People

IRS expected to fire 6,700 employees beginning Thursday

The terminations will walk back much of the progress IRS, which is in the midst of tax season, has made in recent years to increase its workforce.

Breaking News People

IRS chief to step down upon Trump's inauguration, well before his term expires

The announcement follows Trump's decision to replace Biden's top tax collection official.

Digital Government

Trump’s Treasury pick pledges to keep IRS Direct File open this tax season

Scott Bessent, Trump’s pick for Treasury Secretary, said that he would have to study the long-term future of the tool. Republicans on Capitol Hill, however, have panned Direct File.

Digital Government

IRS Direct File to open a week after Trump’s inauguration

Republicans on Capitol Hill have asked the incoming president to scrap the free tax filing service developed during the Biden administration.

Digital Government

Republican lawmakers ask Trump to kill IRS Direct File

The new program intended to enable free, online tax filing directly with the government has garnered controversy and praise since its inception.

Digital Government

Trump signals new direction for IRS as he announces atypical plan to replace its leadership

The agency is mid-transformation thanks to an unprecedented cash infusion, but those efforts are now in doubt.

Artificial Intelligence

AI can improve how federal employees do their jobs, but training and resources need to be a priority

The IRS chief human capital officer said that training can no longer be viewed as an expendable expense.

Digital Government

Hill Dems question IRS on identity verification requirements for Direct File

Taxpayers had to go through outsourced identity verification to use Direct File during the last tax season, a level of assurance the lawmakers note is not required for commercial tax prep companies.

Digital Government

Bipartisan Senate duo seeks to push IRS customer service forward

The tax agency is already working on some of the items in the bill — like improving online accounts.

Modernization

IRS delay on key system could cost up to $70 million

The IRS had been considering switching to a new system for core, individual tax processing, but it’s waiting to do so until after the coming tax season.

Digital Government

IRS Direct File to be available in 24 states next year

The agency is also expanding the scope of tax situations the tool will cover.

Modernization

Inside the IRS push for digital transformation

IRS employees at an Austin, Texas processing center must still sort through heaps of paper documents. But digitization tools are being powered on to help.

Exclusive Modernization

IRS will stick with legacy processing system for the upcoming tax season

The IRS is waiting to switch away from the old Individual Master File “out of an abundance of caution,” despite hopes to potentially convert to the new one this year, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel told Nextgov/FCW.

Modernization

IRS is flying blind without plans to modernize legacy tech, watchdog says

This isn’t the first time the IRS has been called out by oversight officials for a lack of detailed technology planning.

Digital Government

IRS program to assist poor taxpayers rarely picks up the phone

TIGTA investigators were unable to leave a message at 16 local Taxpayer Advocate Service offices because their voicemail boxes were full.

Acquisition

Treasury’s funding request for IRS cloud tech far outpaces other civilian agencies, report says

Treasury’s request is the largest out of a combined federal civilian total of almost $9 billion for cloud-related programs in their fiscal year 2025 IT budget requests.

Cybersecurity

Identity theft victims are waiting almost 2 years for help from the IRS

The tax agency needs to do more to bring down that wait time, the National Taxpayer Advocate says.

Digital Government

What it will take to make Direct File permanent

The IRS will have to grapple with expanding access and capabilities — while also convincing skeptical lawmakers to maintain funding.

Breaking News Digital Government

IRS makes Direct File permanent

The tool piloted during the recent tax season helped certain taxpayers file online with the government for free.

People

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel details his hefty tech to-do list

Enabling taxpayers to fully interact with the IRS digitally is a “generational imperative,” the agency head said.