In contrast to others, it is a tax season: Since millions of Americans submit their returns to their returns, the Trump administration calls for the abolition of the Internal Revenue Service and plans to dismiss up to 7,000 employees.
It is not surprising that many taxpayers wonder how this can affect their returns and reimbursements. But despite the uncertainty, tax experts say that individuals should not change their behavior – the earlier they submit, the better. There are also various things that taxpayers can do to prevent their return to be involved in the system and that possible delays are avoided.
“There is no possible way because the IRS has tried to hire employees and you have not even filled all the openings,” said Tom O'Saben, director of tax content and government relationships at the National Association of Tax Professionals.
Many of the dismissed employees were part of the agency's compliance teams who deal with auditing and collections, although some are also reported in Call Centers.
This year it is expected that more than 160 million individual returns will be submitted. Those who have already been submitted are wrapped by the system as usual, although taxpayers were submitted after February 14th more than 33 million federal returns, which, according to IRS website, decreased more than 5 percent from the previous year from February 14. And around 32.8 million of them were processed, also by around 5 percent.
The average reimbursement amount was $ 2,169 and decreased by 32 percent compared to $ 3,207 in the previous year. The agency also announced on its website. However, the reimbursements are sometimes lower, since they do not contain the first wave of returns that claim the tax credit for income and the additional tax credit for children, which cannot be issued before mid -February.
Some questions must be taken into account here.
Can I do something to avoid delays?
According to the agency, around 91 percent of taxpayers submit their return electronically. If you are among the 10 percent who do not do this, it is now a great time to start whether this means to work with a professional or to use the agency's free direct file system if you are entitled. This is the most important step you can take to avoid delays. Also use a direct deposit for your refund and check your routing and bank account numbers.
Could my refund be delayed?
At the moment, things move on as usual. It usually takes about 21 days to process a return and process a refund, according to the agency's website.
“Every registration season for the vast majority of taxpayers, their returns go through”
Every return goes through a number of electronic filters, but can get stuck or rejected if a problem is marked. For example, if someone has submitted a return with their social security number or their children have already been claimed by a former spouse. The returns can also be marked if people forget to attach a certain schedule or claim credits for which they are not justified, or the system recognizes a mathematical error that is common.
These returns are to be checked or even checked before issuing a refund, which can be delayed. “Some of these potential problems are in your control. Therefore, make sure that you have all the necessary forms when you return so that you are not slowed down,” said Ms. Olson. “Be very careful how to enter data when you use software. Check it, check it and check it so that you do not meet any delay here.”
How can I check the status of my return and my potential reimbursement?
You can use the IRS website, where is my refund? Tool in the IRS2GO Mobile app.
The IRS used part of the financing from an 80 billion dollar moderation project to improve these systems and provide more specific information about the status of the refund, said Ms. Olson.
Are certain types of returns more likely to be delayed?
For example, if your identity has been stolen, according to the agency's website, the IRS can take more than a year for the problem to be solved. The IRS said it was taken to reduce this time to 120 days, but it is unclear whether the reductions of the employees influence these efforts.
Some tax experts said that meaningful employees were only expected to reduce the tax season at the end of May. At this point, the service could begin to suffer noticeably, although many returns are still being worked on, regardless of whether it is errors or returns for millions of taxpayers, the extensions that have a period on October 15 on October 15.
I am concerned about privacy and data security.
After Mr. Musk and his team from helpers had started access to sensitive taxpayer data and fundamental systems at the US Ministry of Finance, 19 lawyers sued General Advocate and a federal judge temporarily blocked access.
The risk in this situation is unclear, but we know that our data is always susceptible, a problem that my colleagues and I recently addressed in an article about how all your data and documents can back up. (Certain protective measures are also integrated into the law: the IRS is generally not permitted to share taxpayer information with other federal authorities, while the executive should not influence any audits and other investigations.)
The IRS also recommends that everyone receives a personnel identification number or an IP pin with identity protection, a clear six-digit number to check their identity if they submit a return.
It is also advisable to familiarize yourself with the latest scams that affect some criminals who pretend to be IRS. It is also helpful to remember that the agency's first contact point with a taxpayer usually does not use the e -mail -not through text, e -mail or telephone calls.
Is the new direct file system affected?
After the IRS's free online registration service received high grades from taxpayers last year, it was expanded to taxpayers in 25 states. But as my colleague Ann Carrns recently reported in a column, the offer was opposed to companies and republicans in the congress.
The new finance minister Scott Bessent promised that the direct file for the current tax season would remain in operation and that he would continue to examine the program.
What if I have to call the IRS?
Tax experts suggest that you call the telephone lines at 7 a.m. (local time) in the morning or as soon as the telephone lines. Later a week is usually better, while Monday is often a strenuous day.
When you reach someone at IRS, pay attention to the stressful circumstances under which the person is.
What should I do if I have a problem and cannot achieve anyone?
If your refund is really delayed, contact your representatives in the house or in the Senate and ask him to open a case with the taxpayer lawyer.
“It will also be drawn to the damage of the congress that the IRS budget reduction corresponds to its voters,” said Ms. Olson. “You can beat the IRS, but a lot is: there is so much work and not enough people to do it.”