The Internal Revenue Service’s commissioner, John Koskinen, warned that too many budget cuts could lead the agency to shut doors for a couple of days, leading to unpaid furloughs for employees and cuts in services to taxpayers.
Mr. Koskinen said in an email that the budget woes also means less enforcement — and possible delays in refunds. The agency has a $10.9 billion budget, but that amount is the lowest since 2008, The Associated Press reported.
And when adjusted for inflation, the $10.9 billion is tantamount to 1998 levels, Mr. Koskinen said, the news outlet reported.
“Unfortunately, this means at this time we need to plan for the possibility of a shutdown of IRS operations for two days later this fiscal year, which will involve furloughing employees on those days,” he wrote, AP reported. “Shutting down the IRS will be a last resort, but I want to be upfront with you about the problem.”
He also said that to offset the budget, the IRS will halt hiring through the end of September, the agency’s fiscal year.
“IRS employees are doing their best to handle the rising demand … but they will simply not be able to keep up,” said Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, AP said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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