Rep. Mace: Way Past Time for IRS To Deliver Tax Returns On Time

Press Release

Rep. Mace along with House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Committee Republicans sent a letter to the IRS expressing concerns at the IRS' failure to modernize and calling on IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig to ensure Americans receive their tax refunds in a timely manner:

"We wrote this letter because we have heard from over a thousand constituents who did not receive their tax refunds. As of late December, the IRS had 6 million unprocessed returns. We would like to see accountability from the IRS," said Rep. Mace. "We want Commissioner Rettig to explain to the American people what they are doing to ensure Americans receive their tax refunds on time, as these refunds can equal six weeks of take-home income for many people."

"We write to request information about the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) preparations for the current tax filing season, which the Treasury Department is warning will be "frustrating' for both taxpayers and tax preparers due to processing delays and backlogs. Despite its reliance on decades-old legacy technology systems and the fact that the majority of IRS workers continue to telework remotely, Americans expect their tax returns to be processed in a timely and efficient manner. We therefore write to conduct oversight over the IRS's ability to complete its critical mission and request information on what steps the IRS has taken to overcome obstacles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and reliance on outdated technologies," wrote the Republican lawmakers in the letter.

The IRS had a larger backlog than usual in 2022, due in part to the IRS relying on a software system built in the 1960s and due to telework policies instituted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many IRS workers continue to work from home, despite the fact that the IRS currently has over 8.5 million pieces of backlogged work. In a typical year, the IRS has about one million backlogged returns.

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