Home Media Center News Releases

WASHINGTON – For the second year in a row, American taxpayers have experienced first-hand a successful tax filing season aided by better customer service from a larger, more accessible IRS workforce, thanks to the resources provided by the Inflation Reduction Act.

The 2024 tax filing season ends Monday, April 15, and the data so far show the IRS continues to build on recent progress in taxpayer service levels and timely processing of returns.

“IRS employees have proven, once again, that the decision by Congress and the administration to invest in and rebuild the agency was a wise one,” said NTEU National President Doreen Greenwald. “As more than 100 million taxpayers have witnessed so far this season, the IRS is better equipped to answer their questions, guide them toward filing accurate returns and deliver their refunds quickly.”

Of the $60 billion in long-term modernization funds provided by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the IRS through 2023 had spent about $4.4 billion of it, mostly on taxpayer services and operations support. Among the many improvements is the number of in-person Taxpayer Assistance Centers that are now open and fully staffed in communities across the country: 54 TACs have been added using IRA funds for a total of 363 locations.

Seventy of the TACs will open for special Saturday hours on April 13, taking appointments from taxpayers who need in-person help days before the April 15 deadline. 

The number of Customer Service Representatives answering the IRS phone lines has doubled from 10 years ago, reducing wait times year-round. And the IRS reports levels of service for taxpayers who call the agency is about 85 percent, a dramatic improvement from 15 percent just two years ago.

“We agree with the IRS’ commitment to restoring customer service levels, and that can only be done with a large corps of IRS professionals who are equipped, trained and supported,” Greenwald said. “NTEU commends our IRS members in every division, new and veteran, for their dedication to the job and putting yet another successful filing season in the books.”

NTEU represents employees in 35 federal agencies and offices.