Feb. 6 marked the deadline for federal workers to accept the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Trump Administration’s offer of a buyout.
These buyouts, or the option of “deferred resignation,” were offered via email from the OPM to over two million federal employees.
All federal workers were given the choice of a buyout due to a majority of federal agencies downsizing by methods of “restructurings, realignments and reductions in force,” according to the OPM’s email sent to federal employees.
Will Trump’s federal worker buyouts affect the IRS? How will the 2025 tax season be affected?
As of Wednesday, approximately 40,000 federal employees accepted the buyout offer, which is about 2% of the federal workforce, says Accounting Today. Employees that have chosen to accept the offer and resign will still get paid through September.
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As for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), employees who accepted the buyout offer have been told that they are expected to stay on the job through May 15, due to the agency deeming their work as essential to this year’s tax season.
However, the OPM outlined in its email to federal employees, of all agencies, that if the buyout offer is accepted, then those employees would continue working until Feb. 28 and then would go on paid administrative leave beginning March 1.
This means that while other federal employees are able to go on paid leave on March 1, IRS employees involved in the 2025 tax season will not be able to go on paid leave until after the tax filing deadline.
IRS employee who cannot be placed on administrative leave until May include those in job positions within Taxpayer Services, Information Technology and the Taxpayer Advocate Service.
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
With the recent announcement of federal worker buyouts, many are wondering how this will impact the IRS and the 2025 tax season. Will there be delays in processing tax returns? Will there be fewer agents available to assist taxpayers with their questions and concerns? These are valid concerns that taxpayers may have as they prepare for the upcoming tax season.
It is important to note that while federal worker buyouts may result in some changes within the IRS, the agency is committed to providing efficient and timely service to taxpayers. The IRS has implemented various measures to streamline operations and ensure that taxpayers receive the assistance they need during the tax filing process.
Additionally, the IRS has stated that they are actively working to hire new employees to fill any gaps that may result from federal worker buyouts. This proactive approach should help mitigate any potential disruptions to IRS operations and ensure that taxpayers are able to file their taxes accurately and on time.
Overall, while federal worker buyouts may have some impact on the IRS and the 2025 tax season, taxpayers can rest assured that the agency is taking steps to minimize any potential disruptions. It is important for taxpayers to stay informed and be proactive in preparing for the upcoming tax season to ensure a smooth filing process.
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- federal worker buyouts
- IRS
- 2025 tax season
- government employee buyouts
- impact on federal workers
- tax season implications
- federal employee layoffs
- budget cuts and taxes
- government workforce reductions
- government agency layoffs
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