Wed Feb 19 16:20:00 UTC 2025: ## IRS Begins Tax Season Amidst Potential Layoff Concerns

**Washington, D.C.** – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has begun accepting 2023 tax returns, with nearly 140 million Americans expected to file. While the agency anticipates most refunds will be issued within three weeks for electronic filers, looming layoffs and potential processing delays are raising concerns.

The IRS website offers a “Where’s My Refund?” tool allowing taxpayers to track their return status. However, up to 15,000 recently hired IRS employees, primarily in customer service and processing roles, may face layoffs in the coming week. This represents approximately 17% of the agency’s full-time workforce and could impact processing times, though the extent of the impact remains unclear.

Taxpayers who file electronically are advised that their returns will be processed significantly faster than paper returns. The IRS cautions against relying on a specific refund date for financial planning, as some returns may require additional review. Common reasons for delays include mathematical errors, claims for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), and missing information.

The deadline for filing 2023 federal income tax returns is April 15, 2025, with an extension until June 16, 2025, for overseas residents. The IRS emphasizes that for electronic filers, the deadline is 11:59 p.m. local time. Paper returns must be postmarked by the due date.

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