IRS Overload Impedes CPAs and Hinders Taxpayers

After the 16-day federal government closure the IRS resumed full operations, but the damage is being felt by taxpayers.During the closure, the IRS received 400,000 pieces of correspondence—on top of the 1 million items already in the pipeline before the shutdown!Toll-free telephone lines, walk-in sites and other services for taxpayers and tax practitioners are overloaded with concerned taxpayers worried about the status of their tax issues.Many practitioners, including Patrick & Robinson CPAs, use an online product provided by the IRS called e-Services, but gaining access to that automated database has been slowed due to the delayed processing of power-of-attorney forms that authorize initial access.Until it gets "caught up," the IRS is encouraging everyone to delay calling or visiting unless the taxpayer is dealing with an urgent matter.“In the days ahead, we will continue assessing the impact of the shutdown on IRS operations, and we will do everything we can to work through the backlog and pent-up demand,” Acting IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said. “We greatly appreciate the patience of taxpayers and the tax professional community during this period.”We hope they’re just as patient with taxpayers as they ask us to be with them!For more information, view the irs.gov original article.  For help with filing or tax planning, contact Patrick & Robinson CPAs at Office@CPAsite.com or 904-396-5400.