More than 8 million times during the past few months, the Internal Revenue Service’s telephone system hung up on taxpayers who wanted help. Only 40 percent of those whose calls did get through were able to talk to a human being. Many of them had to endure more than half an hour on hold before that happened.

Members of Congress who heard that report from IRS?Commissioner John Koskinen last week were furious. They should be.

According to an investigation by the House Ways and Means Committee, the IRS diverted $134 million spent on customer service in 2014 to other purposes this year. Much of the money was spent so the IRS could administer provisions of the Obamacare law.

One lawmaker, U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., accused Koskinen of “purposely harming taxpayers.”

Well, it certainly sounds that way. The only plausible alternative is that IRS officials were so eager to make President Barack Obama’s pet program look efficient that they spent every dime they could on it – knowing the impact that would have on customer service.

Either way, the IRS does not look good.

Ask yourself this:?What would happen if the IRS called you – and you hung up on them?