Millions of paper tax returns go unopened at short-staffed IRS

[babylonsister]

Millions of paper tax returns go unopened at short-staffed IRS
Overall, the IRS estimated it had a backlog of 10 million pieces of mail to open and process.
By TOBY ECKERT
05/29/2020 06:04 PM EDT
Updated: 05/29/2020 09:48 PM EDT


The IRS estimates that nearly 5 million unopened paper tax returns had piled up at the agency by mid-May amid the closure of its offices nationwide due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report that POLITICO has obtained.

Overall, the IRS estimated it had a backlog of 10 million pieces of mail to open and process as thousands of workers begin returning to the offices on Monday.

In addition to tax returns, the unopened mail includes taxpayer correspondence, information returns and payments, according to the report.

Through May 22, the agency had processed 120 million returns, down 14 percent from the same point in 2019, when the filing deadline was April 15. The deadline was delayed by three months this year because of disruptions caused by the pandemic.

more...

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/29/paper-tax-returns-irs-290112

[CanonRay]

1. Mine included!

I sent my return in about March 3rd, just before the Corona shit hit the fan.

[brooklynite]

2. We always file with paper...

Our tax filing has always been far to complex to file electronically.

[Shrike47]

3. I think we're in the pile, too. Mailed in later March, don't even show up in the system yet.

Damn Republicans, always like to cut the IRS so they won’t be audited.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. Why it's a better reason to file electronically.

Those returns seem to get processed immediately and any refunds deposited in a week.

And no matter how complicated your taxes are, it is always possible to file electronically. You may want to use an accountant who does lots of taxes because they will have all of the many programs needed to figure it all out. I used to have hideously complicated taxes and always found using an accountant to be well worth the money. Now, my taxes are a lot simpler and I suppose I could consider doing them myself, but the guy I've been using for a decade now is wonderful and still well worth it.

And it's no wonder paper returns haven't even been opened as it's my understanding that a lot, maybe most, IRS people are working from home. Which means there is simply no one in the processing centers to even open those envelopes.

[LizBeth]

5. Turbo April 2 and still have not gotten my $1000 return