Senate Democrats raise concerns about IRS readiness for tax filing season

Source: ABC News

December 22, 2025, 8:58 AM


Heading into the new year, Senate Democrats are raising concerns about the Internal Revenue Service's ability to handle the upcoming tax filing season, amid changes in leadership and to the workforce in the first year of the Trump administration.

In a letter to Treasury Secretary and acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent obtained first by ABC News, the group of 17 senators, led by Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with Democrats, wrote that they have "serious concerns" the IRS is "not prepared" for the next tax season, and that taxpayers "may face delays and difficulties in filing returns and receiving refunds."

The Trump administration has conducted large-scale layoffs and voluntary buyouts -- some of which have been reversed -- at the IRS, which is also responsible this year for implementing new changes to the tax code following the passage of Republicans’ major tax and domestic policy bill.

Bessent has served as acting IRS commissioner since August after President Donald Trump removed Billy Long, a former GOP congressman, from the role two months after he was confirmed by the Senate and nominated Long to become the U.S. ambassador to Iceland.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-democrats-raise-concerns-irs-readiness-tax-filing/story?id=128599611