What’s Really Happening at the IRS Right Now
We wanted to take a moment to share what we’re currently seeing at the IRS and how it may impact you this tax season.
Behind the scenes, the IRS is dealing with a combination of challenges:
Resource and staffing constraints in key processing areas
Increased fraud prevention measures, especially for larger refunds
More verification and review steps before refunds are released
As a result, returns are taking longer to process, even when they are filed correctly.
A large part of this is due to staffing reductions within the IRS processing teams. At the same time, the IRS is working through a backlog of manually processed filings, including paper-filed returns and amended returns that cannot be submitted electronically.
These challenges are further compounded in years with tax law changes. The IRS must implement new rules, update systems, and create new forms, all of which require significant time and resources.
What This Means for You
If you’re currently waiting on your refund, you should expect timelines to be longer than in prior years.
In a recent conversation with an IRS agent regarding refunds for returns filed in October 2025, we were told that some returns are still awaiting assignment to an agent due to staffing shortages.
In the past, a tax advocate could often be assigned more quickly. Today, those resources are also limited, which means resolution timelines can be significantly extended.
How We Support You
We’re here to help you navigate this process. Depending on your situation, we can:
Contact the IRS to help identify potential causes of delays
Review your account and transcripts for issues
Assist in applying your 2025 refund toward 2026 estimated taxes
Help adjust your 2026 withholding to avoid large refunds and long wait times
In certain situations, we can also file a Power of Attorney (POA) to communicate directly with the IRS on your behalf.
Other Resources:
If you’d like to check your status or take action, here are the best steps:
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This is the fastest way to see real-time updates on your return.
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You can view transcripts, notices, and confirm if your refund has been issued.
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The IRS may send notices requesting:
Identity verification
Additional documentation
If you receive anything, please send it to us before responding so we can guide you.
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If it’s been an extended period without updates, contacting the IRS may be necessary, though wait times can be long.
While IRS processing times are outside of our control, ensuring you have clarity on what’s happening and what to do next is not.
We do expect these challenges to continue for the foreseeable future.
If you have any questions or receive any IRS communication, don’t hesitate to reach out.
We’re here to help you navigate this with confidence.
