IRS Refunds Won’t Go Out During Partial Federal Shutdown
If the current partial federal government shutdown should continue into tax filing season, it could delay tax refunds for millions of taxpayers, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
Townsquare Media of Cheyenne confirmed the Journal report with Gabriel Piña of Piña Business Services in Cheyenne on Friday morning. According to the Journal article, the IRS normally has 80,000 working on taxes this time of year.
But with the federal shutdown, only 1/8 of that number is currently on the job. The reduction in force means the agency will still be able to process tax payments, but won't be able to issue refunds.
The IRS won't have the people on hand needed to answer questions or conduct audits.
Congressional Democrats are currently at loggerheads with President Trump over $5 billion the president wants to pay for a wall on the Mexican border. Both sides are vowing to stick to their guns at this point.