(Nexstar) – As the IRS fired thousands of employees on Thursday, many Americans may wonder whether their tax returns or refunds will be affected.
Government officials who asked to remain anonymous confirmed news that the IRS culled 6,700 employees to Nexstar News Nation. This represents the latest mass churn amid the ongoing purge of federal workers by the Trump administration and Elon Musk's dogs.
“If I asked if the IRS would reduce staffing a month ago, yeah, I think that's going to happen, but probably not until April 16th (the day after the tax season ends),” AB Tax Act tells Nexstar He spoke. “In fact, that doesn't make sense, but I'm here.”
Despite IRS employees involved in the 2025 tax season being told earlier this month that they would not be allowed to accept a purchase offer from the Trump administration until mid-May after taxpayers applied for a deadline. , a shooting is taking place.
It is not entirely clear how rejecting nearly 7,000 of the roughly 90,000 IRS workers will affect the filing process, but Brewer protects himself by: I have advised my clients to do so.
- Submit your taxes electronically and pay them
- Make sure you can deposit your refund directly
- Please be careful to ensure that returns are accurate and complete
- If you need to request payment before installment payment, do so online
“Send a paper return and someone from the IRS has to be there to open the envelope, so in the pandemic, we saw that it doesn't end when they're really late,” Brewer said. . “We have situations where people send payments, they don't get cash, and suddenly there's additional penalties and interest.”
Taxpayers can use the IRS to check the status of their refunds. Where can I find my refund? tooland,IRS2GO App.
Who was fired?
The layoffs have affected probation employees who have services for less than about a year at the agency, and are not permitted to disclose plans, primarily including workers in the compliance department, and will not be permitted to disclose the plan, and will be anonymous on Wednesday. I spoke to the conditions. Compliance work includes ensuring that taxpayers adhere to tax laws, submitting returns and paying taxes.
Vanessa Williamson, Senior Fellow at the Urban Blue Kings Tax Policy Center; I said it on a call with a reporter on Thursday. IRS layoffs disproportionately harm enforcement efforts.
“When you're operating with the IRS, your agency doesn't have the powers or resources needed to chase wealthy tax evaders along with expensive lawyers,” she said. For income. ”
The layoffs strengthen the Trump administration to reduce the size of the federal workforce through government efficiency by ordering agencies to fire almost all probation employees who have not gained protection for civil servants. It's part of the effort.
In addition to the planned layoffs, the Trump administration intends to lend IRS workers to the Department of Homeland Security to help enforce immigrants. inA letter sent earlier this monthDHS Executive Director Christie Noem asked Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent to rent IRS workers to support ongoing immigration crackdown efforts.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
