CBS19: Lawmakers call on IRS to provide relief for ongoing issues

CBS19

Members of both chambers of Congress are calling on the Internal Revenue Service to provide relief regarding processing issues.

Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner as well as Representatives Abigail Spanberger and Gerald Connolly are among 100 lawmakers urging the IRS to address its struggles with customer service and processing backlogs.

According to a release, the lawmakers sent a letter to IRS Commission Charles Rettig on Monday.

That letter raises concerns about the federal agency’s apparent lack of action, which is causing confusion while the 2022 tax filing season is already underway.

“We remain concerned that the IRS does not have a comprehensive plan to remedy the numerous problems affecting taxpayers, despite the fact that this filing season is already well underway,” the lawmakers wrote. “For example, there is continued confusion about which notices may be unilaterally suspended by the IRS, beyond the notices the IRS has already suspended, among other issues.”

Warner and Spanberger have both called on the IRS and the U.S. Department of the Treasury to address backlog issues before.

The release says that shortly after this letter was sent, the IRS announced it would be putting together a second surge team to help address its backlogs and continue work to improve customer service.

The Senate version of the letter can be read here and the House version is here.