Tax Season Opens Jan. 24. Treasury Says Be Ready for Frustration
- IRS faces backlog of returns, has difficulty answering calls
- Deadline for filing tax returns is April 18 for most taxpayers
The IRS headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
When the U.S. tax filing season begins in two weeks, taxpayers should be prepared for delays as returns and refunds are processed, and for difficulties in reaching the IRS, Treasury officials warned on Monday.
Taxpayers and return preparers should gird for a challenging and frustrating tax season as many of the processing delays and customer-service shortages that have plagued the Internal Revenue Service for years will persist this year, Treasury officials told reporters. The officials said funding cuts and staffing shortages due to the ongoing health crisis are causing the problems.