News & Updates

The IRS just came out of the longest government shutdown, but the deal that ended the stalemate funds the agency only through Jan. 30, just as filing season is about to begin. And that’s a concern for taxpayers and tax practitioners, two former IRS commissioners told reporters Tuesday at the 2025 AICPA National Tax Conference.

Though Congress ended the record-setting federal government shutdown, many questions remain for states that were already wading through seismic federal changes.

The government shutdown has become the longest in history, and every week that passes costs the economy anywhere from $10 billion to $30 billion, based on analysts’ estimates, with several landing in the $15 billion range.

Mark Peterson, AICPA Executive Vice President of Advocacy and Melanie Lauridsen, AICPA vice president of tax policy & advocacy, share key developments on the federal government shutdown in this video.

The tax agency provided an update Tuesday on its website about the availability of certain IRS services during the stalemate, including whether refunds will still be sent to taxpayers.

Republicans contend that extending the premium tax credits is a complex task with a lot of moving parts that need to be addressed. But Democrats point out that those bills are already in the mail. This article on CPA Practice Advisor provides context.

The IRS furloughed almost half its workforce as the government shutdown entered its second week, the agency said Wednesday evening in its updated contingency plan.

The AICPA is renewing its call to except 100% of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees for the duration of the shutdown, even beyond the five days already authorized in the agency’s contingency plan.

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has sent an urgent letter to Treasury Secretary and Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent, urging the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to announce its contingency plan in preparation of a government shutdown on Oct. 1, 2025.

All IRS staffers will work during the first five business days of a potential government shutdown, according to a lapsed appropriations contingency plan posted Monday, Sept. 29, 2025.