A tax watchdog says the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) performs better than expected in several parts of the 2026 tax season even after cutting staffing levels. Both reports cite findings from the National Taxpayer Advocate, which evaluates IRS operations and customer outcomes. According to the watchdog, the IRS issues refunds at a pace that exceeds expectations during the 2026 filing period. The improvements are reported despite “massive” reductions to the IRS workforce. However, the watchdog highlights a continuing problem in customer service access: phone service. The reporting indicates that while refund delivery results are stronger than expected, the IRS does not meet expectations for telephone assistance, suggesting staffing reductions affect call handling more directly than other operational areas. The sources frame the overall picture as mixed—better-than-expected outcomes in refund processing alongside persistent deficiencies in phone support—based on the watchdog’s assessment for the 2026 tax season.