Meng Calls on Head of IRS to Reduce Large Backlog of Tax Returns
January 20, 2022
Delays impacting Queens residents; backlog also includes unemployment, Child Tax Credit and stimulus payments
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that she urged the head of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to reduce the large backlog of tax returns that have affected millions of people including residents in Queens.
In a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig, Meng and 81 other Members of Congress called for a plan to be created to efficiently and effectively process the backlog, and help with the hiring and training more taxpayer advocates – who assist taxpayers with questions and problems – since the delays have increased the number of inquiries that the Taxpayer Advocate Service has received.
The backlog has also included unemployment compensation, Child Tax Credit Payments and Economic Impact Payments. Meng has had 200 constituents that have been impacted by these delays in payments and tax returns.
"I understand the impact that the COVID-19 crisis has had in causing this backlog," said Meng. "But Queens residents and those throughout New York should not be forced to endure increased wait times for their tax refunds and other payments. This is money that many constituents need during the pandemic, and they do not deserve to suffer financial strains or lose out because of the government's delay. I urge the commissioner to immediately address this backlog."
A copy of the letter, which was initiated by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), can be viewed here, and the text of the correspondence is below. It also asks the IRS commissioner to advise Congress of the plan that his agency develops.
Child Tax Credit payments are advanced monthly payments created under the American Rescue Plan to help families with children pay for expenses. Economic Impact Payments are stimulus payments established under coronavirus relief bills to help people during the pandemic.
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Commissioner Charles P. Rettig
Internal Revenue Service
1111 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20224
Dear Commissioner Rettig,
Due to the residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been experiencing significant delays in the processing of tax returns and amended returns. As of December 18, 2021, the IRS has 6.3 million unprocessed individual returns and 2.3 million unprocessed amended returns. Additionally, many taxpayers and eligible Americans have still not received their unemployment compensation, Child Tax Credit payments, and Economic Impact Payments.
The delays and an inability to even reach an IRS customer service representative have caused the local Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) to receive a high volume of inquiries. One TAS Office, for example, has had a number of recent retirements and now has only three advocates remaining. Furthermore, we're hearing of workload shifts from other TAS offices in the region, compounding the problem. Considering the time it takes to train new hires and the constant increase in workload, the remaining TAS advocates will have an overwhelming number of cases to manage.
In addition, these delays are causing taxpayers severe financial hardships and loss. Along with the typical financial strain caused by not receiving refunds, there are additional "downstream" consequences from the delays of tax returns. Taxpayers, for example, may not be able to complete the down payment for a mortgage or apply for student loans because they cannot provide the required tax transcript. No taxpayer should have to lose out on the opportunity to purchase a home and or enroll in college because they are waiting for their returns to be processed.
We therefore urge the IRS to create a plan to efficiently and effectively process the backlog in mailed tax returns, as well as to assist TAS in the hiring and training of new taxpayer advocates, and to advise Congress of that plan.
Sincerely,