Taxpayers attempting to reach the IRS for assistance during this filing season may encounter greater difficulty connecting with a representative, as experts anticipate this issue to worsen next year due to significant staffing reductions.
Current data on tax return processing times show this year’s figures are comparable to those from the previous year. IRS employees involved in the 2025 tax season were prohibited from accepting a buyout offer from the Trump administration until after the April 15 filing deadline, though thousands of probationary workers were laid off earlier this year.
Tax compliance legal experts predict an increase in wait times as more buyouts and layoffs take effect. Eric Santos, executive director of the Georgia Tax Clinic, noted that wait times for the IRS phone line have increased substantially, with IRS staff reportedly overwhelmed by the workload. Santos indicated that IRS staff often cannot dedicate time to certain cases, as responsibilities are increasingly distributed among fewer employees.
The workforce reduction, which could potentially affect nearly half of the IRS’s entire personnel, aligns with the Trump administration’s initiative to decrease the size of the federal workforce. This strategy includes layoffs of nearly all probationary employees without civil service protection and offering buyouts through a “deferred resignation program.”
The IRS has started layoffs that could potentially reduce the workforce by as many as 20,000 employees, constituting up to 25% of the total workforce. A federal judge recently ordered the reinstatement of approximately 7,000 probationary IRS workers who were laid off starting in February, though it remains uncertain whether these workers have been recalled.
Between the first week of April in 2024 and 2025, 101.4 million returns were processed this year compared to 101.8 million the previous year. The number of issued refunds has increased to 67.7 million this year from 66.7 million in 2024.
Concerns persist about the potential impact of further workforce reductions on the 2026 filing season, with Santos expressing skepticism about the IRS’s ability to manage the upcoming tax season effectively, given the ongoing staffing challenges.
A Treasury spokesperson, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that IRS staffing reductions are part of broader efforts aimed at enhancing efficiency and service.
Sakinah Tillman, director of the University of the District of Columbia Tax Clinic, has not observed delays in processing refunds this year but has noted difficulties in reaching the IRS by phone, which could negatively impact clients dealing with collections.
Former IRS Commissioner John Koskinen highlighted that even in standard years, IRS responsiveness tends to decrease as the tax season progresses. Koskinen warned that further staff cuts could severely degrade phone service for taxpayers.
