government. The Federal Triangle project was the first federally funded urban redevelopment project of its scope and provided a model for city planning in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. The buildings were designed to reflect the "dignity and power of the nation".
The construction of the IRS building was preceded by the passing of the Triangle Bill in January 1928, which authorized the acquisition of land and allocated funds for the project. The IRS building was planned as early as 1926, before the master plan for the Federal Triangle was formulated. According to the "Unified Architectural Composition Plan" publicized by the Commission of Fine Arts in July 1927, the IRS building was to form half of a "Great Circle" at the intersection of 12th Street and the former C Street.
The need for a permanent IRS headquarters was recognized due to the increasing number of employees, with 6000 employees housed in temporary wood frame structures considered fire hazards, creating poor working conditions and threatening the safety of tax records. The construction of the IRS building began, and by June 1, 1930, the building was occupied, having been completed 16 months ahead of schedule. The building was equipped with a synchronized system of 861 clocks, the largest system of its kind at the time.
An extension to the building began in February 1934, with the northeast sections being added to accommodate the increased work of the IRS following the repeal of the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) in 1933. The exterior appearance of the extension duplicated the detailing of the main building, completing the symmetry of the facade. The IRS building is designed in the French Renaissance style and stands as a monumental structure within the Federal Triangle area of Washington, D.C.
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It was the first building in the Federal Triangle project
The Internal Revenue Service Building, located at 1111 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC, is a significant structure in the history of the city's development. It holds the distinction of being the first building constructed within the Federal Triangle, a grand project that transformed the cityscape and set a precedent for urban planning in the following decades.
The Federal Triangle project was an ambitious undertaking, authorized by the Public Buildings Act of 1926 and the subsequent Triangle Bill in 1928. This legislation provided the framework for acquiring land and allocating funds to develop a cluster of federal buildings in the heart of Washington, DC. The Triangle, bounded by Pennsylvania Avenue, 15th Street NW, Constitution Avenue NW, and E Street NW, became the designated site for this monumental endeavour.
The Internal Revenue Service Building stands as a testament to the urgency and necessity of its construction. By the 1920s, the IRS had a substantial workforce of 6000 employees crammed into temporary wood frame structures that were deemed fire hazards. The need for a permanent headquarters was pressing, not only due to the subpar working conditions but also because of the constant threat of fire to crucial tax records.
The construction of the IRS Building commenced in 1928 and was completed ahead of schedule, with the building being occupied as early as June 1, 1930. The building's design reflected the "Unified Architectural Composition Plan", which envisioned the IRS forming half of a "Great Circle" at the intersection of 12th Street and the former C Street. While the building's exterior lacked the ornamental bronzes and stonework of neighbouring structures, it nonetheless contributed to the overall symmetry of the Federal Triangle's facade.
As the first building in the Federal Triangle project, the IRS Building set the tone for the grand vision of the endeavour. The Triangle was intended to be a showcase of the "dignity and power of the nation," housing some of the most important government departments and their workers. The project faced numerous challenges, including delays due to social, political, and economic factors, as well as protests during construction. However, the completion of the IRS Building marked a pivotal step in the Federal Triangle's evolution, solidifying its role as a centre of power and decision-making in the nation's capital.
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The IRS was founded in 1862
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was founded in 1862 during the American Civil War. At the time, President Abraham Lincoln and Congress passed the Revenue Act of 1862, which created the office of the commissioner of internal revenue and imposed a temporary income tax to fund the war. This was the nation's first income tax, with an initial rate of 3% on income over $600–$800 and a 5% rate on income over $10,000.
The temporary tax measure funded over a fifth of the Union's war expenses, and by the end of the war, 10% of Union households had paid some form of income tax. However, in 1872, seven years after the Civil War ended, lawmakers allowed the temporary income tax to expire.
The IRS of today was preceded by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, a federal office created to assess and collect the first income tax. The IRS itself was not formally established until 1953, when the Bureau of Internal Revenue was renamed the Internal Revenue Service.
The IRS Building, located at 1111 Constitution Avenue Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, was constructed between 1928 and 1936. It was the first building erected within the Federal Triangle, a project that was the largest of its kind ever undertaken by the government at the time. The building was designed to reflect the "dignity and power of the nation" and was equipped with a synchronized system of 861 clocks, the largest such system at the time.
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The building was designed in a simplified interpretation of the classical revival style
The Internal Revenue Service Building, located at 1111 Constitution Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C., is a federal building serving as the headquarters of the Internal Revenue Service. The building was constructed between 1928 and 1936 and was the first to be built within the Federal Triangle. As a bureau within a cabinet department, the building was designed in a simplified interpretation of the classical revival style.
The IRS was founded in 1872 but remained a minor section of the Treasury Department until the income tax law was passed in 1913. By the 1920s, the IRS had around 6,000 employees, most of whom were housed in temporary wood-frame structures that were considered fire hazards. The need for a permanent headquarters was recognised due to the poor working conditions and the constant threat of fire to the nation's revenue accounts.
The building was designed and constructed as part of the Federal Triangle project, which was the largest building program ever undertaken by the government at the time. The project aimed to reflect the "dignity and power of the nation" through its architecture. The IRS building was designed in a simplified interpretation of the classical revival style, featuring less elaborate exterior details compared to other cabinet-level agencies within the Triangle. However, the well-proportioned and austere building is considered a masterpiece in its own right.
The building was equipped with a synchronised system of 861 clocks, which was the largest system of its kind at the time of construction. The IRS building opened in 1930, 16 months ahead of schedule, and underwent an extension in the northeast section starting in 1934 to accommodate the increasing workload of the IRS following the repeal of the 18th Amendment (Prohibition).
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Frequently asked questions
The address of the Internal Revenue Service headquarters in Washington, DC, is 1111 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20224.
The IRS, or the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, is a bureau of the U.S. Department of Treasury. It is one of the most efficient tax administrators in the world, helping U.S. citizens understand and meet their tax responsibilities by fairly applying tax laws.
The IRS was founded in 1862 but was a minor division within the Treasury Department until the income tax law was passed in 1913.
The IRS building in Washington, DC, was constructed between 1928 and 1936. It was the first building to be constructed within the Federal Triangle, and it was completed 16 months ahead of schedule.
