in

IRS plans to hire 10,000 workers to tackle backlog of 20 million unprocessed returns

  • The IRS plans to hire 10,000 workers to tackle a massive backlog of more than 20 million unprocessed returns.
  • They hope to fill 5,000 open positions in the coming months, with another 5,000 new hires over the next year.
Signage outside the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The IRS plans to hire 10,000 workers to tackle a massive backlog of more than 20 million unprocessed returns, including filings from previous years.

They hope to fill 5,000 open positions in the coming months, with another 5,000 new hires over the next year.

“To ensure inventory is back to a healthy level for next filing season, we are leaving no stone unturned — taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to ensure as many employees as possible are dedicating time to return processing,” IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement.

“This includes bringing on new employees and reassigning current IRS employees to process inventory,” he said.

More from Personal Finance:
IRS unveils Taxpayer Experience Office to improve customer service
These 3 last-minute moves can still slash your 2021 tax bill
Here’s what every taxpayer needs to know this season, according to experts

However, the hiring spree may not provide a boost for the current filing season, according to National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins.

“If you hire somebody tomorrow, maybe by summer they’ll be up and operational,” she said Thursday during a Tax Policy Center event, explaining there’s a 12-week training “just for the basics.”

Still, the influx of new employees may help beyond the April 18 tax deadline, as many Americans file for extensions.

WATCH LIVEWATCH IN THE APP

Source: Investing - personal finance - cnbc.com

An energy shock and high inflation: are the 1970s reborn?

More women in the boardroom could drive higher credit ratings and stock returns for firms — they still hold just 29% of seats