IRS Will be Closed as a Result of Budget and Sequester

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced additional details about the closures planned for May 24, June 14, July 5, July 22 and Aug. 30.

Because of the current budget situation, including the sequester, all IRS operations—including all toll-free hotlines, the Taxpayer Advocate Service and the agency's nearly 400 taxpayer assistance centers nationwide—will be closed on those days. IRS employees will be furloughed without pay. No tax returns will be processed, and no compliance-related activities will take place.

The IRS noted taxpayers should continue to file their returns and pay any taxes due as usual.
Taxpayers who need to contact the IRS about their returns or payments should take these furlough dates into account. In some instances, this may include taxpayers with returns or payments due soon after a furlough day, such as the June 17 deadline for taxpayers abroad and those making a second-quarter estimated tax payment, as well as the Sept. 3 deadline for truckers filing a highway use tax return. 

Because the furlough days are not considered federal holidays, the shutdown will not affect any tax-filing deadlines. The IRS will be unable to accept or acknowledge receipt of electronically filed returns on any day the agency is shut down. 

Similarly, tax-payment deadlines also are unaffected. The only tax payment deadlines coinciding with any of the furlough days relate to employment and excise tax deposits made by business taxpayers. These deposits must be made through the Treasury Department's Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, which will operate as usual. 

However, the agency will give taxpayers extra time to comply with a request to provide documents to the IRS. This includes administrative summonses, requests for records in connection with a return examination, review or compliance check, or document requests related to a collection matter. No additional time is given to respond to other agencies or the courts. 

When the last day to respond to an IRS request falls on a furlough day, the taxpayer will have until the next business day. For example, if the last day to respond is Friday, May 24, the taxpayer will have until Tuesday, May 28, to comply (Monday, May 27, is Memorial Day). Further details on the effects of the shutdown on IRS procedures will be available at IRS.gov.

Some Web-based online tools and telephone-based automated services will continue to function on furlough days while others will be shut down. Available services include Withholding Calculator, Order A Transcript, EITC Assistant, Interactive Tax Assistant, the PTIN system for tax professionals, Tele-Tax and the Online Look-up Tool for those needing to repay the first-time homebuyer credit. Services not available on those days include Where's My Refund? and the Online Payment Agreement.

At a later date, the IRS may announce one or two additional furlough days if necessary.
Some Web-based online tools and telephone-based automated services will continue to function on furlough days while others will be shut down. Available services include Withholding Calculator, Order A Transcript, EITC Assistant, Interactive Tax Assistant, the PTIN system for tax professionals, Tele-Tax and the Online Look-up Tool for those needing to repay the first-time homebuyer credit. Services not available on those days include Where's My Refund? and the Online Payment Agreement. 

At a later date, the IRS may announce one or two additional furlough days if necessary.
Some Web-based online tools and telephone-based automated services will continue to function on furlough days while others will be shut down. Available services include Withholding Calculator, Order A Transcript, EITC Assistant, Interactive Tax Assistant, the PTIN system for tax professionals, Tele-Tax and the Online Look-up Tool for those needing to repay the first-time homebuyer credit. Services not available on those days include Where's My Refund? and the Online Payment Agreement. 

At a later date, the IRS may announce one or two additional furlough days if necessary.
(From NRCA Newsletter)

Trenton H. Cotney

Florida Bar Certified Construction Lawyer

Trent Cotney, P.A.

1211 N Franklin St

Tampa, FL 33602

www.trentcotney.com