11/20/2025
Treasury Inspector General Releases 2026 Plans
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) has outlined key priorities for fiscal year 2026. Among the most significant issues are a reduction in workforce and ongoing information-technology modernization challenges for the IRS. Staffing levels in critical filing-season operations have fallen by 17-19 percent, while backlog inventories may swell to approximately six million cases, two million more than peak pandemic levels. The agency estimates that it will need roughly 3,500 new hires to restore full telephone service capacity.
TIGTA also warns that delays in the Zero Paper Initiative and other digital efforts could hamper taxpayer services and enforcement next year. Tax practitioners should anticipate processing delays, increased audit inventories and more client outreach on IRS notices. Proactive planning for clients now, including verifying receipt of refunds, responding promptly to IRS correspondence and preparing for slower service, can mitigate potential disruption in the 2026 filing season
