Shutdown means IRS unable to issue refunds but taxes must be paid

Due to the government shutdown, a thinly staffed Internal Revenue Service can’t currently issue any refunds.

As tax season begins to roll around, the IRS is not responding to taxpayer questions. Also, as of this week, the IRS has not announced an official start date for the 2019 filing season. Typically, the start of the tax-filing season begins in mid- to late- January.

Despite the shutdown, the IRS continues to operate on a partial basis from funds not tied to its expired annual appropriations. While tax-reform implementation is funded through September 2019, this year’s tax-filing season is up in the air.

The IRS released a Fiscal Year 2019 Lapsed Appropriations Contingency Plan before the shutdown, but it accounted only for IRS operations during the first five days of lapsed appropriations.

Under that plan, the IRS will continue to process certain tax returns with payments and accept disaster relief-related transcript requests. However, several key operations would be discontinued during the 2019 tax-filing season if the shutdown persists.

Generally, halted IRS functions would include:

-- tax refunds

Despite the shutdown, the IRS continues to operate on a partial basis from funds not tied to its expired annual appropriations.

-- processing of transcripts (except related to disaster relief)

-- audits

-- processing amended returns or Form 1040X

Tax refunds generally are not issued until 15 to 30 days after taxes are filed. In addition, this year’s refunds will likely be smaller, said David Zalles, a certified public accountant and tax prepare in Blue Bell, Pa.

“Most people used to getting a refund of $2,500 to $3,000 in prior years may be in for a big surprise when they prepare their 2018 tax returns,” he said. Because of tax reforms, the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act limits many deductions and eliminated personal exemptions.

“The average reduction in federal income-tax withholding will probably result in limited refunds for most low- and middle-income taxpayers,” Mr. Zalles said.