CBS19

A Virginia congresswoman is raising concerns about a backlog of tax returns and Economic Impact Payments.

Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger is urging the Internal Revenue Service to take steps to address this backlog.

According to a release, a June report from the IRS’ Taxpayer Advocate Service says the IRS had to suspend the processing of paper tax returns.

It continues that as of May 16, the National Taxpayer Advocate reported an estimated backlog of 4.7 million paper returns at the federal agency.

“Over the past few months, I have heard from constituents across Central Virginia who have not yet received their recovery rebate checks or their 2019 federal tax refunds,” said Spanberger on the floor of the U.S. House on Thursday. “This backlog is unacceptable, and Congress must take action to make clear that this backlog must be addressed, and we must give IRS the tools they need to address it, and make clear our expectations that they will.”

She also explained that the recovery rebate program was created to address the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and families are struggling while their correspondence necessary to process returns and refund or stimulus checks is sitting in places that were leased to store the backlog of mail.

The release says Spanbeger also pressed the IRS in May to address its customer service resources and its needs.