Notice This information relates to the Oct. 2013 government shutdown. Information for IRS employees regarding the appropriations lapse that began on Dec. 22, 2018 is available at IRS Employee Emergency News. October 2013 The IRS has reopened after 16 days of closure due to the lapse in appropriations that began Oct. 1. The public may experience longer wait times or limited service as we take steps to bring employees back to work and resume all operations. High telephone demand is expected and many IRS walk-in offices around the country may open at staggered times on Oct. 17 and 18. The IRS encourages taxpayers to wait to call or visit if their issue is not urgent, and to continue to use automated applications on the IRS website, www.IRS.gov, whenever possible. During the shutdown the IRS continued as many automated processes as possible including accepting returns and processing payments. However, refunds were not issued while the IRS was closed. As a reminder, any paper return received during the shutdown and postmarked by the due date will be considered timely filed by the IRS. Fax machines related to Automated Underreporter (AUR), Automated Collection System (ACS), Centralized Authorization File (Power of Attorney) as well as others are back on line. For people who submitted information and received a confirmation via their fax machine that the IRS received the transmission during the shutdown, there is no need to resubmit the material. The IRS has begun processing tax returns received since Oct. 1, along with related refunds. We have also begun to respond to paper correspondence, transcript requests and authorization forms received during the shutdown from third parties. However initial delays can be expected as the IRS resumes full operations and works through backlogged inventory. We appreciate your patience as we restart our efforts on behalf of the nation. FAQs: Resumption of Field Exam Activities FAQs: Resumption of Field Collections Activities
