- edward59473
- Jul 10
- 3 min read
The National Taxpayer Advocate has released her objectives for FY2026, highlighting a combination of positive developments, cautionary notes, and urging the IRS to update its systems. This report is essential for taxpayers to understand the current landscape and future expectations. Here’s what’s most important for YOU:
🟢 2025 Filing Season: Mostly Smooth
✔️ A remarkable total of 138 million returns were processed, reflecting the IRS's capacity to handle a significant volume of filings efficiently.
✔️ The agency issued approximately 86 million refunds, ensuring that taxpayers received their due returns in a timely manner.
✔️ The average refund amount reached an impressive $2,942, providing much-needed financial relief to many households.
✔️ A noteworthy 95% of all returns were filed electronically, showcasing a shift towards modern filing practices.
BUT… despite these positive statistics, more than 13 million returns were delayed mid-processing — a significant concern as most of these delays were attributed to flags for identity review, indicating potential issues that could affect taxpayer trust and satisfaction.
🆘 Identity Theft Refunds = A Mess
The IRS flagged a staggering 2.1 million returns as possible identity theft cases, highlighting the growing concern over security and fraud in the tax system.
Nearly 387,000 victims of identity theft are still waiting for resolution, which raises serious questions about the efficiency and effectiveness of the IRS's response mechanisms.
The average wait time for these victims has ballooned to an alarming 20 months, which is unacceptable for those affected.
A concerning 69% of affected filers fall within the low-income bracket (≤250% of the federal poverty level), underscoring the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations.
🔴 The Advocate is urging the IRS to cut this wait time down to a maximum of 4 months, emphasizing that no taxpayer should have to endure a two-year wait for their rightful refunds.
📉 IRS Workforce Shrinking Fast
The IRS has seen its headcount drop by a shocking 26% in just a few months, raising alarms about the agency's ability to meet taxpayer needs.
Taxpayer Services alone has lost over 9,000 staff members, which directly impacts the quality of service that taxpayers can expect when they seek assistance.
IT staffing has decreased by 27%, which is particularly troubling given the need for technological advancements and updates within the agency.
If the IRS does not swiftly replace these trained employees, the 2026 tax season could face significant challenges, potentially leading to delays and frustrations for taxpayers.
🔧 Tech Fixes IRS
Must
Prioritize
The Advocate emphasizes that the IRS should adopt a more strategic approach to modernization, rather than attempting to overhaul everything simultaneously. The top three priorities identified are critical for improving taxpayer experience:
Modern online accounts — akin to what is offered by banks. Currently, only 10% of taxpayers utilize their online accounts, indicating a need for better user engagement and functionality.
Digitize paper filings — with over 43 million returns still arriving in paper form, the IRS must accelerate its transition to a fully digital filing system to enhance efficiency and reduce processing times.
Unify 60+ internal systems — Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) waste valuable time switching between outdated platforms, which hampers their ability to assist taxpayers effectively.
💡 FY2026 Focus Areas
The Advocate’s office is determined to push for several key initiatives in FY2026, which include:
Cutting ID theft refund wait times significantly to alleviate the burden on victims.
Implementing measures to protect taxpayers from unscrupulous tax preparers who may exploit vulnerable individuals.
Ensuring that every Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claim is processed fully, addressing the backlog and providing relief to businesses.
Strengthening responses to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and ensuring fairness in appeals processes to build trust and transparency.
Monitoring the policies surrounding criminal voluntary disclosures to ensure they are fair and just for all taxpayers.
👊 The Bottom Line:
While the 2025 filing season appeared to go well on the surface, the underlying issues suggest that the IRS is operating with a significantly reduced workforce. With major tax law changes on the horizon and a steep decline in personnel, the 2026 tax season could present numerous challenges and complications unless immediate action is taken. The Advocate is committed to holding the IRS accountable and pushing for necessary reforms, and we will be keeping a close eye on developments as they unfold.