IRS Employee Reassignments Extended Amid Filing Season

Many IRS staff who were reassigned from back-office roles to front-line positions during the tax filing season will remain in their temporary roles for the time being.

In early February, around 1,500 employees from IT and human resources were directed to spend 120 days assisting in taxpayer services. Notably, most of these employees lack experience in this area and must undergo extensive training. This shift comes after the agency reported a 27% decrease in its workforce last year and fell short of its hiring targets for the filing season.

During a call on Friday, Joseph Ziegler, the IRS’s internal consulting director, confirmed that the majority of those with taxpayer service assignments set to end in June will have their roles extended for another 120 days.

He noted that while some employees might be reassigned to different areas within the IRS, most will not see their assignments canceled. Ziegler also mentioned that the agency might consider a third extension depending on progress with the backlog of amended tax returns.

“After another 120 days, we will assess how much has been accomplished,” he shared. Many employees have completed training for this assignment, although some are still in the process.

Operations manager Deirdre Moran indicated that around 65% of those trained have passed their exams. For those who didn’t make the cut initially, additional training and a second assessment will follow. Moran expressed confidence that a significant number will succeed in this second attempt.

She acknowledged a substantial backlog of amended returns that need processing. “Bringing you on board to work on the 1040-X allows our experienced staff to focus on the more complex cases,” she remarked, expressing gratitude for their support.

Ziegler advised employees unhappy with their current positions that they could look for other opportunities within the IRS but emphasized they cannot return to their previous roles in IT or HR.

“You’re figuring out the details now. You can’t revert back at this time,” he stated, suggesting they explore options that align better with their career aspirations.

Initially, there were indications that these involuntary assignments would wrap up in late June, but it appears an extension may be forthcoming.

“We recognized an urgent need within Taxpayer Services to enhance the filing season experience,” Ziegler stated during the call. “We’ve reassigned our workforce and initiated new measures to tackle these challenges.”

While temporarily working in taxpayer services, employees have helped customer service reps manage taxpayer inquiries and support tax examiners in verifying returns. However, they are instructed not to communicate directly with taxpayers or answer calls about this reassignment.

Chief human capital officer Alex Kweskin acknowledged some workers were feeling dissatisfied with their current roles, encouraging them to seek other positions within the agency. He emphasized that more job openings would be available soon on USAJobs.

“The reassignment may not suit everyone. If you discover a role that better matches your skills, we want to support your transition,” Kweskin remarked.

The IRS plans to bring on board up to 175 IT employees following recent staff changes, with about 1,200 IT workers already moved out of their previous roles.

While many of these employees joined temporary taxpayer service details, specifics regarding long-term job assignments remain unclear. One IT employee mentioned he is currently being trained for a customer service role at a significantly lower grade than his last position.

Another employee involved with the 120-day detail reported a rigorous training schedule of eight hours each day for the coming months, where they must remain on camera during virtual sessions.

IRS leadership describes these changes as part of the “One IRS” initiative led by CE Frank Bisignano. He has previously redeployed Social Security Administration staff to handle calls for more efficiency.

Though Bisignano claimed this filing season has been the most successful in IRS history, an official overseeing taxpayer services cautioned that the overall efficiency of these staffing adjustments may be overestimated.

“It’s frustrating to hear claims of efficiency when they’ve decided to overpay unqualified staff instead of retaining experienced personnel,” an insider remarked. “Proper training requires time and freeing up skilled workers, especially during tax season.”