Under an updated contingency plan covering the upcoming filing season, the IRS is recalling 57% of its workforce to handle tax season duties.

Temporary funding for the IRS for fiscal year 2019 expired at midnight on Dec. 21. Since then, the IRS has been operating under a contingency plan. That plan furloughed 88% of its workforce, and only 9,946 were considered “excepted/exempt” and allowed to continue working. Under the new plan, 46,052 IRS employees will be considered “excepted/exempt” and will be returning to work.

The new plan will allow the IRS to process paper and electronic returns and issue refunds to taxpayers. The IRS had previously announced that tax season will start on Jan. 28. The IRS will also be issuing refunds during the government shutdown.

The IRS will also be opening its call sites and responding to taxpayer questions.

All IRS audit and examination functions and non-automated collections will continue to be put on hold during the shutdown.

If you have any questions and are having difficulty reaching the IRS the staff at Tax Management & Financial Horizons is ready to help you.  Call 262 923-8100 or visit our website at Managedtaxes.com