IRS Operations During Shutdown
- Taxpayers should continue to meet their tax obligations as normal including filing returns and making tax deposits.
- All tax deadlines remain in effect, including those covering individuals, corporations, partnerships and employers. The regular payroll tax deadlines remain in effect as well.
- The IRS will accept and process all tax returns with payments.
- Tax refunds will not be issued until normal government operations resume.
- Taxpayers can file their tax returns electronically or on paper–although the processing of paper returns will be delayed until full government operations resume. Payments accompanying paper tax returns will still be accepted as the IRS receives them.
- People who have appointments with the IRS related to examinations and audits, as well as tax collection, appeals or Taxpayer Advocate cases should assume their meetings are canceled. IRS personnel will reschedule the meetings at a later date once the government shutdown ends.
- IRS computer systems will continue to mail out automated notices to taxpayers, but IRS employees will not be sending any paper correspondence during the period when the federal government is shut down.
- No live telephone customer service assistance will be available.
- Most automated toll-free telephone applications will remain in operation.
- IRS walk-in taxpayer assistance centers will be closed.
- The IRS Web site, www.IRS.gov, will remain available, but some interactive features may not be available.
- Tax Court has suspended operations during the federal government shutdown. For further information visit its Web site.
Tell us your thoughts about this shutdown?