Trying to get anything done these days with the IRS is very, very difficult.

Losing tax records, interminable delays, identity theft, outdated computer systems, and constant changes in tax law have made the IRS a dysfunctional agency.

Trying to get through by phone is nearly impossible, even for tax professionals, and the lower-level phone employees are poorly trained. 

To be fair, tax law and procedures have become so complicated that only a sophisticated AI program will be able to answer questions and solve problems.

As of August 2025, President Trump has replaced the tax commissioner less than two months after his confirmation and has installed an acting commissioner.

In May 2025, the White House released a “skinny budget” that outlined $2.5 billion in annual cuts to the IRS with a focus on staffing reductions and IT modernization.

According to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the IRS workforce has experienced a 25 percent reduction as of May 2025

Treasury Secretary’s special adviser said IRS modernization is “currently 30 years behind schedule and it’s already $15 billion over budget.”  The IRS is running on old infrastructure that includes old mainframes running COBOL and Assembly. 

The best advice we can give our taxpayer clients is to file on time (no later than the extension date of October 15) and to e-file.  You will get your refunds faster.  E-filing cuts out the human element, and your tax return is electronically dropped into the master database, so fewer errors are likely.

If you have an unusual problem that needs human attention, such as not receiving a refund, identity theft, notices, or other issues that require professional help, please be patient.  The professionals at Kallas can resolve some issues fairly quickly but some issues such as identity theft, ERTC refunds are taking up to 582 days to resolve.