(Updated: March 25, 2020)
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) isn’t shutting down completely – but it’s getting close. Some IRS call centers and return processing centers are closing in response to COVID-19.
On March 13, 2020, the President of the United States issued an emergency declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Additionally, several Governors have issued stay-at-home orders. For example, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf released an executive order declaring that all “non-life-sustaining” businesses must close their physical locations in Pennsylvania due to the COVID-19 crisis. Consequently, many tax, accounting, and law offices are closing (including mine) to work remotely. And the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), the nation’s largest independent union of federal employees – including IRS employees – has confirmed that IRS offices in Pennsylvania are closing.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has also issued stay-at-home orders. The result is that some IRS offices in California are closing. Individual workers have confirmed these closures.
The IRS has not yet returned my request for comment on closing additional call centers and offices. However, a notice on the IRS website declares, “In response to the national emergency and to protect our employees, America’s taxpayers, communities and our partners, the IRS has temporarily closed all Taxpayer Assistance Centers and discontinued face-to-face service throughout the country until further notice. The IRS is continuing to process tax returns, issue refunds and help taxpayers to the greatest extent possible.”
Anecdotally, tax professionals have confirmed that the IRS is not answering phones at the Offer In Compromise Unit and the Practitioner Priority Service. A message on the OIC Unit advises that “Live telephone assistance is not available at this time.”
The IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service advised, “The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) wants you to know that the safety and concern for our taxpayers and employees continues to be our highest priority. Currently, TAS remains open to receive phone calls at the local phone numbers listed here but due to the coronavirus TAS is suspending walk-in services until further notice. If you have an open TAS case and need assistance, please reach out to your assigned Case Advocate by phone.”
As of March 24, the IRS is advising taxpayers and practitioners to call their local TAS office directly. Specifically, IRS.gov webpage describing the current status of operations contains the following blurb:
Taxpayer Advocate Service. Currently, TAS remains open to receive phone calls at the local phone numbers but has suspended walk-in services in their offices and their toll-free centralized number is unavailable until further notice. Please visit taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov to locate your local office phone number.
The IRS subsequently advised in a tweet on March 25, 2020:
NTEU National President Tony Reardon confirmed the closures in a statement, saying, “IRS is working to implement workplace changes to address the COVID-19 pandemic, but with the outbreak rapidly evolving, they are not enough. The positive developments include: closing call sites and moving those employees to telework; closing Taxpayer Assistance Centers and moving that work to the telephones; ending walk-ins at Taxpayer Advocate Offices; extending weather and safety leave to employees considered high risk under CDC guidelines; expanding telework; closing offices in “hot spot” areas locations; and halting all face-to-face field work for revenue agents and revenue officers.”
However, Reardon remains concerned that these efforts may not be enough, saying, “NTEU remains troubled about large numbers of employees still reporting to work contrary to the recommended gathering sizes; the inability to enact safe social distancing in these environments; and the lack of essentials necessary to sanitize hands and work surfaces.”
In response, Reardon says, “We continue to call for the closure of all federal buildings where 50 or more federal employees work, including IRS facilities.”
And that’s not all. Remember the extension to July 15, 2020? The NTEU believes that there should be more time, declaring, “The three-month extension of the tax-filing deadline should be extended to October 15, 2020. This would further assist taxpayers allowing them additional time in light of this pandemic and help alleviate the intense anxiety that IRS employees are experiencing over continuing to report to work in crowded offices. A broader shutdown of the IRS would give the agency time to clean all facilities and prepare to bring back those employees essential to issuing refunds to taxpayers and stimulus checks, as needed.”
What does all of this mean? Clearly, be prepared for extended wait times for calls and correspondence. I would recommend you be P&P: proactive and patient. (And at this rate, P may also stand for Patron…)
If you have an update or tip, here’s how to reach me (including secure methods for employees who wish to remain anonymous).
