In brief
As the 2026 tax season commences, National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins warns that taxpayers may face obstacles in filing their taxes due to a 27% decrease in IRS staff since the Trump administration began. While some taxpayers are expected to file returns without delays, concerns remain about the IRS's ability to support those facing issues. With leadership changes and complex tax law updates, the agency's effectiveness is under scrutiny. Tax experts report challenges in processing due to staffing, as the IRS had about 74,000 employees at the end of 2025.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The national taxpayer advocate is cautioning that the 2026 tax filing season is likely to present challenges for taxpayers who encounter problems with filing their taxes given the exodus of IRS workers since the start of the Trump administration. National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins released her annual report to Congress on Wednesday, two days after the start of the 2026 season. She finds that while the IRS was able to process returns in 2025 without major disruptions, “entering 2026, the landscape is markedly different.” Collins states, “The IRS is simultaneously confronting a reduction of 27% of its workforce, leadership turnover, and the implementation of extensive and complex tax law changes,” as mandated by the Republicans’ tax measure signed by President Donald Trump last summer.Most taxpayers should be able to file their returns and receive their refunds without delay, but Collins notes, “the success of the filing season will be defined by how well the IRS is able to assist the millions of taxpayers who experience problems.”The tax filing season commenced on Monday, with IRS leaders, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and IRS CEO Frank Bisignano, expressing optimism about the season's smooth operation. Bisignano recently outlined new priorities and a reorganization of IRS executive leadership, stating confidence in the IRS's preparedness to deliver a successful filing season. However, IRS watchdogs have raised substantial concerns regarding staffing and unprocessed returns, highlighting the urgent need for effective support during tax filing this year. Despite these challenges, over 165 million tax returns were processed in 2025, with the average refund documented at $3,167.
