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.
Tax watchdog says IRS outperforms refund expectations in 2026 season despite staff cuts
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 th...
- The National Taxpayer Advocate reports on the IRS’s performance during the 2026 tax season.
- The IRS issues refunds better than expected during the 2026 season.
- The IRS has reduced its workforce substantially.
- Phone service does not perform as well as other areas, according to the watchdog.
- The reports describe the overall results as mixed: refunds improve, but phone assistance remains a problem.
The national taxpayer advocate says the IRS did better than expected in issuing refunds during the 2026 tax season despite massive cuts to its workforce
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