If, like me, you are a 1099 employee, you have probably started to compile your tax documents in preparation for filing your 2018 income tax return. Even if you work in typical employment and receive a W-2, you may be gathering mortgage statements, charitable giving records, and everything else you need to file your taxes by the April 15 deadline.
But with the government shutdown at the scheduled beginning of tax season, the IRS is already behind.
“The IRS successfully opened the 2019 filing season for taxpayers on Jan. 28,” said the IRS website. “The IRS will be doing everything it can to have a smooth tax season and minimize the impact on taxpayers.”
It was unclear what exactly that impact would be or what the IRS expects may be delayed as the result of the shutdown. The IRS estimates that over 150 million tax returns will be filed this year.
The 2019 tax filing season has begun. To securely access information about your #IRS tax account visit https://t.co/0kt9rysqzn pic.twitter.com/PPt1Dc2E7O
— IRS (@IRSnews) January 29, 2019
CBS News reported on an analysis published by the National Taxpayer Advocate, a federal watchdog organization. The group reported that “five million pieces of mail went unopened during the shutdown” at the IRS and that it could take up to a year to fully resume normal operations.
Five million pieces of mail! That includes everything from responses to audits, inquiries about previous years’ returns, and even court petitions that could impact those facing IRS trouble. Those with Tax Court trial cases scheduled during the shutdown or shortly after the government reopened were cancelled. Rescheduling these cases is still in progress.
Another Shutdown on the Horizon?
The bill signed by President Trump on January 25 reopened the federal government after a 35-day shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. Furloughed workers returned to work and those who had worked without pay sighed in relief as their owed wages began to be processed.
Unfortunately, the bill will only keep the government’s lights on until February 15, unless Democrats and Republicans can come to a permanent agreement. The main source of tension is border security, with Republicans insisting on funding for a wall at the U.S./Mexico border. Democrats, on the other hand, have said that any legislation passed will not include the requested $5.7 billion for a wall.
President Trump has mentioned everything from another shutdown to declaring a national emergency to fund the wall through other channels, without the approval of Congress. He has also started to be more open to “smart walls,” which may be a way to move forward with a solution to satisfy the president and Democrats.
Federal workers, including those at the IRS, are recovering from the work that piled up in their absence while still dealing with the personal financial ramifications of going without pay for over a month.
We may like to complain about the IRS, but when it comes down to it they are necessary to run the federal government and make sure all of our income tax gets where it needs to go. Though we are already well into tax season (or at least well into what should have been the start of tax season, if the government had been open), the IRS is already climbing up a steep hill.
As I gather all of my documents to submit with my taxes, I only hope that the federal government can arrive at a solution. Not only do I want my return processed in a timely manner, I want all of those who work to keep our government’s promises to the American people to get paid for the hard (often thankless) work that they do.
