WASHINGTON, DC—As the Trump Administration threatens to fumble yet another basic function of government, Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal wrote to the Acting Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service demanding an on-time start to the filing season.
Following comments from the 6th IRS Commissioner of the year, Billy Long, Neal highlighted for the current Acting Commissioner how the Trump Administration and its plan to delay the opening of the filing season will hurt the American people:“Opening the filing season in the middle of February, or later, will delay tens of millions of tax refunds, which will cause further distress to American families at a time when the Administration’s tariffs, opposition to bringing down healthcare costs, and constant chaos have resulted in record-high consumer prices and a failing economy.”
“During the Biden Administration, Congressional Democrats passed momentous tax legislation, including the CARES Act, the American Rescue Plan, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, and yet none of this legislation hampered or delayed the IRS’s ability to open the tax filing season in a timely manner,” Neal reminded the Acting Commissioner. “Even when there was a global pandemic and previous government shutdowns, the IRS, recognizing how essential tax refunds are to American families and workers, opened the filing season promptly.”
In conclusion, Neal emphasized how the American people rely on filing as soon as possible and receiving their refunds in a timely manner: “This is much-needed money for American families to cover essential expenses, such as putting food on their tables, catching up on bills, and paying for medical costs. Thus, it is imperative for the IRS to follow past years and prioritize opening the 2026 filing season on time.”
Finally, Neal requested answers to the following questions in writing by October 15, 2025:
- What date will the IRS open the 2026 filing season?
- How will staffing cuts by the Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency affect the date the 2026 filing season opens?
- How will Republican cuts to the IRS additional funding provided by Democrats in the Inflation Reduction Act affect the date the 2026 filing season opens?
- How will Republican staffing and budget cuts affect the number of calls answered from taxpayers and telephone wait times next year?
- Should taxpayers expect to wait longer than 5-7 business days for their tax refunds next year as a result of Republican staffing and budget cuts?
Neal’s letter is available HERE.
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