IRS Staff Cuts Could Slow Your Refund. Here’s What You Should Do Now to Avoid Delays

The IRS may have some trouble this filing season thanks to changes to the tax law and staffing cuts, but there are some things you can do to ensure your tax return is processed without delays.

There are 27% fewer IRS employees than in 2025, due to layoffs and buyouts at the tax agency. Additionally, there have been seven different IRS commissioners in 2025, though the role typically has a five-year term. The two current leaders of the IRS, Scott Bessent and Frank Bisignano, also helm other federal departments.

“I'd be concerned about the brain drain and the loss of experience as reflected in the turnover in the management positions," said Janet Holtzblatt, a senior fellow at the Urban Brookings Tax Policy Center.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made over 100 changes to the tax code when it was implemented in July and applies to most of the 2025 tax year, potentially confusing taxpayers. And it will have been difficult to train IRS workers on the new tax laws since they were home for a month and a half due to the government shutdown, said Holtzblatt.

While taxpayer advocates predict the tax filing season will be relatively smooth for most people, confusion around the new tax laws, combined with the IRS's transition to digital payments, could lead to longer delays this year.

Slower refund processing can temporarily reduce household cash flow, which matters because many consumers rely on refunds to cover everyday expenses amid still-elevated prices. More broadly, delays and confusion around tax administration can reduce the short-term effectiveness of fiscal policy by slowing how quickly tax benefits reach the economy.

Here are some expert recommendations for navigating this filing season.

Submitting your tax return electronically is always the quickest way to get it processed and receive your refund.

Additionally, the IRS is transitioning away from paper refund checks and toward direct deposit. Taxpayers can include their bank account information on their tax return this year to have their refund automatically deposited into their bank account. Not doing so can delay your refund by weeks or months.

"You'll get a quicker refund by using direct deposit," said Enrolled Agent Kesha Dawson Harris. "That's the quickest way to get it, as opposed to the IRS mailing your check."

Changes to the tax laws in the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act are retroactive for the 2025 tax year, meaning you can take advantage of them this year.

"I give a lot of credit to the IRS and Treasury lawyers and economists for putting out a lot of guidance since September on how to interpret these provisions," said Holtzblatt. "Nonetheless, these provisions may be challenging for taxpayers to understand, and I don't think it's going to be much easier for their preparers to do so either."

Some taxpayers will be able to take advantage of new tax breaks, like the 'no tax on tips' policy and a deduction on car loan interest. Many of these deductions, however, have income thresholds that prevent most taxpayers from using them.

For example, the 'no tax on tips' deduction is not so straightforward, since tips will still be subject to state and local taxes and payroll taxes. In addition, fewer than 3% of filings will be eligible for the tip deduction. The car loan interest deduction only applies to cars purchased in 2025 that were assembled in the United States and must be bought for personal use.

The most likely hurdle to this tax season will be whether most tax returns are filed correctly, National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins said in a recent report to Congress.

"The IRS is simultaneously confronting a 27% workforce reduction, leadership turnover, and the implementation of extensive and complex tax law changes mandated by the [One Big, Beautiful Bill] Act, many of which apply retroactively and require significant IRS programming, guidance, changes to tax forms and instructions, and taxpayer education,” Collins wrote.

The agency has also lowered its "level of service" target—the share of callers who successfully reach a live agent—to 70% this filing season, down from 85% last year.

Philip Hwang, chief tax officer at Optima Tax Relief and the 2026 national chair for the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel, recommends that taxpayers with questions for the IRS start with the tax agency's website and its online tools, such as the "Where's My Refund" tool or the Interactive Tax Assistant. If they still need to call the IRS, Hwang suggests that taxpayers use the "call-back" option. Instead of having to sit on hold, the IRS will reach out to them at a later time.

"If you do have to call—call early, use the callback feature," Hwang said. "Don't expect to get through during your lunch break."

Taxpayers can get an in-person appointment at a local IRS office for further assistance. Free tax help is also available from the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs for those who make $69,000 or less, have disabilities, or speak a limited amount of English.