IRS Workers Vital to Tax Season Told Exit Deal Is Delayed (1)

IRS workers who are deemed critical to tax filing season are exempt from the Trump administration’s deferred resignation program until mid-May.

Positions in Taxpayer Services, Information Technology, and the Taxpayer Advocate Service will be required to work through at least May 15, even if the employees in those departments responded to an email offering a recent buyout-like offer from the Office of Personnel Management, according to an email obtained by Bloomberg Tax that was sent to IRS employees Wednesday from the IRS Human Capital Office.

Almost half of the IRS workforce, which sits at about 100,000, are in Taxpayer Services or Information Technology, according to the 2024 Taxpayer Advocate report. The federal tax filing season ends April 15.

Workers across the federal government were offered “deferred resignations” on Jan. 28, giving them the option to resign and continue being paid until Sept. 30. The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents about two-thirds of IRS workers, has told its members not to resign in response to the email. About 1%, or 20,000 federal workers overall, have accepted the offer, which expires Thursday.

Employees who accepted the offer will receive further instructions about when to return to work, according to the the email sent to IRS employees Wednesday. The email also recommends the employees considering the offer retain the OPM email confirmation, collaborate with their supervisor, and train or brief the employees who will take on their responsibilities.

This update comes as the IRS stares down potential funding cuts from Republican lawmakers who are eager to chip away at the tens of billions in funding from the 2022 tax-and-climate law meant to help the agency modernize, improve taxpayer service, and go after tax cheats.